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Driver’s Seat
High-Performance Heavies
That pounding sound you hear is the collective heartbeat of car crazies all over the world dizzy with anticipation for the arrival of two heavy breathers to the high-performance arena: the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 and the Nissan GT-R. Both are earmarked for a summer 2008 release, and while horsepower and torque numbers haven’t been finalized, we do know enough about both these automobiles to provide a peek behind the curtain. Yikes!
By Russ Heaps
Nissan GT-R
 When the 2009 GT-R takes to the streets, it will be the sixth generation of the Nissan supercar that gained widespread recognition as a star of the movie The Fast and the Furious. The American version will be left-hand drive and while that may rob it of some of its character in this country, it will broaden its appeal. Pricing begins at $69,850. Pricey? Yes, but for that investment you will get forward thrust about equal to a Porsche 911 Turbo.
FYI: Video game designers had a hand in the design of the multifunction display that provides the 411 on just about aspect of the driving experience.
Faster, Faster:
An all-new 3.8-liter twin turbo V6 produces 480 horsepower that is circulated to all four wheels through a six-speed driver-shiftable automatic transmission.
 Safety Feature: Colossal side bolsters hold front-seat occupants firmly in place during hard cornering.
Techno-chic: The instrument panel looks as though it was lifted from a Cylon battle cruiser.
Stop Motion:
The 20-inch alloy wheels front Brembo disc brakes monitored by an anti-lock system. The tires are run flat, nitrogen filled at the factory.
 SportY: Contributing much of the GT-R’s athleticism is the Bilstein Damp Tronic shock absorber system with its three settings that range from “comfort” to “race.”
Hard Body: The chiseled front fenders as well as the doors, hood and deck lid are all skinned in lightweight aluminum.
Chevrolet Corvette ZR1
 Built on the broad shoulders of the Z06, the ZR1 is what happens when you create a Corvette with almost no regard for price. Packed with nearly every piece of engineering technology the pocket protector crowd at General Motors could devise, this is the first Corvette that will reach 200 miles per hour right off the showroom floor. Chevrolet hasn’t released a zero to 60 time, but you can bet it will be quicker than you can muse,
“A $100,000 Chevy?”
Lightweight:
The liberal use of carbon fiber—hood, front fenders, front and rear spoilers, roof panel rocker extensions —reduces the overall weight.
Speed racer: A 6.2-liter supercharged hand-assembled V8 sends around 620 horsepower to the rear axle via a new six-speed manual transmission. The intercooler can be seen through a polycarbonate window on the hood bulge.
Grip:
20-spoke alloy wheels are wrapped with unique Michelin Pilot Sport 2 run-flat tires.
 Brakes:
Whoa is achieved with Brembo calipers—six pistons on the front wheels and four on the rear —grabbing carbon-ceramic rotors the size of manhole covers.
Control:
The Magnetic Selective Ride Control keeps the rear end in check when dropping the clutch for full-power takeoffs.
Style: The ZR1 logo is strategically placed on spots around the car such as the seatbacks, doorsills and above the front fender gills.
 GAuGE:
Drivers are kept informed through a heads-up display and a boost gauge located in the instrument cluster that also contains a 220-mile-per-hour speedometer.
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