Posted on by

The Beast Unleashed: Chevrolet’s new Corvette 1000 horsepower ZR1 roars into the limelight

In a world where the hum of electric motors is becoming the new normal, Chevrolet has decided to flip the script and roar back with a throaty growl. Introducing the new Corvette ZR1, revealed with much fanfare at the Concours Club near Miami. And what a beast it is… This isn’t just a car; it’s a statement, boasting the most powerful V8 ever produced in America. We’re talking 1,064 horsepower, 828 lb-ft of torque, and more downforce than a jetliner at full tilt—over 1,200 pounds at top speed, to be precise.

Yes, while everyone else is rushing to plug in, Chevy has gone and stuffed a 5.5L, twin-turbocharged DOHC flat-plane crank V8, whimsically named the LT7, into their latest creation. It’s a brash reminder that internal combustion is far from dead and can still put up a fight against the world’s best supercars. According to Scott Bell, vice president of Chevrolet, “The team that revolutionized Corvette with a mid-engine architecture took on another challenge: take ZR1 to the next level.” And take it to the next level they did. This isn’t just a car; it’s a rolling, roaring piece of mechanical defiance.

The LT7 engine, which is a turbocharged evolution of the already potent LT6 from the Z06, has a pedigree that demands respect. It’s the first time a factory Corvette has come with twin turbochargers, and the result? A mind-boggling top speed of over 215 mph and a quarter-mile time that would embarrass a fair few dragsters, clocking in at under 10 seconds. To keep everything in check, Chevy has bolstered the 8-speed transmission and gone to town with aerodynamic and cooling enhancements. Think flow-through hoods, carbon fiber ducts, and an air intake system that could probably suck in small birds.

For the truly adventurous, there’s the ZTK performance package, which adds more wings and things than a fighter jet. A high-downforce rear wing, front dive planes, and a tall hood Gurney lip—all made from the finest woven carbon fiber. Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R tires and stiffer springs ensure that this Corvette can handle all the power and downforce thrown at it.

Testing this beast has taken place at some of the world’s most iconic tracks, including the Nürburgring, where cars go to prove their mettle, and Road Atlanta. Tadge Juechter, Corvette’s executive chief engineer, noted, “Even our first development tests on-track showed the teams were already exceeding them.” In other words, they knew they had something special right from the start.

Bringing all this madness to a halt is a new carbon ceramic rotor system, with the largest front rotors ever seen on a Corvette. To put it in perspective, the ZR1 can go from 80 to 200 mph and back to 80 mph in just 24.5 seconds—making it 22% quicker than the C7 Corvette ZR1 and 53% quicker than the C6.

And let’s not forget the aesthetic nod to Corvette history with the return of the iconic split window. Last seen on the C2-generation Corvette, this design feature isn’t just a throwback; it’s a design statement for the modern era.

As for the price tag? Well, that remains under wraps for now. But let’s be honest, for those with a burning desire for pure, unadulterated gasoline-fueled adrenaline, the price will likely be just a minor detail.

CHEVROLET CORVETTE ZR1 SPECIFICATIONS

ENGINE

Type: LT7 Twin-Turbocharged 5.5L DOHC VVT DI
Bore & stroke (in. / mm): 4.104 x 3.150 / 104.25 x 80
Block Material: A319 cast aluminum with cast-in iron cylinder liners and four-bolt main bearing caps
Oiling System: Seven-stage dry sump (8-qt. capacity) with oil-spray piston cooling
Oil Type: Dexos R 5W50 synthetic
Cylinder Head Material: A356 T6 cast aluminum
Combustion Chamber Volume: 59.92cc
Compression Ratio: 9.8:1
Valvetrain: Dual overhead camshafts (four valves per cylinder) with mechanical finger-follower valvetrain and dual-coil valve springs; dual-independent camshaft phasing
Valve Size (in. / mm): 1.77 / 45 titanium (intake) & 1.37 / 35 sodium filled Nimonic (exhaust)
Fuel Delivery: PDI (DI – Max pressure: 5,076 psi (35 Mpa / 350 bar) & Port Fuel Injection)
Firing Order: 1-4-3-8-7-6-5-2
Throttle Body: Twin 65mm single bore (electronic)
Charging: Twin 76 mono-scroll ported shroud ball bearing turbos (67mm MAR compressor), E-Waste gates
Charge Cooling: Dual engine-mounted water to air charge coolers
ECU: GM E68 (32-bit processing)
Horsepower (hp / kW): 1,064 / 873 @ 7,000 rpm
Torque (lb.-ft. / Nm): 828 / 1123 @ 6,000 rpm

TRANSMISSION & AXLE

Type: M1K 8-speed dual clutch (DCT)

CHASSIS & SUSPENSION

Front Suspension: Short/long arm (SLA) double wishbone, forged aluminum upper and cast aluminum L-shape lower control arms; monotube shock absorbers; Magnetic Selective Ride Control 4.0. Specific calibration with available ZTK package. Adjustable front lift with memory is available
Rear Suspension: Short/long arm (SLA) double wishbone, forged aluminum upper and cast aluminum L-shape lower control arms; direct-acting stabilizer bar; monotube shock absorbers; Magnetic Selective Ride Control 4.0. Specific calibration with available ZTK package
Steering Type: Variable-ratio rack-and-pinion with electric power assist; includes Active Steer Stops
Steering ratio: 15.7:1
Turning Circle (ft. / m): 38 / 11.1
Brake Type: Front and rear eBoost-assisted carbon ceramic discs with six-piston/monobloc front calipers and four-piston/monobloc rear calipers
Brake Rotor Size (in. / mm): Front: 15.7 x 1.5  / 400 x 38
Rear: 15.4 x 1.3 / 390 x 34
Wheel Size: Front: 20-inch x 10-inch (w/5 x 120mm bolt pattern)
Rear: 21-inch x 13-inch (w/5 x 130mm bolt pattern)
Tire Size: Front: 275/30ZR20
Rear: 345/25ZR21

EXTERIOR DIMENSIONS

Wheelbase (in. / mm): 107 / 2723
Overall Length (in. / mm): 185.9 / 4722
Overall Width without mirrors (in. / mm): 79.7 / 2025
Overall Height (in. / mm): 48.6 / 1234
Track (in. / mm): Front: 66.3 / 1685
Rear: 66.1 / 1678

INTERIOR DIMENSIONS

Headroom (in. / mm): 37.9 / 963
Legroom (in. / mm): 42.8 / 1087
Shoulder Room (in. / mm): 54.4 / 1382
Hip Room (in. / mm): 52 / 1321

WEIGHTS & CAPACITIES

Dry Weight (lb. / kg): 3670 / 1665 (coupe)
3758 / 1705 (convertible)
Cargo Volume (cu. ft. / L)1: 9.1 / 258
Greg Engle
Latest posts by Greg Engle (see all)

Comments

comments