SEMA 2007: Jay Leno's new E85 C6RS Corvette
Click on Jay's super-Vette for a high-res gallery
For the latest addition to his mega-garage Jay Leno has collaborated with Pratt & Miller to create a Corvette with body-work inspired by the C6R racers and ethanol flowing through its veins. The C6RS is the latest addition to Leno's collection, which also includes a variety of alternative-fueled cars including vintage electric cars. The C6RS started life as a Z06 but much of the front and rear fiberglass body work has been replaced by carbon fiber parts that duplicate the appearance and function of the race car. The most important stuff is under the hood where the 505hp LS7 V-8 has been replaced by an entirely new powerplant.
Katech Engines, producers of racing engines, started with a custom aluminum block machined from a solid block of aluminum rather than cast as most engines are. The top end and lubrication system are stock, but a forged steel crank combines with a larger bore in the block to yield an 8.2L displacement, up from the stock 7.0L. A new engine management system yields a bottom line of 600 hp from biofuel. The interior has been spruced up with a variety of leather clad goodies from Genuine Corvette Accessories.
[Source: Chevrolet]
For release: Oct. 29, 2007, 12:01 a.m. EDT
GREEN AND MEAN: JAY LENO'S E85-CAPABLE Z06-INSPIRED C6RS CORVETTE BOASTS 600 HP AND ALTERNATIVE-FUEL CAPABILITY
LAS VEGAS: Tonight Show host Jay Leno's predilection for performance cars is no secret, but many fellow enthusiasts may not know that he is keenly interested in alternative fuels. To prove that red-blooded power mixes easily with a touch of green, Leno partnered with Pratt & Miller the engineering company that builds and campaigns C6.R Corvettes to develop a modified Corvette Z06 that is capable of running on E85 ethanol. It was unveiled at the 2007 SEMA Show.
More than merely a conversion of the stock LS7 engine to E85 capability, Leno's alternative-fuel supercar is powered by a custom, 8.2L (500-cubic-inch) all-aluminum small-block V-8 that pumps out approximately 600 horsepower and 585 lb.-ft. of torque.
The C6RS is the result of an idea we hatched to prove that high-performance cars and alternative fuel technology weren't diametrically opposed concepts, said Leno. I love the idea of having 600 horsepower at my disposal, but using a homegrown alternative to gasoline.
The engine is built around a custom aluminum cylinder block that was CNC-milled from a single block of billet aluminum. And while the cylinder heads, intake system and dry-sump oiling system are stock LS7 components, the engine which has larger bore and stroke dimensions than the 7.0L (427-cubic-inch) LS7 uses a one-off reciprocating assembly, including a forged steel crankshaft, forged rods and forged pistons. Katech Engines, the company that builds engines for the Corvette C6.R racing program, developed the engine.
The fuel system and engine control computer were modified to accommodate E85, and spent gases exit through a Corsa exhaust system. Supporting the 600-horse engine ís power is a blueprinted and strengthened T-56 six-speed transmission and a high-performance Centerforce dual-friction clutch.
C6.R inspiration
On the outside, Leno's bad and black C6RS emulates the styling of C6.R racecars, with wider front and rear fenders and a wider rear fascia with an integrated spoiler on top and a racing-style diffuser at the bottom (the diffuser incorporates an LED-lit backup lamp). A C6.R-style waterfall hood front fender louvers, rockers and lower grille opening further define this special Corvette and all of the car's front-end panels are made of carbon-fiber, including custom brake air ducts routed through the front fenders. With all of its body modifications, Leno's C6RS is 1.6 inches wider than stock.
The C6.R and production Corvette's aerodynamically styled bodywork is designed to slice efficiently through the wind, which helps enhance fuel mileage.
The race-ready look of the car is enhanced with a quartet of BBS wheels that feature racing-type locking center hubs. The forged aluminum 18-inch front wheels and 19-inch rear wheels ride on Michelin P295/30ZR18 and P345/30ZR19 tires, respectively.
Adding authenticity to the carís custom bodywork was the involvement of Pratt & Miller. The company took on the task of crafting Leno's Corvette into a street-going replica of the racecars, which included installing or fabricating a host of unique components, including:
* A custom DeWitt high-capacity radiator with dual cooling fans
* A carbon-fiber ram-air induction system
* Carbon-fiber inner fender panels that vent hot air from the engine compartment
* Brembo brakes with six-piston mono-block calipers in front and four-piston rear calipers
* Dyna-Mat used throughout the cabin and chassis to reduce interior noise
While the exterior and drivetrain were inspired by the racetrack, the C6RS's cabin exudes luxury, with premium touches and enhancements from Genuine Corvette Accessories that include a two-tone shift knob and boot; leather-covered console armrest, parking brake handle and boot; an interior trim kit, racing-style pedal covers and more.
With its 600 horses on tap and domestically produced E85 fuel in the tank, Jay Leno's alternative-fueled C6RS is an all-American supercar that proves high performance and environmental consciousness go together like the Corvette and checkered flags.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
cbank 11:31AM (2/07/2008)
I saw this vehicle at the 2007 SEMA show. The wheels have a "black chrome" finsh that was applied to them. The company that did the finish was a vendor at SEMA as well. But I can't remember who the vendor was? Does anybody know?
Reply
Jim D. 4:20AM (3/12/2008)
cbank,
The "black chrome" is Metallight -- an eco-friendly alternative to the traditional toxic chemical-ridden chroming process.
I was fortunate enough to spend about an hour at SEMA talking to the gentlemen responsible for the coatings on Jay's wheels -- Helios Coatings Inc. at http://www.helioscoatingsinc.com -- Incredibly interesting stuff, and I suppose it's one more thing that helps to make Jay's Corvette "green."
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Phil ramsey 6:27PM (5/12/2009)
Hey john pera , my name is Phil Ramsey and I had the pleasure of coming to the
Big Dogg Garage with the Pratt-Miller race team Long Beach Grand Prix
weekend and it was shure a 1 in a million experience, dan, dave,mike ,stewart,
and my self hand a great time ,wish we could of talked to jay for a little while longer
my question would you know someone that might be intersted in a real nice
73 BMW 3.0 CS COUPE as I am shure you get asked all the time its a local
car (redondo beach) $82,000 in work order reciepts owner would like to sell
for $55,ooo all factory bmw parts icould send you some pictures if you like
my cell number is (310) 245-8193 P.S. is Jay better now I hope , thanks..
Reply
why not the LS2/LS7? 1:30AM (10/29/2007)
Seriously only 600HP? Just raise the compression on the regular LS7 to match the higher octane of E85 and I think you'd hit 600HP.
Reply
FRED FELDER 9:16AM (10/29/2007)
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Tel 00233 246567767
Dear sir/ Mad
I like to know AUDI TT CONVETBLE the price and how long it will talk to come to africa Ghana. I want the address of the owner of the car and email ok. moreover i like a partener in this business
our company is the largest cars selling company in Ghana. and we are looking for serious GOOD partner in this business. so i want the Email and telphone number of the car owner.
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hope to hear from u very soon.
Reply
Virgil 8:50AM (10/29/2007)
Sorry, but you really do your blog a lot of damage by putting up stuff like this. What the hell is a 600HP ANYTHING doing on a green car blog? Who cares if it runs on ethanol or any of the other travesties the Bush Admin' is trying to push us into? And Jay Leno - yeah, he's famed the world over for his environmental friendliness. Puke.
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GenWaylaid 2:18PM (10/29/2007)
Now, 600hp can be environmentally friendly, provided it's pulling full-size freight trains.
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Turbofrog 3:23PM (10/29/2007)
I am so sick of headlines like this. If you're switching to ethanol (the benefits of which are completely dubious to begin with) to gain horsepower, you're not doing the environment any favour.
Keep your gas engine and cut the weight if you want to improve your performance. That, and the car will do absolutely everything else better, too...
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Jrod 11:22AM (10/30/2007)
Here's the website for the car:
http://www.prattmillerc6rs.com
Reply