The C8 Corvette Stingray, C8 Corvette Z06, and upcoming C8 Corvette E-Ray are only the beginning when it comes to the eighth-gen Chevy Corvette C8, with The General currently developing several other Corvette variants, per previous GM Authority coverage. Now, GM President Mark Reuss has confirmed that the automaker is cooking up two new high-performance models, namely the C8 Corvette ZR1 and C8 Corvette Zora.
During the recent GM Investor Day event held last week, Reuss discussed two upcoming high-performance Corvette model variants, and although he declined to specifically name the new models, he did provide some interesting insights to help build hype.
With regard to the upcoming C8 Corvette ZR1, Reuss said that “as C8 was designed as an early architecture, we keep stepping it up, so this will again set the standard of the world for performance for Chevrolet, and I couldn’t be more excited for that.”
For those readers who may be unaware, the C8 Corvette ZR1 is set to be a highly capable all-round performer offering ultra-high-performance for both the road and the track. Making this possible will be the new twin-turbocharged 5.5L V8 LT7 gasoline engine, which will arrive as a boosted variant of the 5.5L V8 LT6 that motivates to current C8 Corvette Z06. Output from the new ZR1 is expected to peak at 850 horsepower and 850 pound-feet of torque. A pallet carrying the LT7 name recently foreshadowed the development of the new twin-turbocharged engine, as GM Authority covered previously.
Meanwhile, with regard to the upcoming C8 Corvette Zora, Reuss teased that “the next version of the C8 at the very top of the line [would be] something you won’t be able to imagine from a performance standpoint,” adding, “we’ll put the world on notice with this car, it’s our platform of excellence.”
The C8 Corvette Zora will stand out thanks to its twin-turbo, hybrid V8 powerplant and all-wheel-drive system, similar to the forthcoming C8 Corvette E-Ray. Output from the Zora, however, is expected to surpass 1,000 horsepower and 1,000 pound-feet of torque.
Stay tuned as we continue to cover everything you need to know about these two high-performance Corvette variants, and remember to subscribe to GM Authority for more mid-engine Corvette news, Corvette C8 news, Corvette news, Chevy news, and around-the-clock GM news coverage.
Comments
we do not need
Perhaps you don’t need it, but those with much higher expectations will line up for one.
AND MR. REUSS FAILED TO MENTION THESE NEW MID ENGINE CORVETTES SUPER SPORTS CAR MODELS WILL STILL BE SOLD, SERVICED, WARRANTY REPAIRS AND ACCIDENT REPAIRS THROUGH YOUR LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALER THAT CURRENTLY CAN NOT SELL ANY CAMAROS, WILL BE DUMPING GAS POWERED CARS AND TRUCKS VERY SOON AND TREATS $100,000 STINGRAYS LIKE THEY ARE CHEAP COBALTS OUT IN THE RAIN AND SNOW AND HEAT.
MR. REUSS NEEDS TO SEND ALL OF THIS NEW CORVETTE PIZAZZ TO CADILLAC DEALERS WHEN THEY SELL FOR 150 TO 200 THOUSAND DOLLARS. MSRP OR MORE WITH CHEVY DEALER GREED ADDED.
ARE YOU LISTENING MARK?
You mean the Cadillac dealer that also sells and services Chevys and Chevy powered Cadillacs in the same shop?
Might not be able to sell a pony car but they sure know how to sell Corvettes.
If you want to be treated better go buy a Ferrari and spend 4 times more.
Or, he can go see Mike Furman at Criswell Chevrolet and be treated to what it’s like to be a valued customer.
Only Chevrolet dealers can service Corvettes.
I had my Corvette service by my Cadillac dealer who employs 5 Corvette certified technicians. Yes, they have a Chevy dealership, but in a different city. The Corvette certified technicians also work on my 2020 and 2017 Cadillac CT6 sedans.
With increased prices and dealer markups the new ZR1 and the ZORA will be priced on par with Ferrari’s and Lambo’s. GM will outprice themselves and the Corvette will no longer be the best bang for your buck!!
That is not GM’s fault. The dealers are protected by the government to charge what ever they like.
GM can only suggest the price and apply pressure in allocations and the like.
As for price increases Ferrari went up too. Most are pushing or over $400K anymore as most sell over sticker there too unless you want to wait a year or two. Some Ferrari models are only offered to specific customers too. You can buy one unless they say you can. You sell it to flip it they will ban you. Then you have the added cost to maintain the car that can run as much as a Corvette.
Mark is not worried about your thoughts or opinion Jeffrey🤡
But he shouted in caps lock so maybe Reuss will finally listen?
Give me a stripped down model with an LT4 and a manual trans and the wide ZO6 body for the track, Mmmm maybe call it Grand Sport
I agree, except for the stripped down part. I want a 3LT Grand Sport with a 7-Speed Manual and I’ll take it in Torch Red with black leather to match my 2011 Grand Sport.
Also there is a Grand Sport that is coming that is going to be a milder GT car for those wanting a softer ride and a more GT experience.
I sold me mustang and put a deposit on a C8 but i gave up on the idea of owning the bottom corvette from the line up for 90K im shopping for a mustang again. Tire of this GM shenanigans if you work at GM or if you’re a famous youtuber you get the z06 with no mark up if not you pay 50k mark up.
Strad just uploaded his buying of the Z06 he ordered, and it was 173 thousand dollars. Although optioned up as his was, clearly not the 106k (as googled today) msrp advertised. Second hand examples are going for astronomically higher numbers, some still with the factory test track original 10 miles on the odometer. People purchase sports cars passionately, rarely sensibly. Make sense of this: low mile Aventadors are selling for Millions. their msrp’s were something around 475k to 520K depending on spec. Can’t do it? That’s because passion isn’t rational. Add to all of this the wave of change from gas to electric, and the demand for “the last of a era” kind of monikers goes all the way to the moon, as one does. It may seem like nonsense or trend chasing, but you can not stop the heart from wanting what it wants. Enjoy your Mustang.
Your present and future average customers and owners can’t afford these new high performance cars. Their is no practical use for them on our streets and highways. You left us with no purchase choice but the new rear engine model. The average person on the street if they saw one go by wouldn’t know it was a Corvette. A page for the history books. While you are playing with your drag racing expensive toys that will be band by most countries, how about develop the Hybrid Corvette that looks like the real iconic car that you destroyed. The average customer would appreciate it.
For those that pine for the older iconic car “look”, there are lots of used cars out there to buy. Not hybrid of course.
Hybrid Corvette will be released next year. Front motor(s) with the Stingray’s LT2. It will accelerate quicker than any Corvette in history and be more fuel efficient than any in history.
We’re stuck with the ugly styling until someone cleans house at GM Design. Best part is that you can’t see the ugly from the driver’s seat!
More acceleration is nice, but the “balance” and “response” (dumb bell effect) when cornering doesn’t help – and we ARE talking about a Corvette, not a Hellcat. Better fuel efficiency would not compel me to buy one. We’re talking about $100,000 cars. I’d contemplate the price of insurance and registration before thinking about fuel costs. The only time fuel economy is of concern to me is if the range of the car per tank is too short. The current cars get reasonable range. Doubling it wouldn’t make any difference to me.
I’m also tired of all the GM BS. Back to Ford I go as well. Shame of it is that GM could care less. So much greed. I’ll maybe be back when the industry humbles again. Face it, your just a number on a wait list. Come on people it’s just a car that will take thy from point-a to point-b just a little faster. GM get over yourself and start treating your customers with some respect. Off the wait list I go. Bye bye
What GM BS are you addressing specifically? For those unfamiliar with automobile manufacturing, it takes about $50M to $100M to design, test and federally emission certify an all-new “clean sheet” engine for a low production car like a Z06. Wouldn’t you expect to pay more?
Bob in FL, of course I would expect to pay more and gladly would, if I could just get one! The BS I refer to is just roll out the stingray as promised before you make it even more unobtainable with all these other variants. We all know GM out of greed will just kill the Corvette American dream and it will just become an faux Italian super car.
If you guys are so upset with GM and going to Ford why are you on this Website. Seems like your still interested in GM
Rick DenBoer, still on the site hoping GM may turn this rollout around. But as long as consumers keep drinking the GM juice it just plays right into their hand. If we all stopped drooling over this car it wouldn’t be long before they would be lined up at dealers for us to walk in and select one from stock. But happy drinking and keep fueling the madness. Happy New Year to all.
We’ve got some very opinionated people here that apparently don’t understand manufacturing and economics. GM is in business to make and sell cars. The people I know at GM would love to make and sell 30,000 C8 Z06 cars if they could = profits. But the bad economy is adversely affecting both the corporation and suppliers that manufacture all automobiles and trucks.
There is no GM cool aid drinking going on. This car/product is very interesting, so people get interested in it regardless of brand.
These things will sell. Rich boys like toys. However, the present model weighs 3600 lbs…too much already. Add the electric motors and the batteries and what will it weigh? Too much. Weight is the enemy of “sports” cars.
A 992 is 3500-3550lbs. What do you consider to be a sports car, a Miata? Safety and Tech have bumped up base weights. The days of cars <3000lbs are done, unless carbon fiber chassis become common place.
I believe most people are just baffled that although C8 a great car not everyone wants to spend $100,000 for a sports car. So now GM has perfect combo with the mid engine C8 and a front Camaro. Since mustang is now catching up to Camaro. Time to upgrade it. Not electric. So you are going to kill off Camaro and give those sales to Ford and then the kids that buy mustangs will then buy Ford crossovers later in life. I have a 1LE Camaro. Simply awesome car on the track. Don’t want to have a $100,000 car on track that may be only a few seconds faster. Will I be forced to buy a Mustang or a Supra in a few years? Also I instruct at hpde events. Experience has shown an electric car cannot make a 30 minute session being driven hard. GM is stupid for not advertising the Camaro like Dodge does with challenger. Give us a gen 7 Camaro on the upgraded alpha platform
The Mustang has been ahead of the Camaro for a while, in both sales volume and performance. C+D tested the GT500 Carbon Fiber Track Pack and found that, on a 1 and a half minute course, it was a full 4 seconds faster than a Camaro ZL1 1LE while being much more comfortable. On a track, that’s a huge difference.
The Mustang has been ahead of the Camaro for a while, in both sales volume and performance. C+D tested the GT500 Carbon Fiber Track Pack and found that, on a 1 and a half minute course, it was a full 4 seconds faster than a Camaro ZL1 1LE while being much more comfortable. On a track, that’s a gigantic difference, around an eighth of a mile.
The Mustang GT and GT 500 are great cars! The Porsche is a great car. The Ferrari is a great car. So help me out: get one of those and get off of the Z06 waiting lists because that would move me and others up. Big Thanks!
Has there been discussion of production line expansion? I waited 20 months for C8. Dealer said their list of Z06 orders could take years to fulfill. How do you add 2 or 3 more variants and keep buyers interested if the wait gets worse.
The Corvette factory has lots of excess production capability idling. It’s a part supply/supplier problem. Suppliers keep going out of business due to Bidenomics. Then GM has to chase around to find another supplier that agrees to make the same unique Z06 part/module/assembly for this limited production car for the same price. Imagine that you’re an electronic module supplier and GM tells you that you can only plan to sell 2 modules per day to them due to lack of other special Z06 parts that don’t reliably show up on time to build a completed engine or car? I don’t blame GM for the inability to crank Z06s out. GM (being profit driven) would sell 30,000 Z06s per year if it was possible…
My understanding, Bob in FL that the current limit to production is the Tremec transaxles, and gm, the last I heard was attempting to pull some parallel manufacturing in-house. The Z06’s will likely be limited by the hand built engine. Then there is the always present limitation with the semiconductor parts.
I have heard nothing about gm suppliers going out of business, due to “Bidenomics” or anything else. Could you list some examples?
Carbon fiber parts. But you partially answered your own question about the Tremecs. GM is doing everything it can to produce cars in this lousy economic environment. GM bashing is not warranted.
Isn’t the Mustang GT a 3,900 lb car?
All that – – and more.
Yea expand the C8 production, you have thousands of orders for C8’s yet it takes on average 12-18 months.
Come on Chevy you can do better.
Jpg, A 2020 C8 HTC 2LT, new, no dealer markup, was under $75,000, a lot of money, but a lot of car. A trade in helped with the cost. A base C8 is still an incredible value, in my opinion. Yes, GM is selling the hype, but that brings people into the dealership.
I do agree with you that GM needs to make the Camaro an alternative to the Mustang.
I don’t think that you’d be happy with a future Camaro. The Camaro not only competes with Mustangs, but also Challengers and Chargers. Camaros are good handling cars, but generally compete in the “straight line” crowd on the street. The Challengers and Chargers will be all electric. A new Camaro would have to be all electric too which would ruin it’s handling and have all the other electric car drawbacks and limitations. Yuck.
If you have a C8 Stingray. You might want to hold on to it rather than sell it in hopes of getting a Z06, ZR1, or Zora any time soon.
My biggest concern isn’t if I can get a ZO7, it’s if I can gat it the way I want it. When they get my allocation who knows what will be on constraint.
You keep talking about “Bidenomics”. What are you saying? Realizing that this is not an economics forum, but the GDP data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) shows that the average US GDP from 2018 – 2020 was significantly worse than the 2020 to 2022, ignoring the 2020 crash and rebound even including the poor showing for the first two quarters of 2022. The third quarter is back in positive territory at 3 or 4 percent growth. Go look it up and verify the bad information that you are seeing. The US dollar is at near parity with the Euro, higher than it has ever been sense it was introduced in 1999. If you want to blame someone for the recessionary dip this year, Jerome Powell would be a better target than Biden.
You can’t ignore inflation and how it affects business as well as consumers. Companies have been folding due to higher costs for materials and supplies. Insiders at GM have told me that GM has sometimes had to acquire and incorporate a supplier business just to keep the parts coming in. How’s your retirement plan or investment income doing vs 2019? I’m guessing not so hot, but you may be an anecdotal case. Bidenomics…
Would love to see a vette beat a tesla plaid, since nothing can currently keep up with those things.
It’s all in the environment. Just make the challenge at a track 300 miles away!
If you want to compete or beat a Tesla in a straight line, Dodge will probably do it with what they are planning. But those cars are kind of a yawner on a road course and have all the limitations of an electric car. My neighbor owns a plaid and he likes it. But even he tells me that the fastest car he ever owned was a Mitsubishi twin turbo that he modified. Perhaps the C8 ZR1 twin turbo is the way to go if you want that power level – plus excellent handling. I’d like to get a C8 Z06 first, but if a C8 ZL1 is built – that’s really my ultimate target.
These vehicles will no doubt be amazing but GM needs to stay away from going all in on electric cars. These days it feels like EVs are being shoved down our throats. GM may flop and be out of business.Mark my words
A few months ago, GMs CEO was interviewed about that. He said: “yes, we will make an electric corvette, but we will also continue to make ICE corvettes because some of our corvette customers prefer them.” So I’m going with that. A smart approach.
Unfortunately even 1,000 hp isn’t going to be enough to beat the already 2 years old “performance sedans” from the likes Tesla Model S Plaid or the Lucid. These cars are putting down between 1100-1300 hp in order to hit 150+mph in the 1/4 mile at 5,000lbs with no failures. Ferrari has already learned this the hard and GM is shooting at a moving target from 2018, they need to innovate faster.
It’s the EVs that are playing catch up to ICE. Three years ago I saw a modified twin turbo Nissan GTR with full interior run 8.5 @ 179 mph at Palm Beach International Raceway. Then his GTR buddy ran a 7.9 @ 185 mph. They both drove home. Turbocharging is where it’s at. I welcome the C8 ZR1. Fast enough.
Well, if you like tossing a 5000 lb car around the corners, go fot it. 3400-3500 Corvettes with 850 hp is more fun I’d bet.
If your baseline standard of excellence is a lousy looking, heavy Tesla electric “blob” car, then look to Dodge. The Tesla is a “one trick pony” – straight line. I have no interest and hope that GM doesn’t “gp there” to play “catch up”.
You can’t buy a stock Corvette more less a Z06. Now they’re going to add more models they can’t produce except to Rick Hendrick.
Exactly, that is what my previous comments about GM BS!!! They will sell C8 no matter what because we as consumers allow it. Same as professional sports where cry babies continue to earn millions for beating their wife’s. It’s because fan continue to pay high ticket prices. It will never stop as long as will give in.
GM techs are certified under their umbrella of cars, depends on the brand you choose, some techs move to other brands and still certify under their old brand ($$). So GM…..funny…..I remember long ago corvette split from GM because they were limited by GM in what they could do with the cars (performance vs insurance etc.)…. So to me it is all bullsh!t that GM is up charging people because they were holding the corvette back years of potential sales. My 4th camaro ss was rated “best bang for the buck” 320HP 350TQ for $31000….the new camaros are $15,000 more for an additional 150HP…….for $3000 I can get more than 150HP added to my current camaro….without the $800/month payment….I don’t need interior lighting, touchscreen 10 spd auto transmission…..I bought a dam muscle car to rip through gears like a pure hearted American should!!!! Bring back the real Chevys, ones that were affordable and quality made for the working person….like Mr Chevrolet promoted when Chevy became a car manufacturer.
Looks like you have precisely what you want. There is a thriving pre-owned market out there for like minded individuals. I have only bought two new cars in the last 50 years; a 2004 Prius and a 2021 C8. I still have the Prius as my daily with 210k miles. The C8 is a retirement toy to myself. As long as parts are available, it is always costs less to maintain or update what you have.
In 1979 I ordered a new Corvette from the factory – and have modified it extensively. I told the dealer that I’d be back to buy another one when the fenders rusted off. Well, they never did and I got tired of waiting. So I’m on a wait list to get a C8 Z06 for my one last, final “special” car. BUT if they build a turbocharged C8 ZR1, I’m a buyer! If neither happens, my other cars are sufficiently entertaining. I also own a modified 1987 Grand National and modified 1989 Pontiac 20th Anniversary V6 turbo Trans Am Indy Pace Car. However with a C8 ZR1, I’d be known as “triple-turbo” Bob. I don’t plan to modify the Z06 or ZR1. Just get a 10 year warranty…
Camaro prices adjusted for inflation aren’t much different from the 80s and 90s. Difference is you could not buy a 650 hp Camaro at any price back then. Now you can buy a four cylinder Camaro that can smoke an 80s V8 Camaro, especially on a twisty road course, and use less fuel. It’s also FAR safer in an accident.
Cars today are far superior to any of the junk GM made in the 80s. Expand your view and you can even buy a Honda, Hyundai, or VW hot hatch that can smoke that 80s garbage. We are in a golden era of performance yet some boomers do nothing but complain! Here’s the truth: cars are better but you’re older and not everything works like it should. As a result you miss the “good old days.” Sure, because when you’re young everything is betting, especially making love in the back seat!
Every one that thinks that these automakers are doing you any kind of a huge favor by building you this self serving crap is sadly mistaken… there whole goal is to make everything they build so complex and complicated that you are forced into going to a dealer and having it repaired or in many cases trading it off for a new one… So I ask this question.. What’s the difference in selling you a car that you cannot really call your own, because it takes you and the dealer to own it together, and PRICE FIXING, which is illegal..
Will GM continue to build cars with gas engine beyond 2034?
I’m not buying 850 ft lbs torque for zr1 with TT. No way. Car will still be a beast
850 lb ft is indeed possible in a twin turbo 5.5L V8. Recall what tuner shops have been doing with turbocharged Buick Grand National 3.8L V6s since the late 1980s. Some 8 second 1/4 mile GNs are out there with full interior – and are still street drive-able. Turbocharged engines produce a LOT of torque. Turbocharging is where it’s at… Not sure what my HP and torque numbers are, but my full body GN ran 7.0 @ 100 mph in the 1/8th mile – beating new supercharged C7 Z06 cars that were 0.5 seconds behind. Takes a lot of torque to do that.
There’s no way to tell right now what will happen to ICEs in 2035. Having ICEs would require restoration of American-style consumer choice when it comes to automobiles. Let consumers make their own choices – not the government. Note that a totalitarian government has been using a phony climate change hoax to unnecessarily tighten emission regulations to the point that ICEs would effectively be banned. At the same time, no matter how many electric cars hit the roads, the weather will not change. I think that something else has to be changed…
DEAR SIR , THIS IS A LITTLE OFF , BUT I HAVE A OLD 1980 CORVETTE, TOOK IT TO 2 CHEVY DEALERS IN ILLINOIS TO FIX WINDOWS ,, & IT LEAKED WORSE AFTER I GOT IT BACK ,,THAN WHEN I BROUGHT IT IN ,,GRRRRR ,& I DO NOT THINK HIGHLY OF CHEVY NOW,,,,,,,, JUST FOUND ANOTHER SHOP TO HOPELY FIX IT ,, MARK