2025 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 Unveiled – The Most Powerful Vette Ever; 5.5-liter twin-turbo V8 with 1,064 horsepower, 825 lb-ft of torque

Eighth generation (C8) Chevrolet Corvette has added a new variant in the form of the ZR1, which the company says is the return of the “king of the hill.” Aimed at supercars, the ZR1 is the first Corvette to be equipped with a turbocharged engine, and the numbers are truly impressive.

Dubbed the LT7, the 5.5-liter twin-turbo V8 is derived from the flat-plane crankshaft assembly found in the Z06’s LT6According to Chevy, the forced induction system includes twin-ported, ball-bearing, single-scroll (76 mm) turbochargers integrated into the exhaust manifold to reduce exhaust volume and distance from the exhaust valve to the turbine wheel for quick response with electronic wastegates and intelligent anti-lag engine calibration techniques.

In addition to the forced induction system, unique features of the LT7 include a special head casting with unique CNC-machined ports, larger CNC-machined combustion chambers, an all-new intake system, optimized valve timing and lift profiles, additional block and head machining to aid in cooling and oiling the turbo, revised counterweights for the pistons and connecting rods, and a secondary port fuel injection system.

The end result is 1,064 horsepower at 7,000 rpm and 840 lb-ft of torque at 6,000 rpm, making the LT7 the most powerful V8 ever produced in the United States, as well as the most powerful V8 ever installed in a Corvette from the factory. For comparison, the previous C7 Corvette ZR1 produced 755 horsepower from its 6.2-liter supercharged V8, while the C6-generation ZR1 produced 638 horsepower.

To cope with the massive power, the eight-speed dual-clutch transmission has been enhanced with upgraded inner and outer input shafts, increased driveability with enhanced durability through shot blasting for all gears, improved final drive, an updated oil management system to support the vehicle’s increased longitudinal and lateral capabilities, along with enhanced control valves to accommodate the higher clutch clamping loads required of the engine.

Power is sent entirely to the rear wheels, with Chevy saying the ZR1 can complete the quarter-mile in an estimated time of under 10 seconds, while the top speed is expected to reach more than 215 mph (346 km/h).

Carbon ceramic brakes with 400mm rotors up front (the largest ever fitted to a Corvette) and 390mm at the rear help slow the ZR1. In just 24.5 seconds, the Corvette ZR1 accelerates from 80-200mph (129-322km/h) and back to 80mph (129km/h), 22% quicker than the C7 ZR1 and 53% quicker than the C6 ZR1.

The ZR1 isn’t just fast in a straight line and quick to stop, as the automaker also offers two distinct setups that come with the standard Magnetic Ride dampers. The standard option comes with a slimmer body with lower drag and a small wing with short and tall Gurney blades that can be adjusted for the customer.

There’s also a carbon fiber front splitter, side skirts, integrated brake cooling vents, and a front spoiler with a wind deflector, as well as Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires wrapped around 20-inch front and 21-inch rear wheels. This setup is said to be the best combination of on-road comfort and track performance.

For those looking to unlock the ZR1’s true weapon potential, there’s an optional ZTK performance package that adds a massive downforce rear wing, front dive wing, and tall Gurney hood, all crafted from woven carbon fiber.

The more aggressive setup also adds underbody braces to replace the standard Gurney front wing braces to increase front downforce, while the suspension gets stiffer springs to cope with the stickier Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R tires.

These options add to the exterior tweaks made to the ZR1, which include a flowing hood, carbon fiber side air ducts, a carbon fiber roof, and unique aluminum wheels (carbon fiber is an option). The ZR1 is offered in both coupe and convertible body styles, with the coupe also getting carbon fiber air intakes located on top of the rear doors to cool the turbocharger’s intake air temperature.

Chevrolet has also brought back the iconic split-window to the ZR1, last seen on the C2-generation Corvette and quietly previewed on the Corvette Z06 GT3.R race car. This isn’t just for aesthetics, as the carbon-fiber “spine” between the two rear windows also helps dissipate heat from the engine bay.

While there are many changes on the outside, the cockpit remains familiar but features unique touches like ZR1 badging, new door stitching, and a dyno. New customization options have been added, including new color schemes, full-length racing stripes, painted brake calipers, and more.

Production of the ZR1 will begin next year at General Motors’ Bowling Green assembly plant in Kentucky. To demonstrate the power of its latest creation, the automaker claimed at the end of the unveiling that the ZR1 achieved a faster top speed than the production C7 ZR1 during its first lap at Milford Proving Ground’s MRC test track.

Chevrolet engineers also achieved a sub-10-second quarter-mile time on the ZR1’s debut, while all four test drivers easily hit a top speed of 200 mph (322 km/h) on the first lap at the Nürburgring.

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