2025 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1: 1,064 HP Beast
1,000+ Horsepower Meets Precision Handling at COTA
The numbers are outrageous: 1,064 horsepower, 828 lb-ft of torque, and a $174,995 base price. But the 2025 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 isn’t just about flexing its turbocharged LT7 V-8 muscle. It’s about rewriting what American performance cars can do.
At the Circuit of the Americas (COTA), we got our first taste of this mad machine. With a mid-engine layout born from a decade of planning and engineering, the ZR1 doesn’t just roar—it stuns, sticks, and soars.
A New Breed of ZR1
Forget what you remember about the last-gen C7 ZR1. That 755-hp monster could be terrifying. Judges once called it “nerve wracking” and “like driving an Igloo cooler with a jet engine.” Not anymore.
The new ZR1 is different. Yes, it still hits like a freight train, but it does so with confidence, precision, and—shockingly—control.
The LT7 Twin-Turbo V-8: Corvette’s Crown Jewel
Developed alongside the Z06’s LT6, the LT7 is a completely reworked twin-turbo 5.5L V-8. It shares some architecture with its naturally aspirated sibling but adds:
- A 9.8:1 compression ratio
- 16 fuel injectors
- Ball-bearing turbos pushing 24 psi
- Secondary port injection
- Massive cooling systems
Chevrolet claims it can consume two gallons of fuel per minute at full throttle and move enough air to fill an Olympic pool in four minutes. This is not an engine for the shy.
On Track: Speed Meets Sanity
After warm-up laps in a base C8, the ZR1 didn’t just impress—it shocked us. From the Michelin PS4 tires to the Performance Traction Management, the ZR1 proved composed, grippy, and addictively fast.
Even with 1,064 hp, turbo lag is nonexistent, thanks to a clever anti-lag system. The Tremec M1K 8-speed dual-clutch swaps gears lightning quick, helping the ZR1 hit:
- 0-60 mph in 2.5 seconds
- 1/4 mile in 9.7 seconds at 152 mph
Top speed? On COTA’s long back straight, we touched 176 mph—with room to go faster.
Exhaust Roar, Road Presence
At full throttle, the V-8’s 8,000-rpm redline unleashes a soundtrack EVs can only dream of. Chevy says the exhaust can push 37 pounds of thrust at wide-open throttle—yes, it might literally blow your neighbor away.
Want the Ultimate ZR1? Get the ZTK Package
Track day junkies should opt for the $9,995 combo of:
- ZTK Performance Pack ($1,500)
- Carbon Aero Package ($8,495)
You’ll get:
- Stiffer suspension
- Track alignment settings
- Michelin Cup 2 R tires
- Functional aerodynamic upgrades
Base coupe starts at $174,995, while the convertible opens at $184,995.
Final Thoughts
The 2025 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 is America’s wildest sports car yet, but it’s no longer a blunt-force weapon. It’s an engineered symphony of speed, control, and tech, with enough punch to silence even the loudest EV evangelists.
Source: Motor Trend
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