There are sports cars and there are supercars. The Corvette ZR1 embodies both but leans heavily into the latter. This mid-engine beast comes with a twin-turbocharged flat-crank V8 engine, which produces an amazing 1064 horsepower, setting a record for an American production car. With a top speed of 233 mph, the ZR1 puts an exclamation mark on the Corvette line, delivering a much-desirable halo variant to this iconic sports car line. Read on and we will dissect this hyped-up model.
Corvette ZR1, By the Numbers
The 2025 ZR1 is off the performance charts for any Chevrolet model that’s ever been made. It brings the ZR1 into exotic car territory as evidenced by the following “numbers.” Let’s break it all down:
Power & Performance
• 1,064 horsepower. That’s what the new twin-turbo 5.5-liter LT7 V8 cranks out.
• 828 pound-feet of torque. Arriving around 6,000 rpm.
• 8,000 rpm redline. A screaming flat-plane soundtrack.
• 0-60 mph in about 2.3 seconds. It’s basically a street-legal rocket.
• Quarter mile in roughly 9.6 seconds at 150 mph. Few exotics can touch that.
• Top speed around 233 mph. Tested on high-speed tracks in Germany with GM president Mark Reuss behind the wheel.
Engine & Drivetrain
• 5.5 liters of V8 displacement. A masterpiece with a flat-plane crank.
• Two turbos. Boost pressure peaks near 26 psi.
• Eight-speed dual-clutch. It fires off shifts in milliseconds.
• Rear-wheel drive. No AWD here, just pure, balanced madness.
Size & Weight
• Around 3,670 pounds dry (coupe). Still light for this level of power.
• Convertible weighs about 3,758 pounds. Hardtop mechanism adds a bit.
• Wider stance than the Z06. More air goes in, more cooling comes out.
Aerodynamics & Downforce
• Up to 1,200 pounds of downforce. That’s with the ZTK track wing.
• Two packages: standard aero or ZTK with aggressive carbon bits.
• 233 mph top speed tested with low-drag setup. The wing still does work.
Brakes & Chassis
• Carbon-ceramic brakes standard. Required to tame all that speed.
• Magnetic ride control. Keeps it planted whether on streets or the track.
• Mid-engine layout. The ZR1 follows the C8’s fundamental formula.
Cabin & Tech
• Same cockpit as other C8s. Driver-focused with a rising console.
• Digital performance data recorder. Records your hero laps.
• Interior refresh coming for 2026. Expect a triple-screen dash.
Color & Style
• Wild options: Competition Yellow, Hysteria Purple, Sebring Orange.
• Carbon everywhere. Splitters, wings, and accents cut weight and look menacing.
• Iconic split rear window returns. A nod to the ’63 Sting Ray.
Pricing & Production
• Starts around $173,300 for the 1LZ coupe.
• Convertible from about $184,995.
• 3LZ trim pushes it near $196,000.
• Built in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Alongside Stingray, Z06, and E-Ray.
Looking Ahead
After an early July vacation pause, production on the 2025s resumes. Beginning on August 4, the 2026 model year ZR1s will commence. This model will cost more and have a refreshed interior.
Due to the complexity of building the ZR1, Chevrolet will not be able to meet all 2025 orders. Likely, customers will be slotted in to take a 2026. There is no word whether GM will absorb the added cost of the new model year.
If the ZR1 is not enough, a hybrid ZR1X variant should arrive by early 2026. This model features electric all-wheel drive with a reported 1,250 horsepower on tap.
The Bottom Line
If you have about $200,000 to spare, then the ZR1 is attainable. Otherwise, you might begin your Corvette search with the Stingray coupe ($70,195) or opt for the convertible, which is a $7,000 price premium over the standard model.
All in all, the Corvette ZR1 brings this sports car brand into exotic car territory, by delivering a model we have not seen from an American manufacturer before. Only a few hundred copies are built each year, placing the ZR1 in an exclusive club of exotics.
See Also —At a Glance: 2025 Chevrolet Corvette ZR-1
Image courtesy of GM Corp.
