With the help of Group Lotus, a UK-based engineering consultant, Chevrolet sought to produce the fastest production car in the world. The result was the ZR-1, a Chevrolet Corvette C4 option package released in 1990, which broke the record for the 24-hour, 5,000-mile land speed, achieving speeds of 175 mph. The C4 ZR-1 cost $58,995, making it by far the most expensive Corvette up to that point.
Chevrolet also developed around 25 C4 ZR-1 prototypes with an active-suspension system, created in collaboration with the Lotus Formula 1 team. This was part of a $27 million GM research and development project to create an intelligent digital/hydraulic active suspension system.
Designed to help the car adjust to varying road conditions and enhance cornering and lateral stability, this system used computer-controlled hydraulic struts to actively balance the car’s body during turns.
The Corvette ZR1 Active Suspension prototype car and the technology inside of it led to the Active Handling system GM released in 1996 and ultimately to the Magnetic Selective Ride Control that was featured on the 2003 Corvette. This car isn’t just a weird one-off that ended up leading nowhere, but rather a significant step forward in the history of the Corvette.
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