I detected no cowl shake in the drop top, even when traversing the broken pavement that is characteristic of the small roads around SIR. The paddle-commanded gearshifts did require a little time to take effect, and slamming from gear to gear in a gut-tightening display of acceleration wasn't quite the visceral experience it was in the manual version. Still, the pure, large-displacement grunt was unmistakable.
The C6RS's standard Corsa exhaust emitted a nice, throaty burble at idle. At speed, the note was surprisingly muted, which should make the car tolerable for cruising long distances on the highway.
For leisurely, top-down driving enhanced by massive amounts of steroidal muscle, there is little to compare to the C6RS convertible. With all of that performance on tap, it's interesting to note that Jim Miller drove the car from Sebring to Naples and back, recording 20.4 mpg while dancing on the accelerator pedal from time to time along the way.
On The Track
The next day, we had a chance to take the C6RS "mule" out on the track at Sebring. This is where the car really had a chance to display its dance moves. Freed from having to monitor the rearview mirrors for police cruisers, the mind turns from thoughts of ride comfort and interior noise to the serious business of going fast. In this role, the car doesn't disappoint.
The acceleration is amazing. With the gobs of torque possessed by the 8.2L Katech engine, a major push in the back is available at any time, and at any rpm. Just give the accelerator a squeeze and bang-you're gone. But straight-line performance is not all this car is about. The cornering transitions from left to right are simply effortless. The turn-in feel is better than that of a stock Z06, perhaps a result of the P&M car's wider stance and different tire characteristics. (The C6RS uses Michelin Pilot Sports sized 295/30-18 front and 345/30-19 rear.)
What really impresses is how easy it is to maneuver the quick left-right slalom section that makes up the back side of the Sebring track. The snappy alterations in direction are handled with a flat attitude, even under acceleration. The resultant experience is intoxicating. Going faster and faster, you start to realize that the capabilities of the brakes and suspension likely exceed your ability to safely explore them-particularly during an all-too-brief testdrive in the company's only R&D vehicle. Besides, Ron Fellows was scheduled to give the car a proper wringing-out at the Michelin proving grounds in South Carolina the following week. Suffice it to say the C6RS would be a very rewarding date to any local track.
Conclusion
The first question asked by any knowledgeable Corvette nut is, "How does the C6RS stack up against a new ZR1?" At the time of this writing, no ZR1s were available for media evaluation. But I did ask Corvette Racing drivers Ron Fellows and Johnny O'Connell-who have significant experience in both cars-how they would compare the two.
O'Connell felt the C6RS had better torque and would be faster to 60 than the ZR1. However, he was unable to fully evaluate the C6RS's handling characteristics at Sebring, as a computer glitch prevented the traction-control system from being completely defeated during spirited driving. Fellows echoed O'Connell's comment that the torque of the P&M creation should make it a faster car in initial acceleration. Both veterans got out of P&M's latest ride with big smiles on their faces, commenting that the C6RS has as much power as their "company car," the all-conquering C6.R racer.
Still, the C6RS is not for everyone. First of all, the price of admission is pretty high: $225,000 to $260,000, including the cost of your Corvette donor car. And, as I noted earlier, the car's performance envelope far exceeds the capabilities of even a moderately experienced driver. Pilot it sedately, however, and the C6RS is perfectly capable of filling the role of daily conveyance. Indeed, never before have I driven anything that is so comfortable on the street while being so supremely capable on a racetrack. It's a testament to the skill of the P&M engineers that they were able to blend such disparate characteristics into such a harmonious whole.
If you have the wherewithal to experience a C6RS, do it. Careful, though. Once you've sampled this siren's temptations, you'll be forever under her spell.
For more information on the Pratt & Miller C6RS, visit www.prattmillerc6rs.com.