Hi,

I was reading through some articles the other day, and I began wondering about the performance stats for the Vettes tested vs. the competition.

For example, how come the new M3 is almost as fast as the 2001/2002 Corvette Coupe? Sure, it's got an impressively usable engine range, with max horsepower (333) being produced at 7900RPM, BUT!

1. It weighs AT LEAST 200 lbs more
2. The maximum torque it produces is 269 lb-ft vs. the Vette's 375
3. It's not geared that much more aggressively (well even if you think it is, it can still reach well over 160mph w/o the speed limiter)

So how come the new M3 is so quick? If it's that much heavier, how can it being accelerating so quickly? Even though that engine outputs over 200 lb-ft all the way from 2000RPM till 8000RPM, it still doesn't explain why the 01/02 LS1, which produces 300 lb-ft at 1000RPM and 328 lb-ft at the max HP RPM ((350 x 5252) / 5600 = 328.25) isn't MUCH faster.

Also, take the new 911. This thing has been quoted at 4.6 0-60 and 11.5 secs 0-100 in Europe. HOW?! 296 SAE HP only! Sure, it weighs under 3100 lbs, but what gives??? :confused

Perhaps the Germans really do optimize the gearing...I can't think of anything else.

With only 32XX lbs to pull around, I can't see why the 2001/2002 Coupe isn't noticably faster than it's been quoted, especially with the performance axle option.

PS: It sure is awesome to learn that the 2002 Z06 is every bit as fast as a 911 Turbo. That is amazing. :hat

 

It IS geared that much more agressivily, both in the tranny and in the differential. I think the rear gears are close to 4.11, and the first several gears are lower the the MT6. This additional gearing multiplies the TQ so that it is (ahem) comparable to a stock Vette Coupe.

269 TQ from 3.2 litres IS impressive if this were a 5.7 litre V8 it would be producing 480 lb-ft.

We went through this about 3-5 months ago. M3 is an impressively quick car, but it is still not a Vette.

The new 911 is also quick (see what a little competition does for performance) but it has closer to 315 HP from 3.4 litres. In this case, having the majority of the weight over the rear wheels improves traction, and maybe those old run-craps get in the way of out Vettes.

But the goal of the 911's is to keep the F360 Modena (without F1 shifter) in sight so the Turbo can keep ahead of the F36 with F1 shifter.

 

The 2002 Carrera outputs 315 SAE HP. That's from the new 3.6L water-cooled gem. The 3.4L outputs 296 SAE. Or are you saying they lie and it's been dynoed at higher than that (ala BMW's 4.4L V8)? :D