Motor Trend/ZR1 speculation
02-20-2014, 08:03 PM
#1
Motor Trend/ZR1 speculation
April issue of MT: MTConfidential/Mike Connor:
"According to a source deep in GM, the ZR1 should be packing 700-800 HP."
He then continues with old news, "...if the Z06 makes over 600 HP, then ZR1 will have 750 HP..." etc. etc.
Now, why would MT be regurgitating this 'stuff' in the latest issue like its 'breaking news'??? Especially with the consensus so far there may not BE a ZR1?... (O.K. So they could call it an L88 or whatever.)
"According to a source deep in GM, the ZR1 should be packing 700-800 HP."
He then continues with old news, "...if the Z06 makes over 600 HP, then ZR1 will have 750 HP..." etc. etc.
Now, why would MT be regurgitating this 'stuff' in the latest issue like its 'breaking news'??? Especially with the consensus so far there may not BE a ZR1?... (O.K. So they could call it an L88 or whatever.)
02-20-2014, 08:15 PM
#2
Just like C&D, rehashing stuff to sell mags I believe.
02-20-2014, 09:16 PM
#3
Melting Slicks
"Deep in GM" = Magazine jargon for wild *** guess. Speculation like this doesn't hurt a magazine's reputation because they basically put it on GM to prove them wrong and if Gm doesn't release a ZR1 with the claimed figures Motor trend can just say that their source "inside GM" was wrong or that it will be possible in the C8, etc.
Car magazines are only good for getting "real" information about real cars, not speculated cars or rumors. Tidbits like this hidden in an issue of Motor trend generate buzz, that buzz makes people curious so they might go out and buy the latest issue so they have it in front of their own eyes. After that we get to listen to all the suckers that buy into the hype that those magazines spew.
you have to think how leaking any information about a ZR1 at this point can help GM. The Z06 is on the horizon with performance numbers that put the C6 ZR1 on alert (the C7 Z06 will likely destroy any previously held track records of the ZR1) and GM will focus it's effort on selling as many of these cars as possible. A rumor about a ZR1 started at GM is pretty much the last thing in the world the GM marketing machine would want at this point. You also have to remember that companies like GM keep the media at arms length and only let the media talk to their head engineers (that are well versed in their talking points). Even if one of those article writers is best friends with an engineer working on the next big thing at GM, that engineer would be committing career suicide leaking any info about a car like the ZR1 especially before the launch of the Z06.
So if you managed to read this far, there is no reliable source of information to any of these car magazines. They all speculate about future cars based on information they glean from press releases and interviews to make "wild *** guesses" about the future and print them in hopes that they are right...in essence car magazines are the equivalent of Miss Cleo for the auto industry.
Car magazines are only good for getting "real" information about real cars, not speculated cars or rumors. Tidbits like this hidden in an issue of Motor trend generate buzz, that buzz makes people curious so they might go out and buy the latest issue so they have it in front of their own eyes. After that we get to listen to all the suckers that buy into the hype that those magazines spew.
you have to think how leaking any information about a ZR1 at this point can help GM. The Z06 is on the horizon with performance numbers that put the C6 ZR1 on alert (the C7 Z06 will likely destroy any previously held track records of the ZR1) and GM will focus it's effort on selling as many of these cars as possible. A rumor about a ZR1 started at GM is pretty much the last thing in the world the GM marketing machine would want at this point. You also have to remember that companies like GM keep the media at arms length and only let the media talk to their head engineers (that are well versed in their talking points). Even if one of those article writers is best friends with an engineer working on the next big thing at GM, that engineer would be committing career suicide leaking any info about a car like the ZR1 especially before the launch of the Z06.
So if you managed to read this far, there is no reliable source of information to any of these car magazines. They all speculate about future cars based on information they glean from press releases and interviews to make "wild *** guesses" about the future and print them in hopes that they are right...in essence car magazines are the equivalent of Miss Cleo for the auto industry.
02-21-2014, 02:00 AM
#6
April issue of MT: MTConfidential/Mike Connor:
"According to a source deep in GM, the ZR1 should be packing 700-800 HP."
He then continues with old news, "...if the Z06 makes over 600 HP, then ZR1 will have 750 HP..." etc. etc.
Now, why would MT be regurgitating this 'stuff' in the latest issue like its 'breaking news'??? Especially with the consensus so far there may not BE a ZR1?... (O.K. So they could call it an L88 or whatever.)
"According to a source deep in GM, the ZR1 should be packing 700-800 HP."
He then continues with old news, "...if the Z06 makes over 600 HP, then ZR1 will have 750 HP..." etc. etc.
Now, why would MT be regurgitating this 'stuff' in the latest issue like its 'breaking news'??? Especially with the consensus so far there may not BE a ZR1?... (O.K. So they could call it an L88 or whatever.)
02-21-2014, 11:31 AM
#7
Good points. WAGs, rumors and hype do stir up magazine sales, unfortunately! Tough to separate the wheat from the chaff...like on this forum 
"Deep in GM" = Magazine jargon for wild *** guess. Speculation like this doesn't hurt a magazine's reputation because they basically put it on GM to prove them wrong and if Gm doesn't release a ZR1 with the claimed figures Motor trend can just say that their source "inside GM" was wrong or that it will be possible in the C8, etc.
Car magazines are only good for getting "real" information about real cars, not speculated cars or rumors. Tidbits like this hidden in an issue of Motor trend generate buzz, that buzz makes people curious so they might go out and buy the latest issue so they have it in front of their own eyes. After that we get to listen to all the suckers that buy into the hype that those magazines spew.
you have to think how leaking any information about a ZR1 at this point can help GM. The Z06 is on the horizon with performance numbers that put the C6 ZR1 on alert (the C7 Z06 will likely destroy any previously held track records of the ZR1) and GM will focus it's effort on selling as many of these cars as possible. A rumor about a ZR1 started at GM is pretty much the last thing in the world the GM marketing machine would want at this point. You also have to remember that companies like GM keep the media at arms length and only let the media talk to their head engineers (that are well versed in their talking points). Even if one of those article writers is best friends with an engineer working on the next big thing at GM, that engineer would be committing career suicide leaking any info about a car like the ZR1 especially before the launch of the Z06.
So if you managed to read this far, there is no reliable source of information to any of these car magazines. They all speculate about future cars based on information they glean from press releases and interviews to make "wild *** guesses" about the future and print them in hopes that they are right...in essence car magazines are the equivalent of Miss Cleo for the auto industry.
Car magazines are only good for getting "real" information about real cars, not speculated cars or rumors. Tidbits like this hidden in an issue of Motor trend generate buzz, that buzz makes people curious so they might go out and buy the latest issue so they have it in front of their own eyes. After that we get to listen to all the suckers that buy into the hype that those magazines spew.
you have to think how leaking any information about a ZR1 at this point can help GM. The Z06 is on the horizon with performance numbers that put the C6 ZR1 on alert (the C7 Z06 will likely destroy any previously held track records of the ZR1) and GM will focus it's effort on selling as many of these cars as possible. A rumor about a ZR1 started at GM is pretty much the last thing in the world the GM marketing machine would want at this point. You also have to remember that companies like GM keep the media at arms length and only let the media talk to their head engineers (that are well versed in their talking points). Even if one of those article writers is best friends with an engineer working on the next big thing at GM, that engineer would be committing career suicide leaking any info about a car like the ZR1 especially before the launch of the Z06.
So if you managed to read this far, there is no reliable source of information to any of these car magazines. They all speculate about future cars based on information they glean from press releases and interviews to make "wild *** guesses" about the future and print them in hopes that they are right...in essence car magazines are the equivalent of Miss Cleo for the auto industry.
02-21-2014, 09:51 PM
#8
Drifting
I have heard rumors of a twin turbo - if so it will destroy everything out there. GM needs an all out race car with 800hp with the ability to turn up the boost and make 1000 
02-21-2014, 09:59 PM
#9
Melting Slicks
I am usually on the C6 forum but I am obsessed with the new Z06 and hope to order one later this year. What confuses me with this thread is that GM announced a 625 HP - Ft/Lb + machine with a single super charger. Am I missing something?
02-22-2014, 01:04 AM
#10
Drifting
Next year we will know. If there's no ZR1 in this generation, I suppose I can learn to live with only 638hp.
02-22-2014, 06:39 AM
#11
Le Mans Master
Personally I believe there will be a ZR1 that will use the wide CF front seen on the C7R that will make it easily and visibly recognized by persons who are not necessarily "car people" as a better and more expensive car than the ZO6
........ and as usual the ZO6 owners will raise a fuss about how it's not really a better car and why didn't they get the wide front end
Last edited by Shurshot; 02-22-2014 at 06:42 AM.
02-22-2014, 08:23 AM
#13
Leeds.io
Member Since: Sep 2003
Location: Cross River, New York
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St. Jude Donor '14-'15-'16
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Didn't Keeks (sp?) say something many months ago about the real "hot rod" Corvette coming in 2016? The guy's been right every step of the way. I'm sure there will be a ZR1 or L88 eventually but I'm not too concerned. Just like with the C6 generation the Z06 will be exactly what I'm looking for. Those who will always need to be in the fastest car going 0mph in the parking lot will never be happy. Just buy and enjoy...something faster will eventually come out.
Best,
Gene
Best,
Gene
02-22-2014, 10:15 AM
#15
Leeds.io
Member Since: Sep 2003
Location: Cross River, New York
Posts: 4,594
Received 398 Likes
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St. Jude Donor '14-'15-'16
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Best,
Gene
02-22-2014, 11:06 AM
#16
Well with just 4000 examples and a $110,000+ sticker, that isnt my definition of general public, however the C7Z might change all that. However can you imagine a sub 50,000 Vette with over 600hp? Deaths. deaths everywhere.
02-22-2014, 11:28 AM
#17
Safety Car
Hey Gene it looks like we're neighbors. You are correct but to go from 620-640 to 750-800 won't happen IMO. That much hp for the street is almost useless anyway and most of us would be in over our heads like many were in Vipers over the years, the difference being Vipers until now had no electronic "save my ***" from myself devices. lol
02-22-2014, 07:15 PM
#19
Safety Car
02-23-2014, 11:55 AM
#20
Turn 12!
Typical mag hype.
