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GM Authority

2025 Chevy Corvette ZR1 To Debut This Summer: Video

Exciting news for fans of the Bow Tie’s iconic Corvette sports car burst onto the scene this morning in the form of a 21-second video, where Chevrolet announces the upcoming summer 2024 launch of the 2025 Chevy Corvette ZR1.

With the tagline “The Unthinkable is Coming This Summer,” the video shows the names of the current versions, including the Corvette Stingray, the Z06, and the E-Ray before showing the word “ZR1” followed by the image of a silhouetted Vette speeding toward the viewer.

Side view of the teased 2025 Chevy Corvette ZR1 from the video.

The arrival of the Chevy Corvette C8 ZR1 has been expected for several years now, with the Corvette Zora variant anticipated to follow it in time. Predictions have described the ZR1 as an ultra-high performance vehicle motivated by a twin-turbo variant of the naturally aspirated 5.5L V8 LT6 gasoline engine that powers the Chevy Corvette C8 Z06.

Where the atmospheric version of the V8 LT6 develops 670 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque in the Z06, the ZR1’s twin-turbo powerplant is expected to produce about 850 horsepower and 850 pound-feet of torque. These specs, of course, are only approximations until official performance figures are revealed.

While The General has been playing its cards close to the vest and revealing little about the Corvette ZR1, some info about it has leaked over the past few months. A camo-wrapped ZR1 was spotted testing on the Nurburgring, showing massive hood air ducts, extra side air intakes, and a gigantic rear spoiler among other features, while retaining much of the basic look of the Z06.

GM Authority rendered the Corvette ZR1 last November to provide an early look at the likely appearance of the pavement-scorching variant. Then, in February, The General showed Chevy dealers the ZR1 during a secret meeting.

GM Authority’s rendering of the forthcoming 2025 Corvette ZR1.

You can view the video teaser for the Corvette ZR1 here:

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Comments

  1. Lets Gooooooooooo
    Cannot wait to see what the General has in store for us.
    My only real complaint of the C8 is that it doesn’t offer an active rear wing and I highly doubt the ZR-1 will either.

    Reply
    1. They’ve been working on it for the C8. The patent has been registered for years.

      Reply
  2. It sure doesn’t sound like the LT6 in the video, sounds more like the LT5. Unless they are doing that on purpose to mislead us.

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    1. Maybe it will be the 6th gen small block drop we’ve been waiting for???

      FYI, it would make more sense from a financial standpoint to use the LT5+e-ray setup. The LT6 is a super expensive engine to make, and only was developed because the LT4, while faster than most competitors making similar power, is now illegal in most GT race classes. Most GT race classes because the Ferrari/Porsche money don’t allow engines over 5.5L displacement nor superchargers. The Z06 is a track car, the ZR1 is a FU car. I wouldn’t be supprised if they take the supercharger from the LT5 and add it to the LT2 and make an LT7 remapped for 800 ponies.

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    2. Maybe it will be the 6th gen small block drop we’ve been waiting for???

      FYI, it would make more sense from a financial standpoint to use the LT5+e-ray setup. The LT6 is a super expensive engine to make, and only was developed because the LT4, while faster than most competitors making similar power, is now illegal in most GT race classes. Most GT race classes because the Ferrari/Porsche money don’t allow engines over 5.5L displacement nor superchargers. The Z06 is a track car, the ZR1 is a FU car. I wouldn’t be supprised if they take the supercharger from the LT5 and add it to the LT2 and make an LT7 remapped for 800 ponies.

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    3. Plus the gear holds when the driver lets off the gas. In this sound track, the driver lets off the gas and it upshifts. –No C8 does that. …I could be wrong if it’s in Tour mode but I doubt it. Besides, who’s gonna put a ZR1 in Tour?

      Reply
  3. Oh goodie goodie……the Italians and Germans are nervous.

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  4. Chevy is following a predicable sequence. ZR-1 as a ’25 model, ZORA for ’27 and electric C9 for 2030.

    A flying Corvette? Harder to predict as the FAA would have to approve!

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    1. Ha Ha. The FAA has its hands full with Boeing.
      You’ll never see a flying Vette. !

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      1. Never say never. VTOL’s are being developed. I think there are a couple in active use for tourists in Dubai and China. FAA might allow for VTOL’s up to say 500′ if they are geofenced to avoid airports. I’d be interested if they can keep the price under say 200k. Be worth it to never be stuck in traffic again.

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        1. VTOLs and flying cars have been under “development” ever since dreamers read a Popular Science magazine in the 1950s. With the government emphasis on fuel economy, be sure to get back to me on the fuel economy numbers of a VTOL…

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      2. You will if the Dukes of Hazzard buy one!

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    2. I have it on VERY good authority that the C9 will NOT be electric. From what I understand, the interest in the E-Ray is going to be a gauge for determining interest in a hybrid Corvette. The C9 will indeed include a hybrid variant, but if the E-Ray reception is really positive, there is a possibility of all the C9 variants switching over to hybrid. That is still up in the air, but as of right now, the base C9 will still be powered by a V8. If you ask my personal opinion, I think the hybrid costs are still too high to justify it in a base model Corvette, so I believe the base C9 will retain the same layout as the base C8 Stingray. Also, even though I’m hoping for a manual option to return, as of right now that’s not looking likely. C9 prototypes are already in the beginning stages. If you thought the C8 was a head turner, just wait. For those wanting to know my sources, you can keep wondering! 😉

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      1. You’re correct! She will not be electric; electrified in her latter variants as you stated. Dealers have had C9 lists for a good while; I’m on such a list for the Z06.

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      2. I love the eRay but nearly every enthusiast I talk to is not interested

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        1. The E-ray concept is great – excellent passing power. There is a weight penalty of course which hurts handling a bit. And the software and hardware reliability better be very good as the degree of complexity in an E-Ray is very high. I have a 2003 minivan that occasionally loses a left tail light. It’s not the bulb (have replaced it several times). It may work for 5 years, then for about a month, it becomes intermittent. It’s controlled by the body control module. But it always tests “good”. My guess is 98% reliability! Sounds good, but not good enough. Now imagine having a gremlin like this in an E-Ray powertrain control to leave you on the side of the road occasionally… Unrelated, I tried to buy a spare key fob for the minivan. A very experienced local locksmith tried for an hour to program the car to accept it. He gave up. No explanation. He has programmed hundreds of vehicle key fobs. It might be the body control module. But it always tests “good”. Some things are true intermittents.

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  5. Good lord the MSRP on these is going to be nuts. Then add dealer markups…sheesh.

    Guess I was lucky to have owned a used 2004 for a few years. My dreams of buying a new one with museum delivery went up in smoke with the C7 model.

    Reply
    1. I agree, JT! $200K for an optioned-out ZR1 convertible seems likely, based on what a loaded to the gills Z06 convertible goes for, before any “market adjustment”. For decades, Corvette was the attainable American sports car, a car that regular folks could afford through hard work and saving money. Not anymore. I bought my first Corvette (a 1992 coupe) when I was 20, in 1994. 2 years later, I traded it for a new 1996 LT4 convertible. My passion didn’t stop there. I’ve been a Corvette enthusiast my entire life, a Founding Member of the National Corvette Museum, and proud owner. The C8 is NOT an attainable sports car. Especially in a world where basic necessities cost so much. The car has become a play thing for only the well-heeled individual. Chevrolet no longer offers any fun alternatives to Corvette. Fun doesn’t have to be a 650hp Camaro, either. It wasn’t that long ago that Chevy offered a lot of fun, sporty, economical cars. The Beretta with a V6 and a 5spd manual comes to mind. Lightweight, peppy, FUN to drive! Mid-range Camaro V8 models. Plenty of other examples over the years, too. “gm” might as well just split Corvette off into it’s own performance luxury brand, the intent and desire seem to be there. I’m not hating on Corvette. They are breathtaking, phenomenal performance cars. Just no longer for the regular crowd that grew up with them.

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      1. With 140,000+ sold to date, that’s a pretty good indication that C8 Corvettes are indeed affordable for a lot of people. But expecting a ZR1 to be affordable by the average Corvette enthusiast is a bit much. This is the “flagship” car. A fully equipped 427/435 hp big block Stingray wasn’t THE “affordable” Corvette either back in the old days. Many bought base Corvettes with 327s.

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        1. Yep, a base C8 is priced about the same as a C7 when you factor inflation. A C7 ZR1 was near 150K msrp. So a 200K msrp on a C8 is not that crazy, more than inflation, but I think the ZR1’s were outpacing inflation in prior generations as well. I think the only thing that is different this time round is unlike the prior generations, there is no discounting going on. My C7 GS had 10K taken off and I think the same for a C7 stingray I had before the GS. Almost insane, but I think I could have sold my GS a year or so ago for more than I paid.

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          1. When you factor inflation, McDonald’s is the new steakhouse. From what I’ve heard about the 70’s, it wasn’t this bad. This is almost Weimar Republic bad. I’m expecting a correction with cars becoming simpler, not more complicated. Where OEM’s don’t care if they get a 1 star safety rating along as the NHTSA certifies it for road use. Biggest issue is all the 30 year mortgages locked in at 2% means we are only 5 years in on what is likely a 15-20 year economic cycle

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            1. Interesting food for thought. MSRP on a 2001 Z06 was $41,000; median household income was $42,000 that year.

              Today’s median household income; $60,000. Today’s base price C8 STINGRAY Corvette is $70,000. $10,000 more than today’s median household income.

              Base price C8 Z06 is $114,000; nearly double the USA median household income.

              No longer an affordable sports car for a hard working engineering (myself) with two children to support.

              Reply
              1. What are you smoking? Z06 was 48 in 01. A well equip’ed LT2 regular was around 44 if I remember right. I bought one.

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            2. I grew up in the 70’s, HS and college. It was worse. Much much much worse. For one, unemployment was much higher. I recall people graduating from my top 10 EE school NOT getting jobs. And if you really want to know what bad looks like, checkout Argentina’s current 275% inflation rate. That is what unlimited money printing gets. Fortunately the Fed stopped that and has raised rates and has been doing QT. All keeping our inflation under 5 lately. Oh did I mention my first mortgage in the mid-80’s was 14% and that was down from I think the near 20% in the early 80’s. Things were much much much worse. I don’t dispute their is some pain today, but in perspective of the 80’s, its a sprinkle, not a tornado. And even the 80’s pails in comparison to the 30’s, my parents would say.

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              1. actual “employment” was higher in the 70’s. Today’s employment. The “unemployment” number is bogus as it only counts job seekers and not those who aren’t working but are welfare dipping. Got to look at the % of working age adults who actually have a job. We’re almost great depression levels on that stat. Great Depression unemployment rate was high because we weren’t paying people to stay home.

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                1. I’m unaware of EE’s having trouble getting a job from top tier schools at the moment. When that happens, I’ll think we are where we were. People seem to have very bad memory when it comes to the past. The only thing I can remember being better was school was more affordable. And states would support low income better. I had full tuition paid by the state since I maintained a B or better average. The government has done well on their investment. And I plan to give a very generous gift back to the school when I die.

                  Reply
  6. I wonder if this will showcase the updated interior too

    Reply
    1. That would be cool if it does

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    2. Interior wont be updated. Those that dislike the wall will have to get over it. I personally like it.

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      1. We already know an interior update is coming though…. You’ll have to get over it

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  7. It’s nice to see that for once there are no haters here. Only positive comments.

    Reply
    1. lol because it’s a twin turbo V8 not a 5000lb EV

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  8. When I finish growing up; my garage will house a C7 Grand Sport, a C8 E-Ray, and a C9 Z06 along with a ton of rice and beans for nurishment for the remainder of my life.

    Reply
  9. Selling what the aftermarket has been offering for years an v8tt. Another high powered car that is uninteresting.

    Reply
    1. By that logic, no high performance car is special. The aftermarket has been making cars faster than OEM for over 50 years. I’d hate to have a mindset like that. I wonder what DOES excite you…

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      1. Glad that there are some people out there uninterested in a ZR1. That will keep the reservation lines shorter, helping me get one faster. It will appeal to many, probably outpace demand and definitely sell well which is why companies manufacture cars in the first place. I’m just glad Corvette is catching up to technology that appeared in some black Buick sedans of the late 1980s: turbocharging. Imagine all of the faster Corvettes there would have been on the road over the years… Lol.

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  10. Lingenfelter supercharged ERay with AWD. Running at least 800hp. How is the rear wheel drive Z gonna get the jump on this car. The Ray will be gone!! The Z06 already has traction issues when punched off the line. What is adding 180hp more gonna do to that?

    Reply
    1. Nothing 0-60, an extra 1/2 second on the 1/4, and worse on laguna seca. The z06 is a track car. ZR1’s are 1/4 mile cars for people who want to just go ahead and whip it out and measure it, and the Eray is for those who want to merge quick then drive 65mph.

      Reply
      1. Some truth to that. But for many of us, ZR1 will be a fun car to experience. Hopefully the reservation lines will be shorter than Z06. I really like the boost/torque characteristics of turbocharged cars.

        Reply
    2. Hard to say. But I’m willing to find out!

      Despite a handful of interesting cars available in the aftermarket, Chevy is going to build a ZR1. So they might just know something we don’t know yet.

      Being a mass production manufactured car, ZR1’s sales competition is not the hand-built aftermarket. The aftermarket is not set up to produce like Bowling Green.

      Reply
  11. Sure, the aftermarket can always improve power in a production car. But will Lingenfelter build and sell as many cars as Corvette? Can they be serviced at any Chevy dealership nationwide? How good is the warranty? Does a Lingenfelter car cost the same? Is the durability as good? Same NVH? With an “up-powered” aftermarket modified car, maybe the transmission could fail? If the answers are all “good”, then go buy Lingenfelter if you like.

    I look at it this way: If you want to keep your life simple, go ZR1 and be happy. 800+ turbocharged HP is plenty. 800+ ft lbs of torque is plenty.

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  12. First of all, what engine is going in this car? Is it a 6.2 twin turbo or 5.5 turbo or what? The video on the Nurburgring makes it kinda sound like a flattie. Maybe it’s just that silly Little Red Express Truck camo exhaust tips hanging off the back. Second of all you make it sound like you can just go “buy a ZR1.” Look how long it took to get the Z06s rolling. And the markups!!! $250,000 to $300,000 to purchase one guaranteed if you buy used, we all know that. These things will be Ferrari priced for sure. All it takes is 1…. Just 1 guy to pay a huge markup and it ends up as a story on this site and all pricing hell breaks loose. Mark my words, I mean markup my words. GM policy should state, “must retain legal ownership of car for 3 years..” That will help weed out flippers from true enthusiasts.

    Reply
    1. Unless the ZR1 is going to be raced in a class of sanctioned racing, there’s no reason to limit the engine to a (flat plane) 5.5 L. And a less complicated 6.2L twin turbo can do the job. I’d be ok with that.

      I just bought a 2024 Stingray “temporary” corvette to use while I wait a couple of years to order a ZR1. Probably I will “bite” if less than 180K MSRP equipped with just the options that I like – not fully loaded. Maybe I won’t be able to get one and life will go on. What will be, will be.

      I watched the Z06 markups a year ago and saw the “crash”. It was never my plan to jump into that game. Self control works well in the long run if there is no production limit stated.

      Reply

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