Save for the Callaway-developed B2K twin-turbo package, General Motors never offered a Corvette with turbocharged muscle. Next year, however, the C8 ZR1 will be launched with 800-odd horsepower to its name from a flat-plane crankshaft V8 lump.
First and foremost, it’s worth remembering that regular production order code B2K stood for 382 horsepower at full chatter. Callaway also produced the 898-hp Sledgehammer Corvette, which topped 254.76 miles per hour (410 kilometers per hour) at the Transportation Research Center’s oval track.
Although it’s unlikely to match its predecessor’s output, the 2025 model year ZR1 is certainly going to impress from a dig. The widebody ‘Vette also sports high-quality rubber from the folks at Michelin, which should result in tremendous corner-carving capabilities. GM was recently spied testing its twin-turbo supercar at the Nurburgring, with GM bringing a group of prototypes to the world's most challenging racetrack.
Camouflaged like there’s no tomorrow, said prototypes are fitted with two distinct rear wings. The lesser one wouldn’t look out of place on the Z06, whereas the other is a wholly different animal. Not as extreme as the rear wing of the Corvette GT3.R, the more aggressive design obviously favors downforce to the detriment of top speed.
Although it’s hard to tell from certain angles, the ZR1 further sweetens the deal with an extra pair of intakes. Positioned right next to the larger side intakes, these smaller intakes are joined by two small vents atop the rear fenders. In other words, the 5.5L twin-turbo V8 needs a lot of cooling.
Photo: Baldauf
Extremely similar to the Z07-equipped Z06 up front, the ZR1 also flaunts the center-exit quad exhaust system of the Z06. Our spy photographers didn’t manage to snap any picture of the interior, which is reportedly getting redesigned for 2025.
Word on the street is the wall of buttons will be shelved for a more elegant solution, although it remains to be seen if said refresh is worthy of being called elegant in the case of a midship brawler with tons of carbon-fiber trim. Similar to other versions of the C8, the ZR1 will also rock an eight-speed transaxle of the dual-clutch variety. Developed by Tremec, said transaxle is rated at up to 590 pound-feet (make that 800 Nm) by the manufacturer.
The Stingray with the fancy exhaust makes 470 pound-feet (637 Nm), the Z06 makes do with 460 pound-feet (624 Nm), and the E-Ray boasts the very same peak torque as the Stingray because it features the very same naturally-aspirated small block. With the LT6 of the Z06 getting a pair of turbos to create the LT7 for the ZR1, chances are this new engine’s peak torque rating will get extremely close to the dual-clutch transaxle’s advertised torque rating.
In other words, GM and Tremec have certainly beefed it up for the ZR1. Sometime after the ZR1 hits dealer showrooms for the 2025 model year, the C8 will climax with the unveiling of the Zora. Think of it as half ZR1 and half E-Ray. Believed to launch in 2025 for 2026 at the earliest, the hybrid-assisted Zora purportedly makes 1,000 horsepower and 975 pound-feet (1,322 Nm). Hearsay suggests 850 and 825 (1,119) for the long-awaited ZR1.
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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