Officially Official: 2012 Corvette to Reach New Heights in Performance

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Although most of the new updates to the 2012 Corvette were released last week somewhat prematurely and covered here on CorvetteBlogger.com, Chevy made it official today with an official press release detailing the new equipment and options that will be available with next year's Corvette.


We said last week that the 2012 Corvette is all about maximizing performance and that performance starts with the new Michelin Pilot Sport Cup tires that will be offered on select ZR1 and Z06 packages. The new tires were designed by Michelin engineer Lee Willard who also designed the Michelin PS2 tires for the ZR1 and the racing tires used by the ALMS C6.Rs.

The ZR1 gets a new transmission with tweeks in the 5th and 6th gears that will give drivers an additional 2 mpg in the highway rating and helps lower the gas guzzler tax. Another new checkbox that ZR1 buyers will drool over is the ZR1 Performance Package which adds the new Michelin tires as well as Black Cup Style wheels and the 6-speed close-ratio manual transmission.

Z06 buyers will have additional choices as well. The Ultimate Performance Package includes the Z07 package and adds the Sport Cup tires, lightweight wheels and the Performance Traction Management system found on the ZR1. Z06 buyers can also add a new carbon fiber hood or go with the F55 Magnetic Selective Ride Control which also includes the PTM system, black cup-style wheels and Michelin PS2 tires.

Perhaps the most requested changes come in the interior. New redesigned seats will offer more support and buyers who upgrade to 4LT interiors will be able to get suede seat inserts that will keep your butt firmly planted. A new steering wheel is being offered and the Bose stereo was redesigned to offer a new amp and 9 speakers. Those that have heard it said its a noticable improvement.

Addtional interior changes include some of the most popular options like Nav, Bluetooth and Head-Up Display moving down and becoming availble in the 2LT trim level.

Lastly, buyers will be able to personlize their 2012 Corvettes with a choice of brake caliper color in red, yellow, silver or gray.

On Friday, the faithful who made the pilgrimage to Bowling Green will see the wraps taken off the new Centennial Edition Corvette with its Carbon Flash black metallic paint and images of company namesake Louis Chevrolet.

Here is full press release from Chevrolet detailing the changes and updates to the 2012 Corvette.


Corvette Performance Reaches Higher in 2012
Interior enhancements, new performance packages highlight upgrades

DETROIT – Chevrolet announced today that it will once again elevate Corvette's performance capabilities with a series of improvements for the 2012 model year that improve on-track performance and on-road comfort. They include enhancements to the high-performance Z06 and ZR1 models as well as interior upgrades across the Corvette lineup.

Sports car fans will get their first look at the 2012 models – including the racing-inspired appearance of the Chevrolet Centennial Edition – at a special event this weekend at the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Ky. Production begins in July.

"We constantly strive to make the Corvette a better car on the road and the track," says Tadge Juechter, Corvette vehicle line director and chief engineer. "For 2012, the Corvette lineup achieves its highest performance level ever, while at the same time being easier to drive and enjoy thanks to several changes and new features inside the car."

New Michelin Cup ZP tires elevate Z06/ZR1 performance

Corvette's greater performance for 2012 begins with the new, optional Michelin® Pilot® Sport Cup Zero Pressure tires, which are available on the two highest-performing models, the lightweight, 505-hp (377 kW) Z06 and the maximum-performance, 638-hp (476 kW) supercharged ZR1. They are competition-oriented tires, optimized for warm, dry conditions to increase cornering and handling capability.

When combined with the Corvette's exclusive Performance Traction Management (PTM) technology – which manages torque delivery for maximum performance – the tires are expected to help set new benchmarks for Corvette performance. Engineers estimate an 8-percent gain in maximum lateral acceleration, to more than 1.1g, and improved braking distance. Testing at Virginia International Raceway has demonstrated improvement of approximately three seconds per lap.

The Cup ZP tires were developed by the same Michelin engineers who develop tires for Corvette Racing in the American Le Mans Series and are essentially street-legal versions of a racing tire. They are included in the optional Z07 performance package on the Corvette Z06 and a new PDE performance package on the ZR1. The 285/30-19 (front) and 335/25-20 (rear) tires are matched with all-new aluminum Cup-style wheels in satin black or machined finishes. They are about five pounds lighter (2.2 kg) and stronger than the 20-spoke wheel offered in 2011.

Performance Traction Management (offered on the Z06 for the first time in 2012) is an advanced system that optimizes traction for greater and more consistent on-track performance. The system also integrates traction control, active handling and selective ride control systems to enhance race track driving consistency and overall performance. When full throttle is applied upon exiting a corner, it automatically manages acceleration dynamics.

A full-width racing-style spoiler for improved aerodynamics is also included in both the '12 Z07 and PDE packages. The Z06 model will now offer Magnetic Selective Ride Control, the world's fastest-reacting suspension technology – an innovation Corvette pioneered several years ago. And as before, Brembo carbon ceramic brakes will be a part of the Z07 chassis package (they are standard on ZR1). Michelin Pilot Sport 2 tires remain standard on the ZR1.

A carbon fiber hood will be an available option on 2012 Z06 models, while the standard manual transmission for ZR1 will include taller gearing in fifth and sixth gears, for a 2-mpg improvement in highway fuel economy.

Interior and feature changes All 2012 Corvette models will include a new seat design and a new steering wheel. The seats feature larger bolsters on the seat back and cushion areas, which provide better driver support, especially in high-performance driving while remaining comfortable for daily street driving. Microfiber suede seat inserts are optional and improve tactile feel, as well as add additional support.

The new seats are complemented by the revised steering wheel, featuring model-specific badges, streamlined switch trim and wrapped spokes. Padded center console and armrests for all models are now included for 2012. An additional visual touch inside the car is contrasting color stitching – in red, blue and yellow – which is available with the custom leather-wrapped interior.

Also coming in 2012 is a new Bose uplevel audio system, which includes nine speakers (compared to seven in 2011) for improved audio quality that is more precisely tuned to the cabin's acoustics. New tweeters located in the instrument panel and improved Bose Nd next-generation bass performance is the main benefit that Corvette drivers will hear.

A new Technology Package (2LT trim level) brings together many of the Corvette's popular infotainment features and makes them available for more models. The package's equipment includes the navigation radio, head-up display, Bose premium audio system, Bluetooth wireless phone connectivity and a USB port.

Wrapping up the new features for 2012 is the availability for customers to select brake caliper colors, for more personalization of their Corvette. The calipers are offered in the red, yellow, silver or gray.

Soure: General Motors via corvetteblogger.com