Photo: Stefan Baldauf/SB-Medien
Deemed as the last hurrah of the C7 Corvette, the ZR1 is also believed to up the ante when it comes down to output and downforce. Curiously, though, the 2018 Corvette ZR1 prototypes pictured on this occasion are adorned with two types of rear wings.
As you can see, the car with the red side mirrors is equipped with a ludicrously-sized rear wing as if the C7 Corvette ZR1 knows that the Dodge Viper ACR will soon kick the bucket. Then there’s the silver-painted prototype with black mirrors at the end of the photo gallery, sporting a more subtle wing. The differences don’t end here. If you look at the brakes, you’ll notice that the big winged car is equipped with blue calipers, whereas the small winged Corvette ZR1 makes do with Z06-like red-painted calipers.
An even closer look reveals carbon ceramic brake discs on the more aggressive of the two Corvettes. What’s more, both cars are equipped with Michelin Pilot Super Sport Cup tires. The over-the-top nature of the 2018 Corvette ZR1 yields another tell-tale sign of what’s in the offing. Notice that power bulge-cooling vents combo on the hood? It can only mean one thing: more potential than what the C7 Z06 has to offer.
While some people suggest that General Motors will debut the LT5 4.2-liter twin-turbo V8 with the C7 ZR1, that’s a hard scenario to imagine. This is all the more unlikely if you take note that Chevy is working on a mid-engined Corvette for the 2019 model year. The safest bet for the C7 ZR1 is an updated LT4 small-block V8, pushed to or beyond 700 horsepower. A particular photo of the big winged prototype also reveals paddles behind the steering wheel, translating to an automatic transmission. Will it be the GM 8L90 8-speed or the Ford-GM 10R90 10-speed automatic? Only time will tell, I'm afraid.
Expected to go public at the 2017 Detroit Auto Show, the 2018 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 has all the makings of an instant classic. Considering how high the pricing can get after kitting out a C7 Z06, the ZR1 is likely to start from more than $100,000. It's not an absurd price, however, not when you consider that the C7 ZR1 merely sets the stage for the mid-engined 'Vette.
An even closer look reveals carbon ceramic brake discs on the more aggressive of the two Corvettes. What’s more, both cars are equipped with Michelin Pilot Super Sport Cup tires. The over-the-top nature of the 2018 Corvette ZR1 yields another tell-tale sign of what’s in the offing. Notice that power bulge-cooling vents combo on the hood? It can only mean one thing: more potential than what the C7 Z06 has to offer.
While some people suggest that General Motors will debut the LT5 4.2-liter twin-turbo V8 with the C7 ZR1, that’s a hard scenario to imagine. This is all the more unlikely if you take note that Chevy is working on a mid-engined Corvette for the 2019 model year. The safest bet for the C7 ZR1 is an updated LT4 small-block V8, pushed to or beyond 700 horsepower. A particular photo of the big winged prototype also reveals paddles behind the steering wheel, translating to an automatic transmission. Will it be the GM 8L90 8-speed or the Ford-GM 10R90 10-speed automatic? Only time will tell, I'm afraid.
Expected to go public at the 2017 Detroit Auto Show, the 2018 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 has all the makings of an instant classic. Considering how high the pricing can get after kitting out a C7 Z06, the ZR1 is likely to start from more than $100,000. It's not an absurd price, however, not when you consider that the C7 ZR1 merely sets the stage for the mid-engined 'Vette.
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