C8 ZR1 Uses Fixed Instead of Active Aero, Chief Engineer of the Program Explains Why
GM threw every performance trick in the book at the new ZR1, but they held back from offering it with active aero for a good reason.
The new C8 ZR1 is one of the most impressive performance cars to be revealed in the last decade. And while the 1,064-horsepower LT7 steals most of the headlines (for good reason) the new ZR1 is about a lot more than just a powerful engine. As you know, having a lot of power doesn’t matter much if you can’t put it to the ground. Corvette engineers worked hard to come up with software calibration that will help get the car to grip from a dig. But what about once the car is moving? With this much power on tap, the car is going to need help staying on the ground at speed. The giant tires certainly help with mechanical grip. But aerodynamic grip is just as important. So, you would expect the most powerful and advanced Corvette ever to have active aero, right? Wrong.
The new ZR1 when equipped with the ZTK Performance package creates plenty of downforce. More than any other Corvette in history in fact. A large part of that is thanks to the massive rear wing. But GM wants the ZR1 to be the pinnacle of performance. A car that will compete with supercars and hypercars. And most of those other high-end performance cars use active aero. So, why is it missing from the ZR1? Tadge Juechter recently retired after a stellar career at GM. But he was the Corvette Chief Engineer when the ZR1 was developed. And he spoke recently to GM Authority about why the car uses fixed aero. He also touches on the subject a bit during the reveal of the car in Miami. Video of that reveal was posted on the MOTROLIX YouTube channel. So, what did he say about it?
It Works for Race Cars
With the ZTK Performance package, the ZR1 generates 1,200 pounds of downforce at speed. That is certainly nothing to be ashamed of. And high downforce is great to keep a car on the road. But downforce also generates drag which hurts the top speed. So, engineers are always looking for the perfect balance. “No active aero, we have fixed aero like you see on [Corvette] race cars,” Juechter told GM Authority. “It’s very, very powerful. The lift to drag ratio is very good.”
Just for Looks
Is active aero just for looks? GM Authority asked Juechter if active aero was considered during the development process. His answer was a bit surprising. “Almost every active aero system we have actually had the opportunity to test is there to make an aesthetic possible,” Juechter said. “So, when the active aero is deployed, it’s both lower drag and more downforce. So, because it achieves both, why not just leave it deployed all the time? It’s not like trading one for the other.” Does that mean Juechter believes that cars like the Koenigsegg Jesko Attack which can generate over 2,200 pounds of downforce at 180 mph and a maximum of over 3,000 pounds at top speed uses active aero just for looks? Well, the Koenigsegg is a $3 million car, so comparing it with any Corvette is not really fair. We love the ZR1 just the way it is. That big fixed wing works just fine.
Images: Chevrolet
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