The new C8 Corvette ZR1 is a superlatives machine, officially breaking cover late in July as the fastest and most powerful production vehicle to ever fly the crossed flags badge. Of course, all of that speed and performance isn’t without expense, with the new ZR1 expected to carry a six-figure price tag somewhere between $175,000 and $200,000, per a recent GM Authority poll. Interestingly, now-retired chief engineer Tadge Juechter says the C8 ZR1 is the “most expensive Corvette we’ll be doing.”
Juechter’s comment was made during an interview with Car and Driver.
“The ZR1, last three generations anyway, have represented the best of everything. What’s the best car we can do for as broad a range of people who can afford a car like this,” Juechter said. “And it’s not cheap, I mean you get a lot for what you pay but its not a cheap car. As the range-topper, you know, it’s the most expensive Corvette we’ll be doing. You want to give people exactly what they want.”
Of course, Juechter should know what he’s talking about. Over the course of a nearly 50-year career at GM, Juechter was instrumental in the development of the Chevy Corvette over the last four generations, and in fact, the ZR1 even has a small silhouette of Juechter’s face in the glass as a sort of Easter egg and nod to his contributions.
Check out the full interview in the video below, with the “most expensive” comment made around the 15-minute, 30-second mark:
That all said, there is at least one more Vette headed down the pipe that will eclipse the C8 ZR1 in terms of performance and price, namely the C8 Zora. As GM Authority has covered for years, the new C8 Zora will serve as the pinnacle of the eight-generation Vette lineup, matching the twin-turbocharged 5.5L V8 LT7 gasoline engine cradled by the C8 ZR1 with a front-mounted electric motor to yield all-wheel grip and even more horsepower. Check out our previous coverage for more information on the sort of power that the new C8 Zora might make.
However, with Juechter’s retirement, the “most expensive Corvette we’ll be doing” comment is arguably still correct, given Juechter’s exit means he won’t be a part of the C8 Zora’s launch (“we’ll be doing”).
That all said, we can’t wait to see what’s coming next.
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Comments
Could the Zora be a stripped down track car and isn’t more money than the ZR1?
I guess that’s possible but Zora will be heavier than the ZR1 because of the motor and battery hardware so that makes it a strange track car.
On the heavy:
Right. Because lighter carbon fiber is expensive, and if it isn’t going to cost more, -it will be heavier.
REALLY low center of gravity could be great for tracks.
I’m guessing almost unobtainable and if you find one, the markup will put it close to 300,000.
Doh!!
Three possibilities:
1. The Zora will be another package for the ZR-1 (like ZTK), so Tadge’s statement will hold true.
2. The Zora will be the LT-6 plus electric, not the LT-7, filling the gap between the 670HP Z06 and 1064 HP ZR-1. 670+160=830HP, which just about splits the difference)
3. After breaking 1000HP with the ZR-1, GM decided there’s no need for the Zora any more.