2025 Corvette ZR1 gets split-window and over 1,000PS

2025 Corvette ZR1: design

Visually, the new ZR1 takes the acclaimed Z06 as its base. We can see the wide body, ‘wishbone’ inlet accent, and front and rear bumpers of the Z06, with a few subtle changes for the ZR1.

The first you see from the front is that scalloped frunk, which channels air taken in through the nose, through the intercooler, up and over the car. Then you see the new rear wing which is paired with an aggressive splitter at the front. 

Looking closer at the details, we see a new set of carbon fibre wheels and inlets on the top of the haunches that feed the engine. We also see a small revision to those wishbone side inlets, with the furthest-rearward spur now digging into the body as a cool air feed for the rear brakes. Apparently, that spur as seen on the Z06 and E-Ray, was there purely so the body-in-white would be able to integrate this revision when it came to ZR1 time.

Then, of course, with a good look at the rear past the massive wing – more on which in a second – we see the C8 ZR1 marks the return of the split-window to the Corvette. It’s not just for show either, because as you can see, there are plenty of air extractors that, given this car’s potency, will be put to work.

The ZR1 can be had in a clean ‘Top Speed’ spec with reduced aero addenda but no doubt the big story will be the ZTK package. This adds an even bigger rear wing, an even bigger front splitter and an exaggerated gurney to the frunk scoop, that aids in the acceleration of the air up and out of the heat exchanger pack that’s sat where your shopping used to go. The result: 544kg of downforce at top speed, or to put that into context, more downforce than a Porsche 911 GT3.

2025 Corvette ZR1: how to make over 1,000PS

If the external changes are aggressive, wait ’til you hear the numbers. Fear not for the health of the horsepower wars, for following the death of the Hellcats and Demons, in the C8 ZR1 they are alive and well. The new model boasts a full 1,064PS (782kW) at 7,000rpm and 1,123Nm (828lb ft) peaking at 6,000rpm. Yes, the ZR1 is now a four-figure car, with more power than a Bugatti Veyron. It should hit 60mph in under 2.6 seconds, on the way to a top speed well north of 200mph. The team reckons the first quarter-mile the ZR1 prototype ever attempted was completed under 10 seconds.

That torque figure is at a square 800Nm (590lb ft) from 3,000rpm by the way and no, there isn’t any drive to the front wheels. Each of those (admittedly substantial) rear meats is channeling more power than the 7.0-litre LS7-engined C6 Z06 had in total.

That incredible power figure comes courtesy of the new ‘Gemini’ 5.5-litre twin-turbocharged flat-plane crank LT7 V8 engine, which in effect uses the block of the LT6 screamer first seen in the Z06. Almost everything however has been totally re-engineered for the new turbocharged application. It won’t quite rev to 8,400rpm like the Z06, but 8,000rpm is still pretty tall and it’ll smoke the rear tyres like few Vettes before it. 

Even though it’s a relatively simple concept – there’s no hot V or twin-scroll turbocharging – this engine pushes boundaries. Big (76mm) single-scroll ball-bearing turbos sound like they should be laggy, but fear not. With 5.5 litres feeding them, they won’t go hungry for punch – remember, this lump is a good 1.5-litres bigger than European turbocharged V8s. But also, there’s an intelligent adaptive anti-lag system. Response is also improved by integrating them into the exhaust manifolds.

There’s no getting around the fact that high revs makes life hard for turbos, so the turbine wheels are made of Mar, which allows them to run at over 1,000 degrees C. Another fun fact? The tips of the compressor blades at full chat can travel at up to 1.7 times the speed of sound. It all added up to an engine that was eager to make power from the off. While they had a target in the 800s, it was immediately hungry for more, so they kept pushing it. It was also hungry for the dynos themselves, given it broke a few in the testing process…

Exotic the C8 may look, but it’s elegant, yet poetically American big-engineering solutions that make the ZR1 a four-figure hypercar chaser.

2025 C8 Corvette ZR1: handling and dynamics

As you’d hope, to keep it all under control, the ZR1 gets new monster stoppers. The carbon discs are 15.7 inches at the front and 15.4 inches at the rear, with six- and four-piston calipers squeezing them respectively. The eight-speed dual-clutch transmission has also been upgraded to cope with the grunt, as has the oiling and cooling system.

The ZTK pack comes with its own track-focused calibration for the magnetic ride suspension, as well as its own stiffer springs, while the carbon wheels are shod in Michelin Cup 2 R tyres. That aero pack also produces 544kg of downforce at top speed, which even with all that crazy gubbins, is over 215mph. What on Earth will the wingless one do…

Back on the suspension, interestingly, Chevy claims the stock ZR1 is a softer car in terms of suspension compliance, as it rolls off the forecourt, than the Z06. Theoretically, the 1,000PS (735kW) Corvette will be a more streetable Corvette. Go figure…

2025 Corvette ZR1: price and release date

The new Corvette ZR1 hasn’t been given exact pricing yet, though we can infer the ZR1 will command a heavy premium even over the Z06. You can also expect multiple grades of car and obviously, a premium to be paid for that ZTK track pack.

Expect pricing everywhere from $160,000 (£124,000) to over $200,000 (£155,000). We don’t expect to see ZR1s reaching owners before the end of this year and sadly, it doesn’t sound like a right-hand-drive version is on the cars.

Many had speculated that the ZR1 would output what the team originally targeted, around 800PS (588kW). This, in order to leave room for the rumoured ‘Zora’ special that’s said to pair this turbocharged mill with a more advanced version of the E-Ray’s hybrid system. Now this 1,064PS (783kW) ZR1 is leaving many speculators little choice but to conclude that a 1,200PS (883kW) hybrid hyper-Vette has to be on the cards.

For now, though, what do you think of this new Corvette Z06? Is it over for the European supercar manufacturers, or could this be another case of absolute power corrupting absolutely? Let us know your thoughts.