The apsis splash guards create an incredible amount of lift at high speeds. They really need to come with a warning.

I believe the yellow car in this video had the apsis front guards installed (but I cannot be certain due to the poor video quality).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5dSRiyX0CMU

Now really, are you serious???

Apsis all the way!

 

Instead of tucking the wider and bigger tires INSIDE the well, GM did take the less expensive and less engineering route of just making them stick out and then throwing on the fender flare.

The base C6 was the flagship for aerodynamics. Then when the Z06 came out, it lost the aerodynamics due to the flares BUT it overcame it with its lighter weight, front diffuser and 505 HP.

That is why the 2010+ Grand Sport cannot attain the same 190MPH top end speed a base C6 can. The GS is rated at 180MPH. You have more rolling resistance and less aerodynamics due to the flares but the same HP, so you cannot pull through it like a Z06 or Zr1 can.

 

The design of the flares GM used is just aweful, ain't no doubt about it. I am pretty sure cost cutting was main motivation. They took this fairly slippery base body and crudely modified it to make wider tires fit. I can see they did this in the back to avoid new rear bumper but what were they thinking up front? You can see those cheesy side flaps in front of the front wheels but what exactly stopped them from just making a wider bumper than the one they came up with? Both front and rear show a lot of exposed tire, nothing to be proud off, not to mention every time you drive it, it is like running machine guns shooting rocks everywhere. What I find real interesting is that aftermarket carries on with the same stuff. The apsis guards, they need some work too, extending them to the outside at the bottom and then coupling them together with the rear by using widened side skirts. Boxed rocker design would be great here, not these truck time running board that taper off up front to make sure more rocks can be thrown at the car I have knocked on doors of a few body "enhancement" manufs and what it seems like the most likely scenario is to get some of the current stuff and modify it. Talking about those running boards, front splitter and splash guards. A couple of pieces that have to be made from scratch are larger front spats to extend the front of the bumper to cover the front tires. Gotta make these things from scratch The front guards will most likely match the apsis more or less I suppose. Again, this is nothing less than GM being cheap. I think aftermarket is not interested in making any significant improvements because it is simpler just to knock off the ZR1 parts. Also, it seems most people are more concerned with the carbon fiber finish than with functionality. I love the Z06 but I am very frustrated with the only improvement available being the ZR1 look alike (because it ain't all that great to begin with). Glad you understand what takes place BTW.

 

This picture alone made me not to buy the ZR1 version of these splash guards. I opted for the regular Z06. Just picture the side skirts widened up front to the width of the splash guards and molded into one piece. I think the splash guards should be widened at the bottom to provide even more protection to the car, the loss of aerodynamics is pretty small, especially considering the tire sticks out anyway. Reducing the size of the wheel opening gap is a good thing for sure.

 

Cost cutting is the #1 reason.

Ideally tires should be tucked INSIDE of the wells or at least be dead even with the side panels. GM's Z06 and ZR1 put out so much HP, that the tires were not holding. The best solution was a complete redesign of the C6 interior suspension dimensions. Which would require a completely different design. So GM went the route that was less expensive.

It just stuffed wider tires and then threw on fender flares. While I love the Z06 and ZR1 look. I can understand the reasons WHY it did that. High HP 505HP - 640HP and narrow tires don't mix. GM needed to go big and bigger tires with wider fenders were needed.

Oddly enough GM is pushing the "widebody" look, hence the GS model. The GS doesn't need the wide tires because the HP is the same as the base model. It is an aesthetic package that GM number crunchers came up with to make more $$$$. Even then, you still need fender guards.

I got the Apsis guards because without them, the quarters and fenders would look like cr*p after a couple of thousands. They are the best solution out there.

 

Chillax a bit my friend. Its just another option ... no need to flip your lid. I guess they could make them vehicle specific, and charge $ 150/set. It's yet one additional option, if you don't like it just say so ... get upset about terrorism or something ... over splashguards ?????

 

Uhm, I do not have to chill, I am fully relaxed. I was simply mocking the hopeless marketing BS that offers custom fit and one size fits all in one package-straight from JCW catalog...

 

Even though they're expensive, I think they are well worth the price for the protection they provide. And I love the way they look!

 

If that's relaxed I wouldn't want to be around you when you got upset. Anyway I relate to the mirriad of "universal products out there" that have made a bad name so when products like this come out they're tar'd with the same brush .. I've done it too. Rare as it is, there are new technologies worth considering .. this may or may not be worth considering thats all.

Cheers !

 

I guess we shall see when mine arrive And price is high because this is the only game in town. Now, if only GM got off their butts and made a matching set to compliment the rears that come stock on all widebodies I actually think they would fit even better if they replaced the factory splash guards (they extend to the top of the fender in a shape of thin lip and apsis cannot fit very snug on top due to this) but oh well, what can you do?

 

LOL, life is too short to get upset over mud flaps. Nevertheless, these things look like they belong on a semi, not Z06
I did get a big kick from their description of "technology" BTW, you do realize there is no way in hell to make them work on front wheels of Z06, right?

 

Those things looks HIDEOUS. Wow For a large truck they are OK but NOT on a C6.

 

If the G/S is 10 MPH slower than the base model with the same horsepower because of it's Z06 look-alike wide body and tires, and the Z06 with 69 more horsepower is 3 MPH faster than the base model's 190 MPH top speed, then it stands to reason that if the the base model with it's more aerodynamic shape, lower frontal area and less rolling resistance had 69 more horsepower like the Z06 it could achieve a top speed of about 203 MPH, making it faster than a Dodge Viper SRT10. Now that would be worth the $5,840.00 premium that the Grand Sport costs over the base Vette because it would be 13 MPH faster than the relatively slow G/S!

 

"relatively slow G/S"
How many can say the've been anywhere near 180mph? Or even 150?

 

We sure don't get much love around here.

 

I love you man

 

agreed

 

The same members with smart a.. comments every time. Now that we are into the 2nd year of GS production you'd think think they would get over it.