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On different shores

Buying a car, many owners are willing to overpay for reliability, excellent dynamics, honed handling, technical perfection. Machines with loud names are required to combine all these qualities. Otherwise, the name loses strength, the company reputation, buyer trust.
Duelists, crossed swords in this virtual match, carriers of half a century traditions. The legendary name of Chevrolet Corvette in January 2004 went to inherit the sixth generation of the model. Opponent Another exclusive from Maranello, submitted in October 2003 Ferrari-612 Scalletti.
In the spirit of tradition
The new Ferrari supplemented the line of powerful coupe with the V12 engine and the 2 + 2 planting formula. The foundation, model 166 Interter, appeared in 1948. Some characteristic features are guessing in the appearance of scalletti (the model is named in honor of the now Healthy Sergo Scalletti, the author of many Ferrari's bodies of the middle of the last century). For example, in the profile of an elongated front part, where a rather big V12 motor hides, besides the database shifted. You can find similarities and with other mods Ferrari: the falling line of the roof, the shape of the side windows ... This is not an eclecticism, it is a breed.
Of course, the specialists from Ji-Em, working on a new corvette (factory designation C6), also decided to keep roots. Designers retained muscular, tightened appearance, peculiar not only to the predecessor, but also to other Cortets. After all, Mark leads its history since 1953. The new model has a powerful wings with characteristic air removal holes, cunning rear windows, four round lamp. By the way, the latter appeared on Cortets back in 1961. Rather, in favor of fashion and appearance, rather than for the sake of functionality they grown on an inch branded discs with the emblem of Corvette. But what the model admirers will regret, so this is about the original turning chairs: they have become the property of history.
Contrary to the general acceleration, the new Corvette turned out 125 mm shorter and 25 mm of the predecessor with the factory designation C5. True, the car has become 35 mm higher. The developers assure that more modest dimensions helped to emphasize the dynamic nature of the machine.
Not only designers worked on Ferrari and Chevrolet bodies. Constructions and materials will envy many serial cars. Scalletti, for example, became the first ferrari with the engine V12, the body of which is made entirely of aluminum alloys. Moreover, 38% is the power parts cast by the extrusion method (molten metal is squeezed through a forming hole with a fiber), another 34% of particularly strong inserts on which the main loads fall, and the remaining 28% are aluminum sheets of the sheath. The technology of assembly operations depends on the purpose and design of the elements: welding in an inert gas medium, point, compound with special rivets.
Maranello tinsmiths really worked for fame. Ease is not the only advantage of the scalletti body. Compared to the Ferrari-456 predecessor, the ratio of mass and rigidity is noticeably improved, harmful vibrations and noise have decreased. In other words, new technologies helped to increase comfort, pollutory handling.
Corvet's Body Further Development of Ji-EM views on the dynamic car architecture (Performance Cars Architecture). The frame consists of steel power elements made by hydroforming. Cockpit aluminum, and separate parts, such as the floor, are made of composite materials. The design has a high rigidity on twisting, while being much easier than steel.
Stiffness rigidity, but, no matter how cool, the high-speed car body should be safe. More compact compared to the previous corvette the size of the front part complicated the task of developers. I had to change the design of the spars and the bumper, optimize the fastenings of the hood.
The fact that in Italian scoopers pay considerable attention of passive security, virtual krash tests speak eloquently. For example, after hitting the rear of the car into a deformable barrier at a speed of 80 km / h body damage is not dangerous for passengers. Moreover, the Italians argue: the front is so effectively absorbs the energy that during the frontal impact of scalletti is able to protect the rides even without airbag (by the way, there are only two of them!). Naturally, if the passengers are fastened.
In front of the cuzers stood another difficult task to tame the wind. After all, the nature of the air flows is already affected by the speed of about 100 km / h. And when the speedometer arrows dancing near the mark 300?! The new Corvette spent about 400 hours in the aerodynamic tube. The indicators turned out to be very unmarried the coefficient of aerodynamic resistance (CX) is 0.28. Next door to the first formula cars blurred scalletti. True, Ferrari's result is modest: CX 0.335.
Eight against twelve
Under the hoods of our duelants, the engines of about 6 liters are given. Following the traditions, such a litter Italian motorists distributed 12 cylinders, the Americans were limited to the eight.
In the body of Ferrari, an improved engine model 575m Marannello. The working volume remained the same, and the compression ratio increased to 11.2. In addition, they changed the geometry and the volume of the exhaust tract, worked on the inlet pipeline. The torque has not changed, but the maximum power with the same revolutions increased by 18 kW / 25 liters. With. The cylinder block with the corner of the collapse 65o, heads, oil crankcase are cast from light alloys. The drive of four camshafts with a gear strap.
Corvete's unit Fourth generation of ji-uh engines with small (well-known tenant for gigantomania) Small-block blocks. A new aluminum block with steel sleeves appeared. Compared with the predecessor motor raised the compression ratio, increased the stroke of the piston. Some changes have undergone a system of the collector reset a third of excess weight.
But despite the rather high compression ratio of 10.9 for true Americans, the aluminum block and other features of modern motors, the Chevrolet engine looks close to Ferrari a little outdated. Judge for yourself: two valves per cylinder, one bottom camshaft, low liter power. It, of course, corresponds to toxicity standards, accelerates the car until hundreds of less than 5 seconds and allows you to close to the mark of 300 km / h. But Ferrari has these indicators, it's better at a hood by 100 kW more.
Closer to the land
Scalletti and Corvette Rodnith Transmission Scheme So-called Transxle (Transaxle). The engine is located behind the front axle, and the gearbox is docked with rear gearbox. Such placement of aggregates allows you to get closer to ideal weighting. Here the palm of the championship holds Corvette 51% of the entire mass falls on the front axle, 49% on the back. Scalletti imbalance a little more than 46 and 54.
The moment of the ferrari engine goes through a six-speed manual box. At the request of the client, electrohydraulic clutch management and transmission can be installed. The designation F1A indicates the similarity with the formula unit 1. The driver with the driver turns on the sport mode, and the transmission of the transmission can be transferred manually. Hold the car on the course helps self-locking rear differential. With a sharp start, it locks 25% and 45%, when the driver removes his leg from the gas pedal.
Corvette's buyer can also choose a gearbox. For example, a six-speed mechanics, and in two versions, simple and sports, characterized by gear ratios. The hydromechanical box of Hydra-Matic 4L65-E with electronic control is also offered. This upgraded precursor automatic machine is designed for a greater torque and is configured to a sporty way.
Reduce rolls, improve controllability, improve the comfort on Ferrari helps shock absorbers that change rigidity depending on the speed and condition of the road. The driver of the driver will deposit electronics: CST brand system (Control for Stability and Traction), slowing down overly quick wheels, will not give to leave the specified trajectory. If you are confident that without any assistance, damp the stallion from Maranello, you can turn off the system with a button on the steering wheel. Or choose a sports mode, at which the CST trust the pilot, allowing the wheels to slip a little.
The developers of Corvette provided three suspension options for different ride styles. Standard package of some compromise between good handling and comfort. The following level instead of conventional shock absorbers install adaptive with adjustable rigidity. And finally, for gourmets sports shock absorbers and springs, more rigid stabilizers, Hudrier high-speed tires with an asymmetrical tread pattern. By the way, all modifications of Corvette are equipped with safe tires on which you can move at zero pressure. True, not long and not quickly.
As you can see, the newest models from different coast of the ocean are worthy of their loud names. Scalletti car for true gourmets who can estimate all technical delights, and most importantly, ready to pay 250 thousand dollars (price in Europe). It is not surprising that Corvette, which is five times cheaper, looks pale against the background of a more advanced Italian. But this is from the point of view of technology. As for the emotions, which cause both cars, then to measure them in the monetary equivalent is as difficult as they catch a couple of ten seconds when overclocking up to 100 km / h.
 


Maxim Sachkov

A source: Journal "Behind the wheel"