2025 CHEVROLET CORVETTE ZR1 - THE FASTEST, MOST POWERFUL CORVETTE EVER
Chevrolet has unleashed the unthinkable in the Corvette ZR1. The King of the Hill returns with the most powerful V8 ever produced in America from an auto manufacturer, mind-bending specs and iconic design to challenge the world’s best supercars in both coupe and convertible variants.
“The team that revolutionized Corvette with a mid-engine architecture took on another challenge: take ZR1 to the next level,” said Scott Bell, vice president, Chevrolet. “Corvette ZR1 is about pushing the envelope with raw power and cutting-edge innovation. From Stingray, to Z06, E-Ray, and now ZR1, the Corvette family continues to elevate with each new iteration — and challenge the best in the world.”
ZR1’s 5.5L LT7 twin-turbocharged DOHC V8 engine starts with the same architecture as Z06’s LT6, the most powerful naturally aspirated production V8 engine ever, and takes it to the next level with twin turbochargers — the first time ever for a factory Corvette.
Dubbed the “Gemini V8” architecture, the LT6 program was only the beginning as engineers dual-pathed a goal: to create massive power, capability and character from naturally aspirated and turbocharged flat plane crankshaft twin engines. With these goals in mind, engineers did not create an LT6 with turbochargers, but instead changed and optimized virtually every system for a boosted application.
Corvette ZR1’s 5.5L, twin-turbo DOHC flat-plane crank LT7 engine is the result of engineering prowess and pushing the boundaries of what the engine architecture can do. Thoughtful planning produced the best performance from forced induction, married with the 5.5L flat-plane engine architecture.
The LT7 engine is purpose-built to accomplish its four-figure horsepower mission with no compromises in componentry and maintains the rev-happy character that is the heart of the Gemini V8 engine family. It will be hand-assembled by the master engine builders at the Performance Build Center, part of the Bowling Green Assembly Plant in Kentucky.
The Corvette ZR1 offers speed on tap like no Corvette before it. Two distinct setups, complete with Magnetic Ride dampers, accomplish this. The standard Corvette ZR1 chassis arrives with a sleeker body with lower drag and a small spoiler with customer-adjustable short and tall wickers. It also includes a standard carbon-fiber front splitter, rocker moldings, side intake with integrated brake cooling, and front underwing with stall gurney deflectors. Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires wrap 20-inch front, and 21-inch rear wheels. The standard chassis blends the best of on-road comfort and track capability with this setup.
Corvette ZR1’s optional ZTK performance package unlocks a true track weapon. Notably, the ZTK package adds an aggressive, high-downforce rear wing, front dive planes, and a tall hood Gurney lip – all constructed from woven carbon fiber. Underneath, underbody strakes replace the standard front underwing stall Gurney to increase front downforce. The suspension tuning included in the ZTK package incorporates stiffer springs and adds Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R tires. Amid testing and development, the ZR1 tackled some the world’s most demanding racetracks, including the Nürburgring, Road Atlanta, and Virginia International Raceway.
“We went into the ZR1 program with lofty goals, but even our first development tests on-track showed the teams were already exceeding them,” said Tadge Juechter, executive chief engineer, Corvette. “As we worked to develop this car, we continued to leap past expectations, and we knew we had a special Corvette on our hands.”
Controlling ZR1’s high performance is a new brake system. The brake package uses a revolutionary carbon ceramic rotor manufacturing technology to yield increased durability and reduced brake component temperatures. Front rotors measure 15.7 inches (400mm) in diameter and rear rotors 15.4 inches (390mm) in diameter — the front rotors are the largest ever equipped on Corvette. In just 24.5 seconds, the Corvette ZR1 goes from 80-200 mph and back to 80 mph — 22% quicker than the C7 Corvette ZR1, and 53% quicker than the C6 Corvette ZR1.