The Best Of Automotive: 2011 Chevrolet Corvette

2011 Chevrolet Corvette

Dodge may be having all the fun crafting race-ready versions of its Viper, but the designers and enthusiasts employed at General Motors want to remind you they're not incapable of building some serious race machinery themselves. Witness the Chevrolet Corvette Z06X and Camaro SS X concepts: built in partnership with Pratt & Miller for the 2010 SEMA show, these two show stoppers are GM's vision of the ultimate track machines.
Chevrolet Corvette Z06X Concept Rear View
2011 Corvette Z06X Concept
It's hard to find fault with the basic premise of a Corvette Z06, but designers simply took the best of the production car while adding features to help it 'round a road course. The Z06X concept is built upon a production 2011 Z06 fitted with both the vaulted Z07 performance package and the CFZ Carbon Fiber option group.
From there, GM added a low-restriction air intake, along with a heavy-duty radiator and an improved cooling system. Engineers also tinkered with the suspension setup, adding mono-ball control arm bushings, adjustable stabilizer bars, and coil-over struts with adjustable camber plates. Brembo carbon-ceramic brake rotors are part of the stock Z07 package, but lightweight racing wheels, finished in a dark hue and capped with Michelin racing rubber -- sized 285/30R19 up front and 335/25R20 at rear -- are unique to the Z06X.
Chevrolet Corvette Z06X Concept Front View
That black finish ties well with the Z06X's exterior design. Although all body parts are essentially stock, GM painted the car in a Icy White Metallic color, adding a black racing stripe and rear fascia, along with red accents. Inside, the Z06X's interior is gutted of interior trim and insulation, allowing the installation of an SCCA-approved roll cage, fire suppression system, a racing seat for the driver, and a five-point harness. To help further strip the car of weight, the rear hatch glass has been replaced with a custom polycarbonate window.
2011 Camaro SS X Concept
Chevrolet's Camaro SS X concept abides by the same formula applied to the Z06X, although a few extra modifications were required to help turn the bulky muscle machine into a satisfying road racer.
Chevrolet Camaro SS X Concept Front View
Outside, the SS X shares the Z06X's design theme, sporting the same black-on-white paint scheme as its fiberglass-bodied relative. In a move to strip weight, GM replaced the hood, fenders, doors, and deck lid with panels fabricated from carbon fiber. For aerodynamic purposes, a carbon fiber front splitter, rocker panels, and adjustable rear wing were also added to the package.
Underhood, the SS X retains the Camaro's stock 6.2-liter LS3 V-8, although it's been massaged with a new camshaft, revised cylinder heads, and a dry-sump oil system. The six-speed transmission is stock Getrag fare, although it is fitted with a twin-disc clutch raided from the Corvette ZR1 parts bin. 20-inch wheels and racing tires are added, and are stopped courtesy of an upgraded four-wheel-brake system, which includes six-piston front calipers, four-piston rear calipers, and slotted rotors at each corner.
Chevrolet Camaro SS X Concept Rear View
As is the case with the Z06X, the Camaro SS X's interior isn't exactly conducive for commuting. Carpeting, insulation, interior trim, and other parts -- including the rear seat -- have been gutted to shave weight and make room for some serious racing hardware. An SCCA-spec roll cage, window net, race seat, and five-point harness are added, along with racing pedals, a fire suppression system, and fuel cell.
Although we'd love to see the SS X enter a revived Trans-Am series, these two cars have little, if any, chance of entering production. Which bowtie show car comes closest to serving as your dream track machine?