2025 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 Flexes Widebody Muscle On The Nurburgring

Oct. 10, 2023 9:02 AM ET by年代ebastian Cenizo 年代py Shots /1 Comment

It's going to be very easy to tell that this is a more hardcore 'Vette.

Our spy photographers brightened up our inbox this morning with new images of the upcoming Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 on a visit to the Nurburgring, and it's revealed a much more aggressive body than anything we've seen in previous spy shots.

The front bumper has been borrowed from theCorvette Z06but enhanced with a deep, low chin splitter and sharp canards, while the front trunk has clearly been deleted to enhance front-end downforce. The front hood now has an American interpretation of Ferrari's S-duct, indicating serious track focus.

Moving to the profile, the Stingray-shaped side intakes on either side appear to have been enlarged and deepened, and behind each of these, an additional intake has been added. This is replicated above the shoulder line, where a third side intake appears, suggesting increased cooling demands. Expect these to appear in gloss black on the production car, thus clearly defining the Stingray motif.

At the rear, a massive wing has been placed above the rear trunk, and it seems that the third brake light may have become a touch more slender. No other obvious cosmetic changes have been made, but we're sure more will come to light as more camo is shed.

Overall, the impression is menacing, and the ZR1 looks right at home on the Nurburgring. With that aspect of the special-edition 'Vette out of the way, it's time to talk numbers.

Expected to adopt the engine from the Z06, the ZR1 will have 5.5 liters of capacity. But it differs from the naturally aspirated 5.5-liter LT6 in the Z06 by adding a pair of turbochargers (likely the reason for the extra cooling ducts). This configuration will reportedly result in the LT7 engine code, and while the Z06 makes 650 horsepower, the hardcore ZR1 will set the asphalt alight at around 850 hp.

As impressive as all that is, the ZR1 won't be the last word in C8 Corvette lunacy. An even more powerful,all-wheel-drive Zora variantis planned with a reported 1,000 hp and 975 lb-ft of torque, courtesy of a turbocharged and electrified version of the LT7called the LT7HP1. Hopefully, the transmission will be better suited to the powertrain than the C8 Stingray's was -one gearbox gave up after just 32 miles. We expect the ZR1 to arrive in 2025 and the Zora a year after.

Before we leave you to your sums so you can figure out which version you want to save up for, there's one more conspicuously absent cosmetic detail about future C8 Corvette variants to talk about.

Prototypes spotted in Junethis year indicated that a version of the Corvette would be arriving with a split rear window, as on the gorgeous C2 version. A split window has only ever been available once - for the 1963 model year, and since we don't see the design trait in these new images, there are a couple of theories to ponder.

One possibility is that the Zora will get this design trait, but the man whose life this model honors, "Father of the Corvette" Zora Arkus-Duntov, did not have a fondness for the two-piece aperture. Perhaps a one-year-only special edition of the Zora will get this feature.

It's also not a stretch to imagine that the design element will be offered as part of a heritage design package. Alternatively, perhaps the split-window look has been shelved.

我们希望李rn more soon.