Chevrolet's hottest supercar isn't coming to Australia
The
Chevrolet Corvette ZR1
, packing a twin-turbocharged version of the Z06's flat-plane crank V8, has been ruled out for our market.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Perth Now
08-05-2025
- Perth Now
2026 Chevrolet Corvette update brings less quirky cabin
The Chevrolet Corvette's bridge of buttons is gone! The distinctive interior design detail, comprising a strip of climate control buttons placed on a divider next to the passenger side of the centre console, has been removed. The climate controls are now positioned below the infotainment touchscreen, one of a number of changes made to Chevrolet's supercar for 2026. We've contacted GM Australia and New Zealand to confirm when the updated Corvette will come here. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Z06 with Sky Cool/Medium Ash Grey interior Credit: CarExpert The changes apply to the whole range, which comprises Stingray, Z06, E-Ray and ZR1 variants. All bar the latter are sold in Australia, for which the ZR1 has been ruled out because it's not produced in right-hand drive. The 2026 Corvette updates centre on the interior, which gains an extra screen – a 6.6-inch auxiliary touchscreen on the opposite side of the steering wheel from the infotainment touchscreen, which displays configurable information like trip data. Said infotainment screen is now a 12.7-inch unit, up from 8.0 inches, and features Google built-in which allows you to download apps like Google Chrome and HBO Max through the Google Play store. This means you can stream movies and browse the internet while you're parked. Supplied Credit: CarExpert The digital instrument cluster has grown from 12 inches to 14 inches and can be had with a carbon-fibre display hood. The E-Ray's Performance App, which shows live power and torque flow, has now been made available across the entire Corvette lineup. Viewable on the auxiliary display and infotainment screen, available information now also include gauges for G-force, tyre pressure and oil pressure, as well as temperature for the oil, coolant and transmission fluid. Chevrolet also says you can send these gauges from the app to the digital instrument cluster in Tour and Sport mode 'for further customisation'. ZR1 with Santorini Blue interior Credit: CarExpert Hardware and software updates bring revised graphics with sharper colours and fresh animations to the screens, including to the Performance Data Recorder. Chevrolet has made improvements aimed at making crucial controls more accessible to the driver, with the drive mode selector redesigned and relocated. Instead of a wheel underneath a wrist rest, a somewhat finicky arrangement, there's now a rocker switch in line with the gear selector. A wireless phone charging pad now sits in the place of the old wrist rest and drive mode wheel, and a cover keeps your phone in place. Stingray with Asymmetrical Adrenaline Red interior Credit: CarExpert The volume knob has grown larger and features an illuminated base, while the cupholders have been redesigned and feature ambient lighting. In 2LT/2LZ and 3LT/3LZ trims, these cupholders are highlighted with real aluminium. While there's a row of physical buttons under the touchscreen for the climate control, the heated and ventilated seat functions have moved to the touchscreen as part of an anchored bar at the bottom of the display. Head-up display controls have also moved to the touchscreen. Supplied Credit: CarExpert The 2026 Corvette also debuts four new interior colourways, available on all variants. These are: Jet Black and Adrenaline Red, which Chevrolet calls its first asymmetrical interior Sky Cool and Medium Ash Grey with Habenero accents Santorini Blue Very Dark Atmosphere, a chocolate brown with Jet Black, Natural tan accents Ultimate Suede The latter sees a Jet Black suede across 'nearly all interior surfaces', and is customisable with stitching and seatbelts finished in either Adrenaline Red, Santorini Blue or Competition Yellow. ZR1 Credit: CarExpert If you opt for the Adrenaline Red interior, you can specify a mixed seating option with a 'racing-inspired' Adrenaline Red Competition driver's seat and a Jet Black GT2 passenger seat. Finally, the E-Ray's Charge+ button – which activates a mode intended to replenish battery charge more quickly – has been moved to the steering wheel, while a new USB-C port has been added to the passenger side of the cabin below the grab handle. It's not just interior changes that Chevrolet has delivered for 2026. The Performance Traction Management system gains a new PTM Pro mode, which turns off the electronic stability control and traction control and leaves anti-lock brakes and, in the E-Ray, certain front axle controls active. Supplied Credit: CarExpert The Corvette ZR1's ZTK performance package gains a new brake package with 10-piston front and 6-piston rear calipers plus carbon-ceramic discs which are the largest ever fitted to a production Corvette. The Corvette is the latest GM product to get an electrochromic roof, allowing you to toggle between three tint options for the targa roof glass at the push of a button. There are two new metallic exterior finishes – Roswell Green and Blade Silver – plus a new asymmetrical exterior centre stripe, available in Edge Red/Carbon Flash. Supplied Credit: CarExpert Body-colour rocker panels are standard on the E-Ray and available on the Z06, while the blue brake calipers previously exclusive to the ZR1 are now available on the E-Ray and Z06. Australian deliveries of the current C8 Corvette – the first mid-engine generation of Chevrolet's sports car – commenced in 2022. The E-Ray and Z06 joined the Stingray in 2024. All are built in right-hand drive at GM's Bowling Green, Kentucky plant in the US, unlike other Chevrolets sold here which are remanufactured locally in right-hand drive. GM Specialty Vehicles delivered 225 Corvettes in 2022, rising to 338 in 2023 and 441 in 2024. MORE: Everything Chevrolet Corvette
The Advertiser
02-05-2025
- The Advertiser
Chevrolet's hottest supercar isn't coming to Australia
The Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 , packing a twin-turbocharged version of the Z06's flat-plane crank V8, has been ruled out for our market.
West Australian
02-05-2025
- West Australian
Chevrolet's hottest supercar isn't coming to Australia
The Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 , packing a twin-turbocharged version of the Z06's flat-plane crank V8, has been ruled out for our market. Revealed last year, the ZR1 is the most powerful member of the mid-engine C8 Corvette family, at least for now since an electrified twin-turbo V8-powered Zora is rumoured to be waiting in the wings. General Motors already builds all other members of the C8 range – the Corvette Stingray, E-Ray and Z06 – in both left- and right-hand drive at its Bowling Green Assembly in the US state of Kentucky, making the eighth-generation supercar the first global Corvette. But the ZR1 will be the first member of the C8 family not to be built in right-hand drive and sold worldwide. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now . 'Unfortunately not, [it's not built] in right-hand drive,' confirmed GM Australia and New Zealand managing director Jess Bala when asked if the ZR1 will come here. However, when asked whether any future, hotter Corvettes – like the rumoured Zora – are therefore ruled out for Australian release as well, Ms Bala said: 'Not necessarily, no.' 'But right now we're very comfortable with the lineup that we have with Stingray, E-Ray, Z06,' she continued. 'As things are developed, if we see an opportunity we'll absolutely have the right discussions with headquarters around it, but ZR1 unfortunately there are no plans to bring that out here.' The C8 ZR1 is the quickest and most powerful Corvette ever. Available as a coupe and convertible, the ZR1 packs a twin-turbo 5.5-litre double overhead cam flat-plane crank V8 engine called the LT7, which GM says is based on the LT6 in the Corvette Z06 – itself the most powerful naturally aspirated production V8 engine ever. Chevrolet engineers have installed twin turbochargers, a first for a factory Corvette, bumping outputs up to 783kW (1064 hp) of power at 7000rpm and no less than 1123Nm of torque at 6000rpm. That's 318kW and 528Nm more than in the Z06, giving it a top speed of more than 346km/h. Chevrolet claims a 0-60mph (0-96km/h) time of just 2.3 seconds when equipped with the ZTK Performance Package, or 2.5 seconds without. For context, the E-Ray's 0-60mph claim is 2.5 seconds, the Z06 with the available Z07 package (standard in Australia) completes the sprint in 2.6 seconds, and even the Stingray with the Z51 package does it in just 2.9 seconds. Chevrolet didn't just tack on a pair of turbochargers to the Z06 to make the ZR1, with the company touting a raft of modifications to the V8 engine. The hand-assembled bent eight has a larger combustion chamber, a new intake system and head castings with unique ports, and a secondary port fuel-injection system, among other enhancements. The eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission has received inner and outer input shaft upgrades, increased control valves, and final drive refinements to handle the significant increase in power. And for the first time in 60 years, a production Corvette has a split rear window – though this is a much wilder-looking vehicle than the iconic C2 Corvette. There's a carbon-fibre 'spine' between the two rear windows, available either in body colour or exposed weave, which is aimed to increase heat extraction from the engine compartment. There are numerous other changes that also improve performance and enhance the Corvette's aesthetics, including additional air ducts, a carbon-fibre roof, and available carbon-fibre wheels. The optional ZTK Performance Package adds a larger rear wing, front dive planes, and a tall Gurney flap – all made from carbon-fibre. Underneath, underbody strakes replace the standard front underwing stall Gurney to increase front downforce. GM says the carbon-fibre aero package creates over 544kg of downforce at top speed. ZTK-equipped models also get stiffer springs and stickier Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R tyres. The standard ZR1, in contrast, rides on Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tyres, with unique 20-inch wheels up front and 21-inch wheels at the rear. Behind these sit a new brake system with carbon ceramic rotors. These measure 400mm in diameter up front and 390mm at the rear, with the front ones being the largest ever equipped in a Corvette. The ZR1 features GM's Magnetic Selective Ride Control 4.0 system with magnetorheological dampers. All up, dry weight is 1665kg in coupe guise and 1705kg as a convertible. A report from GM Authority in 2020, which accurately predicted all the members of the C8 Corvette range revealed to date, said there will eventually be a new flagship called the Zora to slot above the ZR1. Named for the man considered the father of the Corvette, Zora Arkus-Duntov, this flagship will reportedly also use a twin-turbo 5.5-litre V8, but mated with all-wheel drive and a hybrid system like the Corvette E-Ray's. MORE: Everything Chevrolet Corvette
