2013 Corvette 427 Convertible – Rare and Commemorating
Chevrolet have announced that a 2013 Corvette 427 Convertible Collector Edition will make it's debut on January the 21st and will go on sale this summer. This is big news for we are talking about the first Chevy ever, that can be both a collector and a commemorative edition at the same time Yes, Chevrolet are celebrating their 60th birthday this year and what better way to mark the occasion than producing a convertible, more powerful than the gravity of Jupiter.
Under the hood one can find an LS7, 7.0 liter (427 cubic-inches) engine, rated at 505 horsepower (377 kW) which sends 470 lb.-ft. of torque (637 Nm) trough a compulsory 6-speed manual. The connecting rods in the LS7 are all titanium and so are the intake valves while high-flow cylinder heads and a dry-sump oil pump add to the performance. The 427 is rear-wheel driven just like the Z06, the battery is at the back for better weight distribution and it comes with a Magnetic Selective Ride Control so the suspension is clever too. The front 19-inch and back 20-inch machine-face Cup wheels (ZR1 Black Cup or chromed also available) are fitted with ZR1 Michelin PS2 tires. To save weight, the hood, fenders and floor panels are all made from carbon fiber. That diet has resulted in the Corvette weighing only 3,355 pounds (1,522 kg) which by itself means a power-to-weight ratio of 6.64 – or one horsepower for every 6.64 pounds of vehicle mass. That's more power than any other convertible can offer including the Ferrari California Convertible, the Audi R8 5.2 RSI Spyder, the Aston Martin DBS Volante Convertible and even the Porsche 911 Turbo S Cabriolet. Predictions suggest a 0 to 60 mph sprint time of just 3.8 second and top speeds exceeding 190 mph.
For the commemorative spec on any Chevrolet, one does need to opt for the 60th Anniversary Package which includes a color theme of "Arctic White" on the outside with Blue Diamond leather seats inside and gray-painted brake calipers. Convertibles will also get a blue rooftop. Other enhancements include a ZR1 rear spoiler, a "CFZ" carbon fiber front splitter and rocker panels and branding on various places to let you know you are driving a novelty. If one feels the need to spend even more money a graphics package includes racing stripes that slice trough the whole car while a Build Experience option allows customer participation in the construction process of the vehicle... which, doesn't make any sense if the customer is as inapt as me when it comes to technology.
Here is a full spec-list of the 427: Overview
Overview | |
Model: | Chevrolet Corvette 427 Convertible Collector Edition |
Body styles / driveline: | two-door convertible; rear-wheel drive |
Construction: | composite body panels, hydroformed steel frame with aluminum and magnesium structural and chassis components |
Manufacturing location: | Bowling Green, Ky. |
Engines
Engines | 7.0L V-8 LS7 (Z06) |
Displacement (cu in / cc): | 427 / 7008 |
Bore & stroke (in / mm): | 4.125 x 4 / 104.8 x 101.6 |
Block material: | cast aluminum |
Cylinder head material: | cast aluminum |
Valvetrain: | overhead valve, two valves per cylinder |
Fuel delivery: | SFI (sequential fuel injection) |
Compression ratio: | 11.0:1 |
Horsepower (hp / kW @ rpm): | 505 / 377 @ 6300* |
Torque (lb-ft / Nm @ rpm): | 470 / 637 @ 4800* |
Recommended fuel: | premium required |
Estimated fuel economy (city / hwy): | 15 / 24 (no guzzler tax) |
Transmission
Transmission | six-speed manual |
Application: | std. |
Gear ratios (:1): | |
First: | 2.66 |
Second: | 1.78 |
Third: | 1.30 |
Fourth: | 1.00 |
Fifth: | 0.74 |
Sixth: | 0.50 |
Reverse: | 2.90 |
Final drive ratio: | 3.42 |
Chassis/Suspension
Front: | short/long arm (SLA) double wishbone, cast aluminum upper and lower control arms, transverse-mounted composite leaf spring, monotube shock absorber; Magnetic Selective Ride Control |
Rear: | short/long arm (SLA) double wishbone, cast aluminum upper and lower control arms, transverse-mounted composite leaf spring, monotube shock absorber; Magnetic Selective Ride Control |
Traction control: | electronic traction control; Active Handling |
Brakes
Type: | front and rear power-assisted disc with ABS with six-piston front and four-piston rear calipers, cross-drilled rotors; |
Rotor diameter x thickness (in / mm): | front: 14 x 1.3 / 355 x 32 rear: 13.4 x 1 / 340 x 26 |
Brake swept area (sq in / mm): | front: 309 / 1994 rear: 269 / 1735 |
Wheels/Tires
Wheel size: | front: 19-inch x 10-inch aluminum rear: 20-inch x 12-inch aluminum |
Tires: | front: 285/30ZR19 rear: 335/25ZR20 |
Dimensions Exterior
Wheelbase (in / mm): | 105.7 / 2685 |
Overall length (in / mm): | 175.6 / 4460 |
Overall width (in / mm): | 75.9 / 1928 |
Overall height (in / mm): | 48.7 / 1236 |
Curb weight (lb / kg): | 3355/ 1522 |
Weight distribution (% front / rear): | 50 / 50 |
Interior
Seating capacity | 2 |
Interior volume (cu ft / L): | 52 / 1475 |
Headroom (in / mm): | 38 / 962 |
Legroom (in / mm): | 43 / 1092 |
Shoulder room (in / mm): | 55 / 1397 |
Hip room (in / mm): | 54 / 1371 |
Capacities
Cargo volume (cu ft / L): | 11 / 295 (top up); 7.5 / 212 (top down) |
Fuel tank (gal / L): | 18 / 68.1 |
Engine oil (qt / L): | 10.5 / 9.9 |
Source: Chevrolet