Photo: Scott Fisher of C8 Corvette Owners (And Friends)
Scott Fisher of C8 Corvette Owners (And Friends) recently came across three camouflaged ZR1 prototypes. A short video captured by Scott reveals a relatively high idle after startup, as well as the aural qualities of a flat-plane crankshaft V8 engine muffled by a pair of turbos.
We may be mistaken, though. Leaked information suggests Active Fuel Management for the LT7 in the 2025 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1, a cylinder deactivation technology not found in the LT6 of the C8-generation Corvette Z06. Only the small-block V8 of the Stingray – dubbed LT2 – comes with AFM. To put it bluntly, Active Fuel Management is designed to shut off a bank of cylinders in certain scenarios in order to save fuel.
The GM parts catalog leak further confirms double overhead camshafts, a displacement of 5.5 liters, and eight forward gears for the dual-clutch transaxle. Speaking of which, the Detroit-based automaker's production order code for said transmission is M1K as opposed to M1M for the Z06, MLH for the E-Ray, and M1L for the Stingray. Rather than General Motors, transmission specialist Tremec supplies the ZR1's M1K.
Known as TR-9080 in Tremec vernacular, the quick-shifting transaxle was introduced in the latter part of 2019 with a max torque rating of 800 Nm (590 pound-feet). The punchiest application thus far is the Maserati MC20, in which the TR-9080 has to handle 538 pound-feet (730 Nm) from a 3.0L twin-turbo V6.
Be it a high-revving monster such as the 8,600-rpm LT6 in the Z06 or a slightly more relaxed engine, LT7 will help the all-new ZR1 snatch the C7-generation ZR1's title of most powerful series-production Corvette. Something in the ballpark of 800 ponies are in the offing, whereas the dual-injected small block of the 2019 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 belts out a massive 755 hp.
Photo: Scott Fisher of C8 Corvette Owners (And Friends)
The Chevrolet division started teasing the 2025 model at the beginning of April 2024, with Chevrolet confirming a summer 2024 debut for the newcomer. The video teaser published back then stars a computer-generated ZR1 with a humongous rear wing that looks very similar to that of the big-winged prototype.
All three prototypes wear Michelin rubber shoes, and their black-painted wheels appear to be different in design from every other wheel available on the Z06 and E-Ray. There's no denying that a carbon-fiber set is on the menu, for carbon-fiber wheels shave 41 pounds (18.6 kilograms) of unsprung weight off the Z06.
Although 800-odd horsepower will elevate the 2025 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 to the realm we usually associate with Fezza and Macca, nobody in their right mind would cross-shop these brands. Those who couldn't care less about the Prancing Horse of Maranello and the Woking-based automaker will be presented with a challenge in the form of dealer markups on the ZR1, which is believed to be priced higher than its supercharged forerunner.
The one-year-only C7 Corvette ZR1 used to retail at $118,900 for the coupe, which is only a few grand up on the C8-generation Z06. At press time, the Z06 starts at $112,700 before destination charge. Otherwise put, could the 2025 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 be $130,000 from the outset?
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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