RE:
The torque's the thing: 625-hp Z06 Corvette debuts in Detroit
An intro piece to the new Z06 Corvette. Must give some leeway to the writer who obviously likes cars and probably writes to an audience selected by GM, but probably not enough for this car guy to appreciate.
The writer concentrates on the gobs of torque this particular version provides. Yeah, 635 ft.lbs of torque is no laughing matter. However, the writer seems to have discovered the concept of supercharging a 6.2 liter (378 cu. in.) engine and then proceeds to share with us its advantages over turbocharging and its obvious results. Yes, there are disadvantages as well.
Additional revelations.
Automatic upshifts faster than a Porsche PDK. Okay. How about downshifts? Does the electronics provide rev-matching too? Never mind the slight power loss from the A/T torque converter and hydraulic bits. The power loss doesn't really matter with 635 torques on standby. Yes, A/T gearboxes have multiple gear sets and clutch packs, even my defunct Dodge Caravan had them, the replacement gearbox too.
A description of the removable CF roof panel and how, once installed, is 60% stiffer than the previous Vette. Not sure what that says about the rigidity of the previous GM chassis or that magical CF roof panel.
A torque tube connecting engine to rear axle - okay. Fords used that feature up until 1948. Why compare that feature with a similar backbone in the writer's 1963 AMC Rambler? Because the Ramber is newer? Both versions tie the drivetrain to the front/rear suspensions instead of the chassis - not as good as typical designs, even those with leaf springs and ladder frames. I guess all upgrades need a reference point. GM could have instead adapted Colin Chapman's lightweight backbone of a Lotus Elan (1962) instead of a …… Rambler.
2014 Z06 chassis:
2014 Z06 torque tube:
As one Corvette forum participant notes - paraphrasing: Corvette design engineers are hampered, like their testes locked between vise jaws. One jaw represents the design sensibilities of old age, brain-locked, corporate mindsets (board members). The other jaw is the massive amount of corporate bean-counters that impede what engineers are allowed to do.
Enough of an AM rant on an earnest attempt by GM. Let's hope Mary Barra, the new CEO, can shake things up.
Sherwood