With no help from electricity, the 2025 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 belts out 1064 horsepower from a twin-turbocharged 5.5-liter V-8. 1200 pounds of downforce via carbon fiber wings available too.
Stand back and soak in this powerhouse monster from the bowtie brand: the 2025 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1. From the moment the C8 generation launched in 2020, controversy swirled about the change of direction of the everyman’s sports car. Going with a mid-engine layout left many feeling the Corvette fell from tradition. At the same time, its potential sky rocketed.
The rocket landed at 1064 horsepower and 828 lb.-ft of torque from a twin-turbocharged, DOHC 5.5-liter, flat-plane crank V-8. Pure combustion produces every last bit of power here, no help from electricity. It’s dubbed the LT7.
Based on the LT6, naturally aspirated V-8 in the Z06, which on its own makes an epic 670 horsepower and 460 lb.-ft of torque. From there, Chevrolet added two mono-scroll turbochargers, a new intake, different intake and exhaust ports, adjusted valve timing and lift, and a second port injection system to provide enough fuel to keep up with all the added air.
To keep together from all the added power, engineers also beefed up the eight-speed dual-clutch transmission. It receives larger inputs shafts and increased capacity control valves, among other things, to keep the shifts coming and coming quickly.
The LT7 will be hand assembled at the performance build center in Bowling Green Kentucky.
For all the added power, Chevrolet did a fantastic job to keep the ZR1 from gaining too much weight. Tipping the scales at just 3670 pounds in coupe form gives the ZR1 a weight to power ratio of 3.4:1. That beats the Porsche 911 Turbo S by more than 50 percent!
Chevrolet says the 2025 Corvette ZR1 will reach a top speed of around 215 mph and will accelerate through the quarter-mile in less than 10 seconds.
The ZR1 also comes equipped with several track friendly chassis pieces. Standard equipment includes magnetic ride shock absorbers, a carbon-fiber front-splitter, rocker moldings and an underwing. And Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires grip the road, 20-inch wheels in front, 21s in the rear.
Want more? Chevrolet will happily tack on the ZTK package, or carbon fiber aero package. It adds a big rear wing, front dive planes, big Gurney flaps, all in carbon fiber. Moreover, more capability is added to the front underwing. All told, the aero package delivers up to 1200 lbs. of downforce, though I do not yet know what speed you have to reach to feel it.
With that package, you also get a major tire upgrade. As Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R tires get mounted on. Basically a lightly treaded race tire, Cup 2 R’s often get used while Porsche sets its Nordschleife lap records.
When the going must stop, the ZR1 comes standard with carbon ceramic brakes measuring 15.7-inches up front and 15.4-inches in the rear. You’ll see them behind aluminum alloy wheels. But Chevrolet offers optional carbon fibers wheels, to remove nearly 43 lbs. of unsprung weight from the car. They will not be free.
Visually speaking, the ZR1 stands out with a split-rear window. Bringing back an iconic design piece from the C2 Corvette of the early 60s. More modern touches include a carbon fiber roof and the aforementioned staggered set of aluminum wheels.
Inside, expect to see ZR1 badged peppered throughout. And, for the first time in production car history, a boost gauge for the factory turbochargers.
The ZR1 heads to the production line in 2025. Chevrolet kept mum about exact timing and pricing. But the 2024 Z06 starts at just under $115,000 to start these days. Considering the added equipment and capability, expect the ZR1 to cost at least $150k.
From the first turn of the wheel of the 2020 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray, I felt the inherent capability of the C8. The potential seemed great. Now we know that indeed it is. I cannot wait to review it!
Ford has a bonkers machine too, check out the Ford Mustang GTD
