Daily Car News: 2019 Chevy Corvette ZR-1

2019 Chevy Corvette ZR-1
(photo via CarBuzz)

For the video, click here.

The LA auto show continues to give. The 2019 Corvette ZR-1 debuted in Dubai, and the sheets came off the drop-top version in Los Angeles. The ZR-1 comes with a hand-built supercharged LT5, which hopefully won't be plagued with the overheating problems of the Z06. The V8 is no slouch, pushing out 755 horsepower and 715 pound-feet of torque. Top speed is 212 MPH, though the LT5 is only limited by aerodynamics at this point.

2019 Chevy Corvette ZR-1
(photo via CarBuzz)

 Speaking of which, the Corvette has ample amounts of down-force. A massive front splitter sits under the chin of the car, and an even bigger rear spoiler is mounted on the trunk lid. The car comes standard with Michelin Pilot Sport Cup tires, which get upgraded to the Cup 2s when buyers choose the ZTK performance package. The Corvette ZR-1 stops on a dime with six piston front brake calipers and four piston calipers in the rear.


The fastest Corvette ever is sure to attract many buyers and break necks as it spits flames out of its quad exhaust pipes (yes, it does that).

2019 Chevy Corvette ZR-1 Convertible
(photo via CarBuzz)

Daily Car News: 2018 Jeep Wrangler

2018 Jeep Wrangler
For t(photo via CarBuzz)

For the video, click here.

The 2017 Los Angeles auto show was a hotbed for new car debuts. The most important vehicle to come out of the show so far is the 2018 Jeep Wrangler. Jeep is one of FCAs most profitable branches, and the Wrangler is the most iconic, brand defining Jeep. As such, there was a lot on the line for Jeep as it unveiled the new Wrangler, which hasn't seen any significant update since 2012.

Not surprisingly, the new Wrangler looks a lot like the old one--it's more evolution than revolution. That's fine, because Jeep must not alienate its loyal Wrangler fan-base. The headlights are more advanced, and creep into the classic seven-bar Jeep grille. In the rear, the traditionally boxed-off, no-nonsense rear taillights add a bit of flare, the outline of the light now has creases instead of being a perfect rectangle. Bits and pieces of the smaller Renegade are shown throughout the exterior, as Jeeps corporate styling progresses.

2018 Jeep Wrangler
(photo via CarBuzz)

Under the hood there are three available choices, the same 3.6 liter Pentastar V6, 2.0 liter turbocharged four cylinder, and a new 3.0 liter EcoDiesel V6 arriving for the 2019 model year. The Wrangler remains current with the addition of Apple Car Play and Android Auto, as well as standard push-button start and the full suite of active safety systems.

2018 Jeep Wrangler interior
(photo via CarBuzz)

This doesn't mean the Wrangler has been neutered, however. It boasts best ascent and departure angles, and the ability to drive though up to 30 inches of water.
It's safe to say the new Wrangler is now a more modern piece while not moving too far from what makes it great.

Hennessey Venom F5, Bugatti Chiron Super Sport rumors, Koenigsegg Agera R top speed, Mercedes Project One

For the video click here.

Let's talk hyper-cars, shall we? Today's focus is the Mercedes-Benz Project One hyper-car, the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport rumors, the new Hennessey Venom F5, and the Koenigsegg Agera R top speed runs. 

Mercedes Project One
(photo courtesy of CarBuzz)

Enter the new Mercedes-AMG Project One, a name that sounds surprisingly close to Koenigsegg’s own One:1. The name seems unoriginal, believe it or not, so does the actual car. The styling looks like something out of McLaren’s Woking studio. Look at the similarities. They’re going for the F1 car look, but we all know the air duct at the top will be reduced to just the inlet hole, and the aggressive look of the whole thing will be toned down if it ever reaches production, which it most likely will not. It’s powered by an electric turbo 1.6 liter V6 coupled to an electric motor at the crank of the V6. Mercedes pegs system output at greater than 1,000 horsepower, an ambitious target for a company that has not yet topped 800 in a production car. Top speed is said to be somewhere around 218 MPH, and acceleration to 60 MPH should be well under 3 seconds. Mercedes is fashionably late to the electric hyper-car game, with the 918, LaFerrari an

d P1 entering the market in 2015. This only detracts from the Project One's originality--or for that matter--what it has left of its originality.

Bugatti Veyron Super Sport
(allcarseveryday)

Next is the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport, or whatever name Bugatti is going to designate for the faster Chiron. The Vitesse (convertible) version of the Chiron must come first; expect that in the next year and a half. Three years from now will be the "Super Sport" version, so we have some time to wait. The old Super Sport added 183 horsepower over the stock Veyron, and top speed increased from 253 to a certified 267.7 MPH. The new Chiron makes 1,479 horsepower from the heavily revised quad-turbo W16, with 1,180 pound feet of torque at 2,000 rpm. Top speed is technically 288 MPH, but is governed at 261 for safety reasons. The Chiron has not yet made official speed runs to obtain either number, however. Based on the Veyron patterns, the Chiron "Super Sport" should end just shy of 300 MPH for the final number, that is, if Bugatti can eke out any more juice from this already very taxed engine. I have a feeling that Bugatti will wait to see what the F5 will do before it makes any plans for an upgraded Chiron.

Koenigsegg Agera R
(photo courtesy of CarBuzz)

Speaking of which, this November the Koenigsegg Agera R finally made good on its claims of 273 miles per hour, achieving an average 277.9 MPH in both directions on a closed Nevada highway. It has yet to be recognized by the Guinness Book of World records, where the Veyron Super Sport still holds the top spot. 

This spot may be short lived as the Hennessey Venom F5 rolls onto the scene. Hennessey built this vehicle from the ground-up, qualifying it for a production car record holding spot, as opposed to the F4, which was loosely based on a Lotus. The F4 managed to hit 270.49, but the world record book refused to acknowledge that because it wasn’t an average two-way speed. I’m sure Hennessey is eager to test the F5, as it has 1,600 horsepower from its twin-turbo V8. At $1.6 million, it’s safe to say the 24 examples being made are going to only the richest of the rich. These lucky individuals may get to test the F5’s claimed 301 MPH top speed, which I’m sure has Bugatti and Koenigsegg in a permanent state of fear.