Callaway ZR1?
08-26-2018, 07:28 AM
#1
Racer
Thread Starter
Callaway ZR1?
I spoke to Pete Callaway today at Carlisle about the testing they are doing on the ZR1. This is what he told me. They are currently evaluating the Zr1 to see IF they are going to make a Callaway ZR1. The amount of horsepower it would make is getting to the point where they are close to the limits of the transmission, rear end, clutch etc. If these parts of the car need to be upgraded as part of the of the package in order to keep the GM warranty it would drive the cost too high and therefore the # of units sold would be too small to justify. He did say that they are working with GM on getting access to the ECU so they can tune the car. He said he was pretty confident that GM will give them access. So unfortunately a Callaway ZR1 is not a definite.
08-26-2018, 12:55 PM
#2
Team Owner
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St. Jude Donor'15
All that makes sense...it will be interesting to hear their findings.
08-26-2018, 07:32 PM
#3
Burning Brakes
If not more HP, then use cost to add lightness.
08-26-2018, 10:31 PM
#4
Race Director
mt bet would be they will not be allowed to access that ECU themselves. it will require GM to download update in a file or have their engineers send them an ECU once the dyno tune is complete. which that alone would add how many thousands to the cost.. with the C8 moments away? can't see it being other than a cosmetic package at this point. just my opinion.
08-28-2018, 08:14 AM
#5
Le Mans Master
I tend to agree with Callaway’s thoughts. My 2010 GS with Lingenfelter forged bottom end and Maggie TVS 2300 supercharger ( 587 RWHP/568 RWTQ) and fresh Michelin super sport tires, did a good job of hooking up for street use. For track use, the cups would probably be just about right. My bone stock 2016 Z06 A8, which has a little less power than my 2010 GS had, does an okay job hooking up with the Conti Extreme Contacts.
The point is, IMHO, right now the Callaway Z06 package or the bone stock ZR1 are probably about as far as one wants to go. Beyond that power level, why are you going higher unless wanting to drag race, serious road course racing etc and then a fully warranteed Callaway ZR1 doesn’t seem to make a whole lot of sense and sounds like the price will be way up there. If you’re gonna use that kind of souped up ZR1 for the street, in order to hook up, you’re gonna have to run around on drag radials with all the inherent limitations.
The Callaway Z06 is a great street package for those who want more than a stock Z06. You could pick up a nicely equipped Z06 in the mid 80 grand range or if you want to really save a buck a left over 1LZ Z06 in the mid to high 70’s and put the Callaway Z06 package on it and be all in for the mid 90’s instead of 130/140 grand or so for a new ZR1.
To sum up, for street use anyway, a Callaway ZR1 doesn’t make a lot of sense, but the Callaway Z06 does, if one doesn’t want to spring for a new ZR1.
The point is, IMHO, right now the Callaway Z06 package or the bone stock ZR1 are probably about as far as one wants to go. Beyond that power level, why are you going higher unless wanting to drag race, serious road course racing etc and then a fully warranteed Callaway ZR1 doesn’t seem to make a whole lot of sense and sounds like the price will be way up there. If you’re gonna use that kind of souped up ZR1 for the street, in order to hook up, you’re gonna have to run around on drag radials with all the inherent limitations.
The Callaway Z06 is a great street package for those who want more than a stock Z06. You could pick up a nicely equipped Z06 in the mid 80 grand range or if you want to really save a buck a left over 1LZ Z06 in the mid to high 70’s and put the Callaway Z06 package on it and be all in for the mid 90’s instead of 130/140 grand or so for a new ZR1.
To sum up, for street use anyway, a Callaway ZR1 doesn’t make a lot of sense, but the Callaway Z06 does, if one doesn’t want to spring for a new ZR1.