Corvette ZR1 2009

When it arrives in Summer 2008 on the American market, the 2009 Corvette ZR1 will be the most powerful and fastest production car ever produced by General Motors with performance enabled by a new supercharged 6,2 L LS9 small block V8 engine.

Incorporating the engineering experience already found in the Corvette ZO6 LS 7 engine and the new for 2008 6,2L LS3 of the Corvette, GM Powertrain Division is targeting 100 horsepower per litre for the LS9, or 620 hp (462 kW), and approximately 595 lb-ft (807 Nm) of torque; the final SAE-certified power levels will be available in early March 2008.

The enabler of the LS9 performance is a new large positive displacement Roots-type supercharger developed for the engine by Eaton. It is teamed with an integrated charge cooling system that reduces the inlet temperature.

The supercharger is an engine-driven air pump that contains a pair of long rotors that are twisted somewhat like pretzel sticks. As they spin around each other, incoming air is squeezed between the rotors and pushed under pressure into the engine- forcing more air into the engine than it could draw under "natural" aspiration. The rotors are driven by a pulley and belt that are connected to the engine's accessory drive system. Maximum boost pressure is 10,5 psi (0,72 bar).

Because the pressurized air is hotter than naturally aspirated air, the LS9 employs a liquid-to-air charge cooling system to reduce inlet air temperature after it exits the supercharger- reducing the inlet air temperature by up to 60°C (140 F). Cooler air is denser and allows the engine to make the most of its high pressure air charge. The charge cooling system includes a dedicated coolant circuit with remote-mounted pump and reservoir.

The design of the supercharger case and its integrated charge cooling system was driven by the space and dimensions afforded under the Corvette's hood. to that end, the charge cooler was designed as a "dual brick" system, with a pair of low-profile heat exchangers mounted longitudinally on either side of the supercharger. Coupled with the supercharger itself, this integrated design mounts to the engine in place of a conventional intake manifold and is only slightly taller than a non-supercharged 6,2 L engine. The air inlet and rotor drive pulley are positioned at the front of the supercharger.

A special engine cover is attached to the top of the LS9. It surrounds the intercooler, which is visible through a hood window, accenting the supercharger while simultaneously reducing the noise. The cover has "LS9 SUPERCHARGED" script on the left and the right sides, along with a debossed Corvette crossed flags emblem on the front.

The LS9 engine is assembled by hand at GM's Performance Build Center, a unique small-volume engine production facility in Wixon, Michigan, that also builds the Corvette ZO6's LS7 engine and other high performance GM production engines.

Most mechanical components have been adapted to the heavy duty new torque load and power output of the engine. The engine is backed by a Tremec TR6060 six-speed manual transmission with a twin-disc clutch system..

Wallpapers of the Corvette ZR1 2009 and LS9 Supercharged V8 engine