2008 Detroit Auto Show: Michelin is Chosen for Uncompromising Performance at NAIAS 2008
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Delivering premier product to match the capabilities of the latest American supercars
DETROIT, Jan. 13 -- As the top tire choice for automotive enthusiasts around the globe, Michelin has been selected as original equipment for some of the most technically-advanced and highly-capable vehicles of 2008 and 2009, prepared to rear their powerful heads at this year's North American International Auto Show (NAIAS). The all-new mega-watt Corvette ZR1 (on display in the GM booth), the latest venomous Viper SRT10 ACR and the E85- capable, Z06-inspired Pratt & Miller Corvette C6RS all share a spot in the stable of great American Supercars and will appropriately be fitted with ultra-high performance Michelin(R) Pilot(R) tires to harness their power and deliver an exhilarating driving experience.
In addition to the display of performance-enhancing products in Wayne Hall, Michelin continues the tradition of encouraging better mobility solutions through innovative design and leading technology with their display in Michigan Hall dedicated to the Michelin Challenge Design(TM) competition. This year, original drawings and scale models from 28 individuals and companies will be representing the 2008 theme: Smaller. Safer. Better.
MICHELIN - MAIN FLOOR DISPLAY
Michelin(R) Pilot(R) Sport Cup tires
Viper SRT10 ACR
The original Dodge Viper went into production in 1992 and since
inception Michelin engineers have collaborated with engineering
teams in the Street and Racing Technology (SRT) division of
Chrysler, LLC to ensure the maximum performance benefits of the
vehicle are met.
Tire selection was critical in allowing the ultimate purpose-built,
600-horsepower-driven 2008 Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR to perform to its
full potential. Chrysler's engineering team selected Michelin's DOT
approved (street-legal) ultra-high performance tire with a
proprietary racing compound, developed from years of winning in the
American Le Mans Series.
Michelin's race-inspired tires for the street are the ideal fit for
the newest and most powerful Viper ever offered. The Michelin Pilot
Sport Cup tire met or exceeded every performance requirement of the
SRT team including exceptional wet and dry handling, tread wear,
steering response, ride and comfort- and most importantly tenacious
grip.
For Viper owners, Michelin's ultimate street-capable racing tire
will provide consistent lap times, superb steering response,
confident high-speed cornering power and very high levels of lateral
acceleration (grip) while at the track, but also offers excellent
performance manners on the street. The Viper will ride on 295/30Z
R18 Michelin Pilot Cup Sport tires in the front and 345/30Z R19 in
the rear.
Key features of the Michelin(R) Pilot(R) Sport Cup tire include:
-- Race-inspired tread compound - provides extreme capability,
cornering power and fast, consistent lap times.
-- An asymmetrical tread pattern - for progressive and predictable
handling in both wet and dry conditions.
-- Lightweight, heat-stable casing - for powerful and predictable
cornering power, lap after lap.
-- High-tensile steel cords and a polyamide belt package - deliver
quick steering response while providing a stable foundation so
the tread can deliver ultimate cornering power.
-- BAZ (Banded at Zero) Technology(TM) (front tires) - using
spiral-wrapped nylon from sidewall-to-sidewall that resists heat
distortion which promotes high-speed handling stability and
durability.
-- Textile sidewall inserts and specialized bead compound (front
tires) - for crisp steering response and race like handling
reflexes.
Michelin(R) Pilot(R) Sport PS2(TM) tires
Pratt & Miller Corvette C6RS
A powerful, asphalt-hungry Corvette Z06 -- disguised in the body of
an exquisitely designed and modified fuel-efficient racecar capable
of running on E85 ethanol -- is the latest creation from
championship-winning custom racecar builders Pratt & Miller. The
vehicle, packed with exceptional levels of performance and
refinement will be built in limited quantities for 2008 and will be
fitted exclusively with Michelin(R) Pilot (R)Sport PS2 TM tires.
The Corvette C6RS was inspired by the Corvette racecar that has
dominated its class in the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) for 3
years, so a Michelin fitment made perfect performance sense. It is
no secret that Michelin tires have been a key ingredient to the
team's success in the demanding world of endurance racing, so when
Pratt & Miller (also responsible for running the factory Corvette
Racing team in the ALMS Series) began work on the C6RS, they chose
the Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 tire for its legendary street and track
performance. In addition, the Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 offers the
lowest rolling-resistance in its class-improving fuel economy and
lowering emissions. A perfect fit for this E85-capable supercar.
The aggressively styled lightweight body of the C6RS made entirely
of carbon fiber, measures 1.6 inches wider than a production
Corvette Z06 to accommodate the 295/30Z R18 Michelin Pilot Sport PS2
tires on the front and 345/30Z R19s in the back.
The first Corvette C6RS custom-built for "Tonight Show" host,
automotive enthusiast and collector Jay Leno is featured in the
Michelin exhibit courtesy of Jay Leno's Garage.
Key features of the Michelin(R) Pilot(R) Sport PS2(TM) tire include:
-- Race-inspired four-groove tread design - dramatically increases
the surface area and stability of the rubber in the tire's
contact patch.
-- Highest Combined Performance with two distinct tread patterns and
two specialized tread compounds - delivering the best combined
wet and dry performance in its class.*
-- Best-In-Class Cornering - A Variable Contact Patch breaks the
traditional compromises by putting more rubber on the road during
a variety of maneuvers, resulting in class-leading cornering and
consistent straight-line performance.*
-- Ultimate Confidence - Michelin tires meet or exceed the
discriminating standards of the world's top sports car
manufacturers including: Porsche, Mercedez-Benz, Bugatti, Ferrari
and Koenigsegg.
* According to independent third party testing.
Michelin(R) Pilot(R) Sport PS2(TM) ZP tires
2009 Corvette ZR1 (on display in the GM booth)
This year marks the first time Michelin has been chosen as original
equipment for a Corvette. But this is not just 'any' Corvette. The
ZR1 is the ultimate Corvette-and what an appropriate way for
Michelin to start. The Michelin(R) Pilot(R) Sport PS2 ZP, designed
specifically and exclusively for the ZR1, incorporates Michelin's
latest run-flat technology and provides superior levels of cornering
grip, straight-line traction, ride, comfort, noise reduction and
extended tread life for confident everyday driving.
Through a highly interactive development process, Michelin engineers
optimized the tire's performance for street, highway and track.
Profound levels of handling and grip developed for the world's most
demanding race tracks are incorporated in the tire, along with
supreme levels of safety to ensure optimal performance in both wet
and dry conditions.
The Corvette ZR1 will ride on P285/30R19 Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 ZP
tires in the front and P335/25R20 Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 ZP tires
in the rear.
MICHELIN - MICHIGAN HALL DISPLAY - Smaller. Safer. Better.
Continuing its commitment to technical innovation and automotive design, the 2008 Michelin Challenge Design(TM) display will showcase vehicles and vehicle design concepts for the North American market that illustrate the Michelin Challenge Design theme for 2008: Smaller. Safer. Better.
At a time when the automotive industry shares an increased interest in smaller vehicles due to rising energy costs, urban congestion and environmental concerns, the theme is very timely.
Through the Challenge, designers were encouraged to present innovative approaches to vehicle ingress and egress, side impact protection, occupant protection volume, seating arrangement, vehicle dimensions and proportions. These criteria reflect the overall goal of the Challenge; to design vehicles that increase safety while also improving environmental performance through smaller overall size.
Michelin received a record-number of 272 entries from 51 different countries and an eight-person international jury of esteemed professionals selected entries for display. This year, drawings and scale models from 28 individuals and companies will be represented.
In addition, three full-size vehicles including Citroen's "C-SportLounge" the Dodge "Hornet" and the Nissan "Effis" will be on display, all equipped with Michelin(R) tires.
Dedicated to the improvement of sustainable mobility, Michelin designs, manufactures and sells tires for every type of vehicle, including airplanes, automobiles, bicycles, earthmovers, farm equipment, heavy-duty trucks, motorcycles and the space shuttle. The company also publishes travel guides, hotel and restaurant guides, maps and road atlases. Headquartered in Greenville, S.C., Michelin North America (www.michelin-us.com) employs 22,500 and operates 19 major manufacturing plants in 17 locations.