BlackforceOne 'Vette goes 330km/h
2009-11-26 08:00
Started out life as a run-of-the-mill C6 Covette. After Loma performance is done with it, well, it’s BlackforceOne – whatever that might be…
Vehicle Specs
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Manufacturer
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Chevrolet
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Model
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Corvette BlackforceOne
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Engine
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6.2l, twin-turbo
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Power
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583kW
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Loma performance has a serious thing for American’s seminal performance car – GM’s Corvette.
So, it comes as no surprise the crew at Loma used next week's Essen motor show as a perfect excuse to build one rather outlandish C6.
The car Loma will be ramping up for display purposes at Essen is called the C6.BlackforceOne, which is a nice, subtle name – something to placate your insurance broker when filling out forms…
Although the BlackforceOne is based on the less radical C6 Corvette (instead of the Z-models), it cuts a presence more in line with the 7l and supercharged 'Vettes.
Fatter (sorry, wider) fighter jet?
Thanks to carbon-fibre wheelarch extensions and side skirts the BlackforceOne is 100mm wider than a stock C6, which gives it a pseudo ZR1 vibe.
Aerodynamic refinements include a carbon constructed front lip spoiler, aft diffuser (with integrated LEDs) and boot lid spoiler.
Rolling in the BlackforceOne’s extended wheelarches are menacing black OZ racing alloy wheels, measuring 19-inches up front and 20-inches at the rear. These twelve blade wheels are shod with Michelin Sport Cup tyres (a German aftermarket favourite).
Forget carbon-fibre or colour-changing metallic paint, matt is where it's at for 2009.
The BlackforceOne’s truly distinguishing design feature is its surfacing – which can be ordered in stealthy matt black, Eurofighter (we kid you not) matt grey or white storm (a touch racist perhaps?).
No matter which of these three exterior colours you decide on, rest assured, they represent the very best of this year’s very vogue matt finishing craze…
Twin-turbo power
Beyond the substantial styling package, Loma performance has shored up drivetrain mechanicals quite substantially.
The BlackforceOne is powered by a bi-turbo converted 6.2l V8 engine, driving the rear wheels via a carbon-fibre clutch and driveshaft combination.
Whereas the stock C6 ‘Vette produces an entirely sufficient 325kW and 580Nm, BlackforceOne’s dual turbochargers swell peak power output quite alarmingly, all the way to 583kW – which is a lot, you’ll no doubt agree…
Loma claims a top speed of 330km/h and 0-100km/h acceleration (on a traction biased surface with a skilled driver at the helm) of only 3.4 seconds.
All things considered the BlackforceOne's power output plainly embarrasses the king-of-the-hill ZR1, whilst its performance numbers do likewise.
Dark colour mags a nightmare to keep clean, yet they contrast very neatly with those yellow Mov'it brake calipers.
Well-rounded dynamics
Fortunately, the BlackforceOne’s raging performance is kept in check by a coilover suspension modification at all four wheel corners and adjustable stabilizers.
Hauling the BlackforceOne down from speed with the requisite security is a set of carbon-fibre/ceramic brakes from Mov’it (who?) which reduce combined wheel corner mass by 10kg up front and 15kg aft.
No self-respecting German aftermarket tuner would dare exhibit a vehicle at Essen without some neat cabin embellishments and Loma is no different.
To this end BlackforceOnes cabin is littered with carbon and Alcantara trim, whilst customers can option on nearly 300 types of leather.
The steering wheel is a 340mm diameter aftermarket job with Alcanatra rim trim and features a squared off lower section for negotiating those really tight radius corners.
Loma is limiting the BlackforceOne to only 25 units and when it debuts at the Essen motorshow next week it’s set to retail for €190 000.
