Meet The 2025 Corvette ZR1 With 1,064 Horses:  Most Powerful ‘Vette Ever

It is the most powerful Corvette ever built. Meet the long-awaited 2025 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1. The "King of The Hill" returns with the most powerful V8 ever produced in America from an auto manufacturer. With that lead in,  you know its specs have to be jaw-dropping and they are: 1,064 horsepower, 828 pound-feet of torque and  over 1,200 pounds of downforce at top speed.  The first C8 generation ZR1 also revives the split rear window, one of the most iconic styles in Corvette history.

Our friend Joe Raiti, who was on the Car Pro Show earlier this year, has already gotten to review it and yes, show host Jerry Reynolds admits he's jealous:

The new ZR1 will arrive in both coupe and convertible variants when it enters production in 2025 at GM's Bowling Green Assembly Plant in Kentucky. What's more, unlike the 2019 C7 Z71, Chevy says it won't limit production of the new C8 variant.  We'll have to wait for pricing details though.

Back to some of the new Z71's spectacular specs:

• Corvette ZR1 features a 5.5L, twin-turbocharged DOHC flat-plane crank V8 engine dubbed the LT7.
• The LT7 engine produces 1,064 horsepower at 7,000 rpm and 828 lb-ft of torque at 6,000 rpm, per SAE guidelines — the most power ever from a factory Corvette and the most powerful V8 ever produced in America from an auto manufacturer.
• Corvette ZR1 boasts a GM-estimated top speed of over 215 mph on the racetrack and will dispatch the quarter mile with a GM-estimated sub-10-second time.
• Purposeful carbon fiber aero package creates over 1,200 pounds of downforce at top speed.
  

 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 coupe in Competition Yellow with optional ZTK Performance Package on the race track. Preproduction model shown. Credit: Chevrolet.  

“The team that revolutionized Corvette with a mid-engine architecture took on another challenge: take ZR1 to the next level,” said Scott Bell, vice president, Chevrolet. “Corvette ZR1 is about pushing the envelope with raw power and cutting-edge innovation. From Stingray, to Z06, E-Ray, and now ZR1, the Corvette family continues to elevate with each new iteration — and challenge the best in the world.”

Engine Development

The new ZR1 is powered by a 5.5L LT7 twin-turbocharged DOHC V8 engine. It starts with the same architecture as Z06’s LT6, the most powerful naturally aspirated production V8 engine ever, but then adds twin turbochargers — the first time ever for a factory Corvette. The addition takes it to the next level of 1,000-hp performance.

Photo Credit: Chevrolet.

Dubbed the “Gemini V8” architecture, Chevrolet says the LT6 program was only the beginning as engineers dual-pathed a goal: to create massive power, capability and character from naturally aspirated and turbocharged flat plane crankshaft twin engines. With these goals in mind, Chevy says engineers did not create an LT6 with turbochargers, but instead changed and optimized virtually every system for a boosted application.

Unique to the 5.5L LT7 twin-turbo V8:

• Head castings with unique ports and a larger combustion chamber
• Valve train timing and lift profile optimized for forced induction with higher exhaust temp enabling exhaust valves
• Completely new intake system tuned for twin turbochargers
• CNC machined combustion chamber, exhaust and intake ports specific to the LT7
• Dual, ported shroud, ball bearing, mono-scroll (76 mm) turbochargers integrated with the exhaust manifold to reduce the volume and distance from the exhaust valve to the turbine wheel for quick response with electronic wastegates
• Intelligent anti-lag engine calibration techniques specifically for ZR1 that adapt and react to driving style

The split window returns

The new ZR1 also brings the return of the 'Vette's historic split-window. The split-window was last seen on the C2-generation Corvette, and quietly previewed on the Corvette Z06 GT3.R race car.

Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 Coupe with ZTK Performance Package, highlighting the split-window rear hatch.  Preproduction model shown. Photo Credit: Chevrolet.

“We didn’t approach this decision lightly, we know this is a beloved element from Corvette’s history,” said Phil Zak, executive design director, Chevrolet. “Not only does this element provide function, but we were able to integrate passionate design into the form and do it in a way that paid homage to Corvette’s history. ZR1 felt like the right time to bring the split-window back.”

This carbon fiber “spine” between the two rear windows, available in exposed weave or body color, provides increased heat extraction from the engine compartment, working in parallel with numerous other cooling elements throughout ZR1.

Interior

The cockpit features unique ZR1 badging found on an interior plaque, the sill plates and steering wheel. A new finishing stitch pattern for the doors, exclusive to the ZR1, is available on the 3LZ. A boost gauge is also present,  denoting the first factory turbocharged Corvette in the nameplate’s history.   

Inside, a new Habanera interior is available as is a Blue Stitch option. There will be multiple seatbelt color options as well.

There is a lot more info on this speedster, here.

Photo:  Chevrolet.