The New 2025 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1

Automotive

Aug 6

Written By Damian Nicholas

Chevrolet has released its most powerful Corvette yet, boasting 1,064 horsepower and 828 lb-ft.

Automotive | Chevrolet

Words by Damian Nicholas

CHEVROLET

The Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 has a rich history dating back to its first introduction in 1970. The original ZR1 was a special performance package available for the Corvette C3, featuring a powerful LT1 V8 engine, upgraded suspension, brakes, and transmission. This package was designed for enthusiasts seeking race-ready performance in a street-legal car.

In 1990, Chevrolet reintroduced the ZR1 as a standalone model known as the "King of the Hill." This generation of the ZR1 boasted a revolutionary all-aluminum LT5 V8 engine developed with help from Lotus Engineering. With 375 horsepower, it was the most powerful production car in America at the time.

In 2009 as the ultimate performance version of the Corvette C6. Equipped with a 6.2L LS9 supercharged V8 engine producing 638 horsepower, it became a symbol of American automotive engineering excellence, setting new benchmarks for speed and handling.

Now, in 2024, Chevrolet has introduced the latest iteration, the Corvette ZR1, featuring the most robust V8 engine ever created by an American automaker – available in coupe and convertible versions, the ZR1 combines impressive power with an iconic design. The ZR1 is equipped with a 5.5L twin-turbocharged DOHC flat-plane crank V8 engine, named the LT7, at its core. This engine delivers 1,064 horsepower at 7,000 rpm and 828 lb-ft of torque at 6,000 rpm, making it the most powerful factory-produced Corvette engine to date. Chevrolet anticipates the ZR1 to achieve a top speed exceeding 215 mph, with a quarter-mile time of under 10 seconds.

The aerodynamic design of the ZR1 includes a carbon fiber aero package that generates over 1,200 pounds of downforce at top speed. A notable design element is the reintroduction of the split rear window, paying tribute to classic Corvette styling. Scott Bell, the VP of Chevrolet, stated, "The team that transformed Corvette with a mid-engine architecture took on another challenge: to elevate ZR1 to the next level." He added, "Corvette ZR1 is about pushing the limits with raw power and cutting-edge innovation."

The LT7 engine builds upon the architecture of the Z06's LT6, incorporating twin turbochargers for the first time in a factory Corvette. Engineers optimized every system for a boosted application, resulting in unique head castings, valve train timing, and a new intake system tailored for twin turbos. Enhanced performance extends to the ZR1's transmission, featuring upgraded inner and outer input shafts, increased gear capacity, and refined oil management to support the engine's massive output. Purposeful aerodynamics and a new brake system with carbon ceramic rotors ensure the ZR1's handling matches its power. The optional ZTK performance package adds an aggressive high-downforce rear wing, front dive planes, and Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R tires for track-ready performance.

Production of the 2025 Corvette ZR1 will begin at General Motors' Bowling Green Assembly Plant in Kentucky, alongside the Corvette Stingray, Z06, and E-Ray models. Further details on pricing and availability have yet to be announced at the time of writing but are expected to be provided closer to the start of production. Take a closer look at the 2025 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 in the video below.

chevrolet.com