Everyone has to eat, and every car has to fuel up. That includes important prototype vehicles like the 2018 C7 Corvette ZR1—and a prototype of the hottest C7 Corvette variant has been spotted filling up.
The video was posted to Instagram from user robert_hellcat and it shows the C7 Corvette ZR1 pulling away from a fuel station. The car is still covered in plenty of camouflage, but it’s thinner than we’ve seen before and it shows the hood off in a new way.
Specifically, the hood seems to be hiding something pretty large underneath. The camo outlines a very aggressive lump sitting smack in the middle of the hood, pushed towards the windshield. Of course, rumor has it the 2018 C7 Corvette ZR1 will debut with a 6.2-liter LT5 V8 engine, but we’ve yet to see anything to confirm it. Leaked documents showed the engine aligned with a 2018 model year Corvette, and the ZR1 seems like a natural fit. The “LT5” code also showed up in GM’s RPO database, too.
We’ve seen and heard plenty from ZR1 prototypes in the past and the car has distinctly supercharged sound to it. Even if this Corvette sports a DOHC engine, it also employs forced induction.
We don’t have a clear timeline as to when we’ll see the Corvette ZR1 in the sheet metal, but a mid-engine Corvette looms on the horizon. The C7 Corvette ZR1 should be coming sooner rather than later.
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Some have wondered about the obvious bulge on the hood of the C7 Corvette ZR1 as it makes you wonder whether it’s really a LT4 650 hp supercharged 6.2L V8 or could it really be something else that needs a bit of extra clearance and while it can be the engine being developed for the C8 Corvette; another possibility could be a supercharged 7.0L V8 making 850-900 hp.
Without some expensive upgrades, the LS7 and forced induction do not mix very well. On top of that, GM isn’t going to produce anymore handmade LS7’s, reengineer the design to handle boost and place them into this car. That engine has long since run it’s course. The ’14-’15 Z/28 was the last vehicle to receive that engine.
I don’t hear the whine of a supercharger, could be an active aero test car?
If you watched earlier videos like laguna seca and nurburgring videos you can hear the whine quite well. I don’t know if it’s just not loud enough to hear it in this or if this is a different prototype
Could be the new DOHC V8 with a Supercharger. This way when they bring the C8 they can just transplant the engine.
That’s fugly for a street car. Would not touch with a barge pole.
It’s a good thing aesthetics are subjective. I’m sure GM will sell plenty of these.
It’s a good thing for GM that taste is in the eye of the beholder…..
I’m sure your opinion will keep GM executives up at night. Many people like the appearance of the car. Again, they will sell every ZR1 in quick fashion.
Calm down. I’m absolutely, 100% certain they’ll still make your precious donk – as fugly as they/you want it to be. After all, it’s in the eye of the beholder.
Donk? Wow, they’re putting 36″ dubs on the ZR1? Being engineered as a track monster, I’m not certain this will work out well for GM. Did you inform Motor Trend of the insider information you possess?
Not yet, but good idea.
Let me know how it works out.
P.S. I got in touch with your shift manager and informed him of all the spare time you seem to have on your hands. He said instead of simply having you wash the lettuce, tomatoes and onions at work today, he’s going to have you start scrubbing the urinals too. I’d stop and pick up some rubber gloves if I were you.
You 15 year old internet bad asses crack me up. Don’t worry about the appearance of the new ZR1, it’s way out of your price range. Having one parked in the garage next to my ’11 SS, ’12 ZL1 and ’16 GrandSport will look pretty nice though. I’m still undecided on this or a ZL1/1LE. I guess I’ll have to flip a coin.
2016 Grand Sport, wow…that’s pretty awesome since the C7 Grand Sport wasn’t offered until the 2017 model year, lol…try harder next time.
Pfff. Keyboard warrior.
Still a fugly car.