QUICK SHIFTS: C8 Review, LS Swap, Business Case, British ZR-1 Sedan, 2010 Grand Sport Reveal, and more!

Welcome to Quick Shifts! Quick Shifts is a content feature here at CorvetteBlogger featuring links to Corvette and automotive-related stories of interest. This week we have a new C8 review, LS swap pointers, the business side of Corvette, the C4 ZR-1’s British sedan (saloon) cousin, an LS9 powered C4 B2K, supercharger types, and the reveal of the 2010 Corvette Grand Sport at the 2009 NCM Bash.

FIRST GEAR:

If I was waiting for an all-new Corvette, I know I’d be doing multiple readings of every word from people who had driven it. If you are in that boat, the Dallas Morning News has a gift for you in the way of a brand new review of the mid-engine marvel. Spoiler alert; they like it and we think you’ll enjoy the brand new content!

Check it out here.

SECOND GEAR:

Second gear is tailored for those of you out there with project ‘Vettes in need of modern power. Motor Trend ran an interesting piece this week full of tips and tricks to help with an LS swap. Put on your learning cap and try this article on for size.

THIRD GEAR:

Off to the business sector for a three-part third gear. First, Barrons speaks to our good buddy, Mike Furman about pent-up demand in the luxury sector and how they expect it to manifest in a large increase in high-end car sales in these coming months. While most car manufacturers saw significant Coronavirus-related losses in the first quarter of this year (Ford lost a whopping $2 Billion!), General Motors actually managed to turn a profit, as told here, by the Freep. Finally, as we reported earlier this week, GM has found a way to keep the Indiana plant that builds the C8 chassis open during the auto industry shutdown. The original report from the New York Times is worth a read as it is full of little nuggets about the importance of the ‘Vette to GM’s bottom line.

FOURTH GEAR:

Most around these parts would (rightly) point to the almighty C4 ZR-1 as the juiciest fruit grown out of the General’s time as owner of Lotus, but across the pond, there was another, and it was equally impressive. Hagerty detailed the beast in question, the Vauxhall Lotus Carlton in an outstanding piece this week. The four-door 1990 Carlton actually produced two more horsepower than a ZR-1 of the same vintage (a total of 377). On top of that, it produced an eye-opening 419 lb-ft of torque from its 3.6L twin-turbocharged straight six at a time when the BMW M5 made due with 311 ponies and 266 lb-ft of twist. It could also do a Ferrari Testarosa equaling 176 MPH while the M5 topped out at 155. Extremely impressive stuff that has long had the Carlton atop my UK dream garage list along with the manic TVR Sagaris.

FIFTH GEAR:

Cool build alert! Courtesy of Chevy Hardcore is an original B2K C4 that has had its twin-turbo mill swapped out for an LS9 after three decades of heavy use. Why are you still reading this synopsis when the real thing is just waiting to be read? See the beast for yourself here.

SIXTH GEAR:

Speaking of the LS9, did you know that there are four different types of supercharger? The always entertaining, Engineering Explained is here to educate the masses about what makes each kind of the Corvette team’s favorite form of forced induction (for now, at least) unique.

Watch and learn on YouTube.

REVERSE:

For this week’s reverse, we turn back the pages of CorvetteBlogger to 2009 when the 2010 Corvette Grand Sport was unveiled at the NCM Bash. If you were there, or were one of the thousands of owners who once owned a C6 Corvette Grand Sport, here’s your chance to see the introduction of the 2010 Grand Sport as it was presented to Bash attendees. This was our first NCM Bash and we haven’t missed one since.

Have a great weekend, Corvette Nation! Get out there and enjoy your cars!

Previous Quick Shifts:
Future C8s, Banshee History, Four-Rotor C8 Project, Harley Earl WWII Manuals, Dream Cruise is On, and More!
Assembly Plant Rumors, C8 vs Carrera S, Tommy Milner, Engine Mods, Mustang Day, DeMuro C5 Review
COVID-19, C8 Corvette, L88 For Sale, LS Engine Swaps, Lockdown Activities, Four-Wheeling