Meet the wildest version of the Chevrolet Corvette, which is hot on the heels of the hypercar kings with an incredible 1,064 horsepower. But if you’re wondering whether this enormous power was achieved with batteries or a hybrid system, you’re wrong. The new Corvette ZR1 still has a V8 and sends all its power only to the rear wheels.
It’s no ordinary V8, though. You’re looking at a 5.5-liter twin-turbocharged, DOHC flatplane crankshaft V8 called the “LT7” that produces 1,064 horsepower at 7,000 rpm and 828 lb-ft of torque at 6,000 rpm, making it the most powerful production Corvette and the most powerful V8 ever produced in America by any automaker.
Compared to the previous ZR1, this is pure insane, with over 300 additional horsepower and an estimated top speed of over 345 km/h on the track.
RELATED: 2024 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 Heavy Duty LTZ review: Is the truck big enough?
“The team that revolutionized the Corvette with a mid-engine architecture has taken on another challenge: taking the ZR1 to the next level,” said Scott Bell, vice president of Chevrolet. The Corvette ZR1 is all about pushing the boundaries with raw power and groundbreaking innovation. From the Stingray to the Z06, E-Ray to the ZR1, the Corvette family gets better with each new version and challenges the best in the world.”
Forget the racy design. The powertrain is the focus here, as it’s a heavily reworked twin-turbocharged V8. Yes, the Corvette has embraced turbocharging with gusto. While the ZR1’s 5.5-liter twin-turbocharged LT7 V8 shares the same architecture as the Z06’s LT6, engineers have worked to massively increase power without the need for any form of electrical assistance.
Of course, to harness all this power, an 8-speed DCT was tasked with controlling this drivetrain, which was suitably reinforced for the task.
To match, the sleek design is now more aerodynamic, with a sharper grille, more carbon fiber air ducts, a new front splitter and, of course, a rear wing. If you want more, the optional ZTK performance package lets you add an even larger rear wing, front dive surfaces and a high radiator lip – all in carbon fiber.
Let’s talk about the brakes: The new ZR1 gets carbon-ceramic rotors with a diameter of 15.7 inches (400 mm) at the front and 15.4 inches (390 mm) at the rear.
In addition to this brutal performance upgrade, the new ZR1 also tips its imaginary hat to the C2-generation Corvette with a new split-window design and a carbon fiber “spine” between the rear windows. “We didn’t make this decision lightly; we know this is a beloved element from Corvette history,” said Phil Zak, executive design director at Chevrolet. “Not only does this element serve its function, but we were able to incorporate passionate design into the form and do it in a way that pays tribute to Corvette history. ZR1 seemed like the right time to bring back the split window.”
Buyers of this American rocket car can choose between exterior and interior colors such as Competition Yellow, Hysteria Purple and Sebring Orange. Inside, there are ZR1 badges, a boost gauge and a new decorative stitching pattern for the door.
Production of the new Corvette ZR1 will start in 2025. It will be built at General Motors’ Bowling Green assembly plant in Kentucky, but its chances of gaining a foothold in Australia are slim, as buyers in the US home market are ready to snap up the vehicles immediately.
This might also interest you:
