Update 10 April 2024- Its Official Chevy has just released a trailer for the Corvette ZR1 that will debut this summer.
The Z06 rewrote the supercar rulebook stateside and ushered in a new era for the famed Corvette nameplate with a mid-mounted 8500 rpm flatplane NA V8. Recently, an even bonkers Corvette with a Twin-Turbo setup unofficially dubbed the ZR-1 was spied around Nürburgring that may arrive sometime in 2025 with up to 800 hp and some of the most capable aerodynamics available in GM’s garage. The 2025 ZR1 will be followed by the ultimate hypercar killer, the Corvette “Zora”.
Is the 2025 Corvette ZR1 Happening?
Yes, according to GM Authority, a camouflaged version of the 2025 ZR-1 was shown in a secret meeting to Chevy dealers along with the new Equinox. Chevrolet has just announced via a small teaser that the upcoming ZR1 Corvette will debut in Q3 2024 . The teaser only showcases the names of recent C8 gen Corvettes along with a blurred-out front end of ZR1. In the video, we can see the silhouettes of two massive radiator openings in the front and a slightly “whooshed” out exhaust note indicating the engine is likely to be turbocharged. Chevrolet has yet to release the specifications of the ZR1 which will be equipped with the Twin Turbocharged version of the C8 Z06’s engine dubbed the “LT7” cranking up to 800 hp, which seems legit on its own the LT6 can manage 670 hp. While the last ZR-1 was able to put out 755 hp thanks to a massive 2.65 L supercharger.
Expect the redline to be a bit lower around 7500-8000 RPM due to high compression and to manage thermals. The ZR-1’s design will be a slugfest of gaping air intakes all around to keep the engine cool during hard track runs. In the spy shots, a massive spoiler, large side intakes, and an aggressive front end all point to a neck-crushing track monster in the making.
The weight will likely go up around 150-200 pounds due to additional chassis stiffening and cooling requirements. An upgraded DCT is to be expected along with standard carbon ceramics and GM’s excellent magnetic dampers that are an option on Z06. The last-gen ZR1 did 60 mph in 2.8 seconds and was faster than a Ford GT during its Virginia Speedway run by nearly 1.37 seconds, flat out it ran a quarter mile in 10.1 seconds and had a top speed of 214 mph. It generated a maximum of 950 pounds of downforce. The 2025 ZR1 could surpass all those figures with its different aerodynamic packages and set even more crazy records when it arrives.
GM should release a teaser of its highly anticipated ZR1 around Q4 of 2024 and is expected at dealerships around 2025. The Twin-Turbo beast will likely cost between $150,000 and $200,000. Sadly, this figure will be bumped by quite a margin and might even double due to shady dealership markups that we saw when the C8 Z06 arrived and was selling for 30 to 50K above its MSRP.
What is Corvette “ZORA”?
Named after the fabled Zora Arkus Duntov AKA the “father of Corvette”, The Corvette Zora will be a highly exclusive and no-holds-barred 1000 hp hybrid supercar to come out of GM’s garage. It will likely be an unhinged combination of ZR-1’s engine and Stingray’s hybrid setup that will put enough power through its AWD system to seek and destroy Europeans like SF90 and Revuelto.
Everything about this car is mere speculation at this point except the fact that it is happening. The Corvette Zora will be the peak of the C8 platform and will reset the benchmark by being one of the fastest all-American hypercars ever built. Sure, Turbo-AWD-Hybrid underpinnings will add some weight penalty but the rumored power output of nearly 1000 horses will be enough to leave every one of its lucky drivers in a wide-eyed profanity-riddled frenzy.
Unlike the C8 Z06 and Stingray, the Corvette “Zora” is expected to be made in very limited numbers and will likely be offered to previous 2025 ZR1 owners first. It will arrive sometime in 2026 and might be priced around $250,000-$300,000.
