Celebrating your 60th birthday? Of course you’d like to make it a special one to mark six decades of existence and to celebrate you making it this far in life. But if you just happen to be a car any ol’ car, it may get a little tricky, not unless you’re a ‘vette of course.
Featuring the use of a Chevrolet C6 427 Convertible that’s slated for release in 2013, its heart is the 7.0L LS7 engine from the Corvette Z06. Rated at 505bhp with 637Nm of torque, it is the most powerful engine ever installed in a production Corvette convertible and, much like the Z06, the 427 Convertible is only available with a six-speed manual transmission.
The LS7 engine was co-developed with the Corvette Le Mans-winning GT1 engine and features lightweight titanium connecting rods and intake valves, as well as racing-inspired high-flow cylinder heads and a dry-sump oiling system. All of which gets assembled assembled by hand at GM’s Performance Build Center, where customers who purchase the 427 Convertible Collector Edition can purchase the Corvette Build Experience option and assemble the engine that will power their new car.
Supporting performance elements in the Corvette 427 Convertible include the driveline and rear axle system from the Corvette Z06, a rear-mounted battery and standard Magnetic Selective Ride Control. The standard 19″ front and 20″ rear wheels are wrapped in ZR1-style Michelin PS2 tyres.
The weight reduction brings the 427 Convertible’s kerb weight to 1,522kg. Combined with its 505bhp LS7 engine, it gives the 427 Convertible a power-to-weight ratio of 1bhp : 3.01kg – or one horsepower for every 3.01kg of vehicle mass. The combination of low mass and high output makes the 427 Convertible one of the fastest convertibles in the world, delivering an estimated 0-100kmh performance of 3.8s, quarter-mile performance of 11.8s, lateral acceleration of 1.04 g and a top speed of more than 306kmh.
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03-20-2012, 10:31 PM
Re: VIDEO: Chevrolet Corvette Celebrates 60th Birthday and Blows Out Its Candles!
