Chevrolet to Make Quickest, Fastest and Most Powerful Corvette Ever

The newest addition to the Chevrolet Corvette lineup is so precisely tuned, it cannot wear traditional camouflage during testing, forcing Chevy’s hand and causing the Detroit-based automaker to reveal it ahead of a traditional timing cadence.

The Chevrolet Corvette, known to the masses as America’s sports car since its introduction in 1953, has been on a three-quarter century-long quest of competing with the best supercars in the world at a fraction of the price.

A huge change came in 2020 for the nameplate when, after years of speculation, Chevrolet moved the engine from under the hood to behind the driver for the C8 generation. That’s where you’ll find the power plant in a Ferrari or Lamborghini.

That move unlocked loads more engineering capability for the Corvette, which comes with increasingly exciting levels of power as buyers move up through the trims. First up was the base Corvette Stingray, with 495 horsepower (hp). The upgraded and race-ready Corvette Z06 came next offering 670 hp at a driver’s disposal.

A hybrid followed the Z06. The Corvette E-Ray delivers 655 hp coming from a front electric motor and rear-mounted 6.2-liter V8. At the time it debuted, Chevrolet said it was the quickest Corvette ever produced. That is no longer the case.

Historically, the top of the ‘Vette family has always been occupied by the Corvette ZR1. With its debut today, it has finally made its appearance for the eighth generation.

Now it will be the quickest accelerating and highest top speed Corvette ever produced, utilizing a twin-turbocharged 5.5-liter V8 called LT7 to achieve the feat.

“Whether it’s chassis the cooling, aerodynamics, all of it has to go along together. We’re pretty proud of the fact that Stingray, E-Ray and Z06 have shown globally to be bulletproof on the track. We’ve had zero complaints about overheating, even in the Middle East,” Corvette chief engineer, Tadge Juechter told journalists at an event outside Detroit.

“So this car is no different even though it’s extraordinarily powerful, fully engineered to be capable for all duty cycles that we expect from customers. So now we’re gonna show you the horsepower.”

Juechter took a beat before revealing the first four-figure Corvette horsepower number. The 2025 Corvette ZR1 will deliver 1,064 ponies along with a peak of 828 pound-feet (lb-ft) of torque. That’s a staggering amount for a car costing less than $1 million.

The only things comparable are from brands like Bugatti, Rimac and limited-edition vehicles like the Mercedes-AMG One and Aston Martin Valkyrie. Chevrolet also mentioned the Porsche 911 Turbo and Audi R8 as competitors. The R8 is no longer in production.

The one domestic vehicle, besides the electric Tesla Model S Plaid or Lucid Air, that can compete is the muscly Dodge Demon, but even it falls shy at 1,025 ponies. And, it’s headed for the graveyard.

Engineers said they left nothing on the table for the 2025 Corvette ZR1. Not only did they have to reinforce the dynamometer testing the engine, but they also smashed the last-generation Corvette ZR1’s lap time around GM’s test track in Milford with an “immature calibration” preproduction test vehicle. All come with GM’s adaptive Magnetic Ride suspension with drive mode setups for different situations.

Several engineers also acknowledged this could be the swan song for the purely gasoline-powered Corvette. Rumors point to a more powerful model still coming during this C8 generation, probably hybridized; after that all non-racing Corvettes will probably feature some form of electrification.

Visually, the ZR1 stands out with its aerodynamic flourishes, which are needed at “quite a bit more than 200 miles per hour.” Chevrolet eventually said top speed will be over 215 miles per hour.

Differentiating aerodynamics include new side scoops for rear brake cooling, a huge inlet in the front for a new intercooler and for the first time in decades a split rear window. The 2025 ZR1’s is functional, splitting the engine viewing area with heat extractors on black or body color.

As in previous versions of the ‘Vette, there a ZR1 with a giant rear spoiler and one model that has one that is more subdued.

Chevrolet says that ZR1 is more accessible than the Z06. The base suspension level is more compliant and it’s an easier everyday driver.

“It’s for people who don’t want to feel like the car is always itching for a fight. You can have a relaxed driving experience, but still have unbelievable power on tap. You can also check the boxes for big racing slicks and the other goodies to go to the track, so it encompasses a broader spectrum of driving than Z06. It’s taking that spot as the all-around GT touring car, daily driver, but with a bunch of internal reinforcements to handle the speed,” said Juechter.

The Corvette ZR1 also comes with new wheel designs in carbon fiber or aluminum, tinted brake calipers and a carbon fiber roof either painted or natural, all of which drive home the point that this is the quickest, fastest, sportiest Chevrolet Corvette ever produced. It goes on sale in 2025.