Long before Chevrolet unleashed the eighth-generation Corvette, everyone and their dog knew that a twin-turbo V8 would happen at some point. For the C8 ZR1, the Detroit-based automaker will use a different engine from the RPO code LTA "Blackwing" of the Cadillac CT6, which is a hot-vee design that was produced in limited numbers.
Based on the LT6 flat-plane crankshaft V8 of the Z06, the subsequent LT7 is expected to belt out in excess of 800 horsepower. 850 is also plausible. By comparison, the naturally aspirated LT6 is rated at 670 horses and 460 pound-feet (624 Nm) of twist.
Seriously good numbers for a displacement of 5.5 liters. The largest flat-plane crankshaft series-production lump of all time wouldn’t mean a thing without the Z06's wider tires, optional carbon-fiber wheels, dual-clutch transaxle, suspension, and the aerodynamic goodies of the optional Z07 package.
For 2025, however, General Motors will improve this recipe with a pair of turbochargers. The largest automaker of the Detroit Big Three showed the C8 ZR1 in November 2023 at a dealer meeting in Las Vegas. The presentation also included the Duramax-engined Silverado ZR2 HD, the facelifted Tahoe and Suburban, the new Equinox, and the E-Ray. The most powerful series-production Corvette of all time was – rather obviously – presented last.
Dealer source RichieRichZ06 of the Corvette Forum says that the car was driven on stage, where it was given a few quick revs while stationary. "To me, it sounded like a slightly more muffled version of the LT6." That's not all, though. Rich also states that the car was dirty with rubber on the sides from so much Nurburgring testing, which is good news!
Photo: edited by autoevolution
Our spy photographers caught ZR1 prototypes many times at the Green Hell, with said prototypes being pushed hard by GM's test drivers. Given the aforementioned power guesstimate and the ZR1's relation to the Z06, it's pretty clear that the newcomer has broken the lap record for Corvettes.
For the time being, the fastest 'Vette at the German circuit is the seventh-generation Z06 driven by Christian Gebhardt for Sport Auto in April 2017. Equipped with the manual transmission and Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 ZP rubber boots, it clocked a stupendous 7 minutes and 13 seconds.
To put that lap time into perspective, bear in mind the G82 BMW M4 CSL needed 7:13.497 over the Nurburgring's 12.944-mile configuration. If you prefer metric units, make that 20.832 kilometers. The fastest production car at the Green Hell, however, is the 6:30.705 Mercedes-AMG ONE.
Considering that a gentleman with access to the GM parts catalog confirmed the regular production order codes for the LT7 engine and M1K transmission in October 2023, the ZR1 is right around the corner. President Mark Reuss made it clear that Chevy has two new sports cars in the offing for 2024. One of those is the E-Ray, which entered production at the Bowling Green assembly plant in December 2023.
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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