FNBADAZ06

...what, if any affect, will this have on the terminal top speed of the "standard" 2012 ZR1 ? The claim is 2 MPG better mileage, but at what expense of the claimed 205 MPH top speed ?

The "old" close ratio tranny will be used solely for the "performance" package (sounds kinda funny saying that ).

johnglenntwo

You mean they are making 6th gear into more of an overdrive? Just picking up what they blew before, perhaps. There wasn't a gas crisis when the ZR1 first hit the scene!

IndyPacer

Taller gear for more MPG should make it go faster shouldn't it?

FNBADAZ06

If it has enough HP to overcome the aero drag and taller gear combination.

What is the RPM/gear of a current ZR1 at 205 MPH ? If it's not at top gear at the redline, then it could be reasonably assumed that aerodynamic drag has limited the top speed.

Maybe the "standard" 2012 ZR1 will now hit it's top speed in 5th gear, like the Z06 ?

range96

I predict the top speed will be reached still in 6th gear, but below the 205mph mark.

Shurshot

I wonder why they just did not make 6th gear an overdrive gear and leave 5th the way it was.

Since 5th is being used a lot in racing they could have left it alone and folks looking to get the most MPG on the freeway could just get into 6th gear overdrive asap...... That is way it works on many of the 5 speed replacement for the older 4 speed cars so they too can have an overdrive.

You could not hammer overdrive 5th gear because it was not a very strong gear but it was fine for cruising, and did a lot (.62) to lower the fuel consumption.

PRE-Z06

I'm guessing they're going to use .74 and .050 from the Mn6 in the C6Z. If that's the case, according to my calculations it will be able to 206mph in 5th at 6600rpm not factoring in tire growth.

johnglenntwo

If they used 5th it would have to go from 150mph to 205 with less RPMs then the 7000 of the Z06. If the 6th gear was to be a full overdrive they should get more then 2mpg.

OnPoint

Hope that doesn't mess up its standing mile capability. The 5th gear in the ZR is better than 5th in the Z for the standing mile.

range96

I think the ticket for speed will still be the MH3, for economy the ME2.

FNBADAZ06

I think it will.....that 5th gear drop in the Z06 is brutal vs. 5th in the original ZR1 tranny. I can't see where that won't hurt the standing mile times, independent of the terminal speed.

range96

And that is why it will still be available as the (PDE) ZR1 High Performance Package

FNBADAZ06

Exactly...hence why I said it sounds funny to have a "high performance" package on a car that already has 638 HP

range96

Unless it's for CAFE the marketing dept. said: let's slow down the car then we can charge extra to speed it up again!

Shurshot

IMO they could have done enough with just making one gear a brutal drop. An overdrive at freeway rpm's would have been sufficient without adding a second one that can double as an overdrive for when you are under 65 mph

QUIKAG

Look, I'm not the biggest fan of the gas mileage and I really don't think a torque monster like the LS9 needs to be spinning at 2400+rpm at 80mph whereas the Z06 transmission is at or below 2,000rpm, but this ZR1 was designed to be about performance period.

I want to thank GM for making a transmission with basically no overdrive gears that has the potential of pulling with most anything in the world on the autobahn even into 6th gear. Almost all (if not all) of the Porsche, Ferrari, Lambo models top out in their highest gear and the reason for that is absolute performance and exploiting all of the gearing advantage possible.

I don't think there is a big problem now with GM offering 'standard' gear ratios for the '12 ZR1 and I like options, but I am quite happy with my 'performance' gear ratios' on my '10 ZR1, gas mileage be damned.

Dicecal

Well said

Silver05GTO

Should be interesting to see what the sales numbers look like (eco gearing vs perf gearing)

My guess is purely based on how dealers usually "load up" the options on their cars, if the perf gearing is "optional" and adds to the price, dealers are gonna stock it more. Same thing was seen with the chrome rims, lot's of complaints about the chrome being tacky and it was a markup item on ZR1's which many people would rather not purchase but had to since it was the only thing available.

NofakeJake

You got that right... but it might go the other way. With cafe standards, I could see them pushing eco - gears for fleet mileage and charging us more.

They could load up on eco-gears and push them for a higher price by saying "You save in gas guzzler taxes and fuel economy".

NofakeJake

Reality is, with this car, you will never recoup the gas you burned getting to 6th gear