Nothing says muscle car like a Corvette – paint it orange and the article could pretty much end there with pictures, but lets take a look at the Corvette ZR1 convertible.

corvette zr1 sebring orange convertible side

The LA Motor Show has been the platform for some fine automobiles this year, with many manufacturers saving up some special offerings for this end of season show. So enter the Corvette ZR1, which has been touted in some quarters as the most extreme Corvette ever…

corvette zr1 convertible front

It’s hard to believe, but this is actually the first convertible ZR1 since the seventies. Powered by a hand-assembled V8 Eaton supercharged 6.2 litre LT5 engine with a carbon fibre cover, the striking Corvette can produce an eye watering 715lb ft of torque with 755bhp. The ZR1 supercar can reach 60mph in less than 3 seconds as it powers to its top speed of 212mph – and you get a choice of a 7-speed manual or 8-speed automatic gearbox too.

corvette zr1 convertible

As if a V8 doesn’t sound good enough as it is, you can even tune your sound (sort of) thanks to four different drive modes – Sport, Stealth, Tour and Track. The mode that leaps out here is Stealth mode. Stealth allows you to go about your daily business without drawing too much attention, at least noise-wise – an interesting option for such an ostentatious automobile!

corvette zr1 convertible side

Chevrolet/Corvette say that the car is built for one thing – and that’s performance, with a luxurious stance. With plenty of carbon fibre, heated seats and leather upholstery throughout plus a Bose sound system, driving one of these should be a very satisfying escape from every-day reality – just as a supercar should be.

corvette zr1 convertible interior

The Corvette ZR1 has also had its suspension tweaked especially for the drop-top experience – and you can retract the top at speeds of up to 30 miles per hour too.

I’ve always been a sucker for orange cars, and the Sebring Orange Design Package paint is rich and deep, using Sebring Orange Tintcoat for the bodywork with orange colour-coded (Brembo) brake calipers, seatbelt details and interior stitching. A lovely bronzed aluminium trim on the inside complements the colour perfectly. In short, it’s a beautiful looking car.

corvette zr1 sebring orange

This is the fastest production Corvette ever built and sits on 19-inch front and 20-inch rear wheels, which adds to the sleek sporty look and feel. Add a ZTK Performance Package with a pretty outrageous rear wing and a stiffer chassis and you have a beast of a car for the track. That rear wing isn’t just for show though; it allows the car to generate up to 430kg of downforce.

corvette zr1 convertible alloys

The Corvette ZR1 will be available in spring 2018 in the USA from around $124,000.

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