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2025 Chevy Corvette ZR1 Has A Front Hood Air Extraction Vent

The C8 Corvette lineup is about to get a massive performance boost thanks to the forthcoming debut of the 2025 Chevy Corvette ZR1. Aimed at dominating on the track, the C8 Corvette ZR1 will feature a new forced-induction variant of the 5.5L V8 LT6 gasoline engine mounted behind the cabin, plus wild aerodynamic enhancements on the exterior. Now, we’re taking a closer look at one of those aero bits, namely the front hood air extractor vent.

The front end of the 2025 Chevy Corvette ZR1.

A prototype of the new 2025 Chevy Corvette ZR1 was recently spotted hot-lapping at the infamous Nurburgring race track in Germany, giving us an early look at high-performance machine as it pounded around some of the treacherous corners. While the C8 Corvette ZR1 is decked out in all kinds of exciting new body pieces, the front end is particularly notable for the new hood air extraction vent.

Although the exact purpose behind this bit of aero in this particular application has yet to be revealed, hood air extraction vents typically serve two purposes – cooling and downforce.

While the C8 Corvette ZR1 continues to mount the engine behind the cabin, rather than up front, the new hood air extraction vent could still be useful for cooling, possibly with the addition of new radiators. The C8 Corvette Z06, for example, has five radiators total, three of which are mounted up front, with two mounted in the sides of the front bumper and another, smaller radiator mounted centrally in the front bumper. Additional radiators are mounted in the sides of the vehicle. Considering the track-performance focus of the C8 Corvette ZR1, it’s possible the new extraction vent up front will help aid in cooling, or possibly even provide the space needed for additional heat exchangers.

Speaking of heat exchangers, the C8 Corvette ZR1 will also feature forced induction, so perhaps the front hood vents house intercoolers to lower the intake charge air temperature.

Finally, the C8 Corvette ZR1 will feature some pretty impressive aero features, as indicated by the massive rear wing. With that in mind, hood air extraction vents are also great at reducing front end aero lift, which can help increase front downforce and front end grip.

Of course, we won’t know for certain exactly what’s going on with that front hood air extraction vent until the 2025 Chevy Corvette ZR1 makes its official debut, so subscribe to GM Authority for more mid-engine Corvette news, Corvette C8 news, Chevy news, and around-the-clock GM news coverage.

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Jonathan is an automotive journalist based out of Southern California. He loves anything and everything on four wheels.

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Comments

  1. I just cannot understand why GM cannot produce a Vette with a modern Active Rear Wing/Air Brake system.

    Reply
    1. I have a hard time understanding why the aftermarket folks haven’t done this as well. A power tap and IMU/GPS cell tech would allow programmable behaviours. It wouldn’t be cheap, but not technically difficult.

      Reply
    2. Search GMA’s site, you’ll find a story where GM has patented several designs on active aero.

      Reply
      1. @ma7mgte
        Exactly.
        That means they are too cheap to add to the Vehicle. It is ridiculous.

        Reply
  2. Isn’t the E-Ray more powerful than the ZR1?

    Reply
    1. Huh? The ZR1 will have more power and torque close to 900. The E-Ray has similar performance figures matching the ZO6.

      Reply
    2. Z06, not ZR1.

      Reply
    3. The ZR1 will have substantially more power than the E-Ray. Due to it’s AWD system the E-Ray is currently the quickest accelerating Corvette up to a quarter mile, but the yet to be released ZR1 should easily set the new high bar.

      Reply
  3. There’s still another version to top them all in the works; The ZORA

    Reply
  4. Straight from Tadges mouth an active wing increases cost, weight and takes up space. Too many boxes checked in the negative column vs positive column.

    Reply
    1. I would rather have the base Z06 spoiler for the street and a wing that could be easily/quickly fitted for autox/track day events than an active wing or have to drive about with the “boy racer” look permanently in place. My only real criticism of the C8 is the ballooning weight.

      Reply
  5. A lot of cars have the same type of aero. I think Chevy’s first was the 2012 Camaro ZL1.

    Reply
  6. GM does not have enough computer chips to make the wing automatically adjust

    Reply
  7. Why do you personally attack this man? He is just stating a fact about the problems keeping up with demand. You obviously have other issues besides car talk

    Reply
    1. mean, it’s pretty obvious that this will pull sales away from Z06 sales, just like Z06 sales pull sales away from the stingray. They’ll make and sell plenty of these, just as sales on the entry models slow.

      Reply
  8. Running the center radiator air exhaust out the front hood is certainly the better aero solution, but does do away with most of the usable frunk volume. Ah priorities.

    Reply
  9. I have been going through the pictures and that rear wing looks adjustable. I’m not saying it’s electronically done but the posts look like the angle can be adjusted.

    Reply
  10. The C8 demand is an issue. I was fully dicked out of a new Vette a couple years ago when the dealer jacked the price from ~$94k to nearly $120k with various high demand excuses. A small family emergency later and I’ve to deal with the fact I’ll likely never have a new Corvette. Production #s and dealer greed is a problem GM needs to address.

    Reply
  11. I’m curious what all these additions have done to the weight. The Z06 is already nearly 3700lbs(~1700kg) and whenever a compressor is added, significant weight increases. I think it may be time for the Corvette engineers to find a way to address this, perhaps with a carbon fiber tub/chassis. At least starting with the Z06/ZR1 models?

    Reply
    1. Problem with that, granted not so much now these days. Is that adding lightweight materials like carbon fiber would add significant costs. Part of the reason why cars like Ferrari, Porsche and McLaren have relatively light curb weights. Is because they use far more lightweight materials. Sure they have brand cache, but a large part of the their superior weight advantage is because of the lightweight materials.

      Reply
  12. This car will be a weapon.

    The Enzo will get the active aero as it will be a high powered touting car when the ZR will be a track car hence the same ding as the GT3 car.

    As for getting a car they are out there sr reasonable prices now. I found 4 stingrays SCTA deslerveith low miles at $70k. The Z06 liked was $170k.

    Reply

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