Chevy Says Corvette ZR1 Still On Track, Despite Customer Concerns
The Chevrolet faithful have been excited at the potential performance of a C8 Corvette ZR1 for years — even before the car was publicly announced. That excitement surely didn't lessen when we learned the sports car would arrive with 1064 hp, and only grew after the car started popping off lap records left and right. Yet with production of the mid-engine monster slated to start soon, some buyers are seeing their excitement wane over an alleged issue with the supercar slayer's carbon fiber aero package.
There's a history here: General Motors hasn't had the most successful experience with C8 Corvettes and carbon fiber hardware. Back in 2020, Stingray buyers were frustrated to learn that the visible carbon ground effects option was being axed for the entire first model year. Similar visual carbon packages were an inconsistent issue for the Z06 and E-Ray up through last year. Unfortunately, fans allege the issue isn't totally solved yet as we approach the ZR1's start of production. That's a mite problematic, as the carbon fiber High Wing Package is fundamental to the ZR1's on-track capabilities.
The potential issues were first raised by the dedicated folks over at the Mid Engine Corvette Forum. Last week, a number of customers were notified that their order status had changed within GM's internal system to Status 3000, which denotes a car that has been accepted for production. This led to customers being contacted by the National Corvette Museum with details related to the optional special delivery program, as well as general dealer check-ins on the status of the cars. A number of customers went to the forum to spread word about the potential aero hangups, as dealers had informed them that the parts were constrained. There was understandable outcry from fans, with some forum users even claiming that they'd forgo their order without the aero package available.
Within a few days, however, all of those cars were placed back on Status 2000, code for when GM has accepted an order, but hasn't approved it for production just yet. Chevrolet spokesperson Trevor Thompkins claims that the status change was never intended to happen at that time, which is responsible for some of the confusion.
'There's definitely a lot of excitement and anticipation around this carbon aero package in general,' Thompkins told R&T. 'So we're doing everything that we can to be ready for start of production so that we can meet customer demands for it."
"And I know you're seeing some things out about the dealer order submission process and things like that. You know where the cars are at right now, at [status] 2000, that's where they're supposed to be. You may have seen some things about them jumping to [status] 3000 and coming back down. That was a glitch, essentially, in our system. So orders are where they're supposed to be. We have not started production, that's the most important part, but we're still on track for Q2, which is what we've been saying.'
Thanks to the team at CorvetteBlogger, we also know that GM at one point was targeting ZR1 production weeks in Bowling Green to start as of April 28. Following the status change back to 2000, the timeline was rolled back. The site's sources claim GM is delaying the start of production in an attempt to source more high wing, to meet customer demand.
'We keep our dealers up to date as best we can, and once there's additional updates and we're ready to start producing then, of course, our dealers will be the first to know, and they'll be able to work it through with their customers,' said Thompkins. 'But that'll come, in time, when we're ready to move toward that next step.'
For now, Chevrolet's official position is that everything is still on track with the ZR1. Here's hoping that the carbon fiber situation is something the team behind the Corvette can work out once and for all. In the meantime, if you happen to have a ZR1 order on the books, we'd love to hear how your experience has been, so feel free to reach out to us at pitches@roadandtrack.com or leave a comment below.
You Might Also Like
You Need a Torque Wrench in Your Toolbox
Tested: Best Car Interior Cleaners
The Man Who Signs Every Car
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
San Francisco Chronicle
2 hours ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Chase Briscoe wins third straight pole and NASCAR-high 4th pole at Michigan International Speedway
BROOKLYN, Mich. (AP) — Chase Briscoe won his third straight pole and NASCAR -high fourth this year at Michigan International Speedway on Saturday. Briscoe, driving the No. 19 Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing, turned a lap of 195.514 mph in qualifying on the 2-mile oval in the fastest pole in the Cup Series since Ryan Blaney went 200-plus mph at Texas in 2018. He is aiming for his first win this year after five top-five finishes, and the third victory of his career. 'It will be nice starting up front and we've been able to do that now three weeks in a row but haven't been able to execute with it," Briscoe said. 'So, hopefully third time is a charm.' Kyle Busch, in the No. 8 Chevrolet, will start second Sunday in the FireKeepers Casino 400. Denny Hamlin, in the No. 11 Toyota, qualified third and points leader William Byron, in the No. 24 Chevrolet, was fourth. ___
Yahoo
12 hours ago
- Yahoo
3,600 pairs of new Maine license plates to be replaced after printing error
Jun. 6—The state will replace thousands of newly issued license plates after a printing error, the Department of the Secretary of State said. About 3,600 pairs of license plates were printed with the wrong amount of space between numbers and letters, office spokesperson Jana Spaulding said on a Friday evening phone call. She said the erroneous license plates were printed within the same time frame. "It could potentially cause an issue with E-ZPass and other things that do that character reading," she said. "Obviously an inconvenience, which is unfortunate, but was caught quickly." The new plates, which feature a pine tree reminiscent of the 1901 state flag, are being manufactured in Canada. They began replacing Maine's time-honored chickadee plates last month. The 3,600 drivers who were issued the faulty plates are being notified by letter. The office will mail impacted drivers replacement plates and sticker tags at no cost. They should arrive in August, though the timeline may change, the bureau said in its letter. In the meantime, drivers are asked to use the errant plates and notify the Bureau of Motor Vehicles of any issues related to scanning, Spaulding said. "It's a relatively minor, short-term error," she said, adding that the issue affected only "3,600 out of a few million" the agency intends to distribute this year. Those who receive replacement plates can return the faulty ones to the BMV or hold onto them as a keepsake, but they should not be used on a vehicle, Spaulding said. Copy the Story Link
Motor Trend
15 hours ago
- Motor Trend
2026 Chevrolet Tahoe Review: Expert Insights, Pricing, and Trims
The Tahoe may be the Chevrolet Suburban's little sibling, but it remains one of the most recognizable American three-row SUVs available today. Carrying on a legacy of size and spaciousness, the 2026 Chevrolet Tahoe is expected to return with few changes after a major refresh for 2025. Rivals to the 2026 Chevrolet Tahoe include the Ford Expedition, Jeep Wagoneer, and Toyota Sequoia. What's New Fresh from last year's major update, we're expecting the 2026 Chevrolet Tahoe to carry over with only slight changes. For 2025, Chevy overhauled its full-size SUV with new front and rear fascia with available animated lighting. A 24-inch wheel option became available for those who want a flashy look straight from the factory. Cypress Gray and Lakeshore Blue Metallic paint colors were added as optional shades. Inside the cabin, Chevy improved the interior with larger screens and nicer materials. Along with the new tech, Chevy adds its Connected Camera feature for remote vehicle monitoring. This page will be updated with more insights and photos as information becomes available. What We Think GM offers the last non-luxury SUV with V-8 engines, making the 2026 Chevrolet Tahoe an outlier in its segment. Eight-cylinder power has its advantages—the Tahoe sounds awesome, has plenty of low-end grunt, and its towing performance is strong. Still, there are good reasons Chevy's competitors have moved on to twin-turbo V-6 engines. The Tahoe is inefficient and doesn't gain a competitive edge in terms of acceleration or capability with a V-8 under the hood. Things improve with the diesel engine, which is smooth, efficient, and torque-rich. Though the post-refresh Tahoe rides better than before, some models still err on the firm side, especially those with the standard coil springs and passive dampers. Models with adaptive dampers or air suspension are your best bet, especially if you avoid the available 24-inch wheels. The new interior, introduced for 2025, is dramatically improved over the pre-refresh model's cabin. New screens and better materials make the inside of the Tahoe a far better place to spend time. Super Cruise hands-free driving eases the burden of cross-country driving. Getting the right Tahoe is tricky. If you opt for the diesel engine and air suspension, and stay away from the 24-inch wheels, you'll find yourself in a solid full-size SUV. Top-Ranked Competitors: Jeep Wagoneer Chevrolet Suburban GMC Yukon Ford Expedition MotorTrend Tested The 2026 Tahoe carries over with a 10-speed automatic transmission for all models, with standard rear-wheel drive and available four-wheel drive. The entry-level engine should continue to be a 5.3-liter V-8 developing 355 hp and 383 lb-ft of torque. Acceleration from 0–60 mph should take just over 7.0 seconds, which is in the same ballpark as a 2023 Tahoe Z71 we previously tested that managed a time of 7.3 seconds. Chevy offers a 6.2-liter V-8 engine as an upgrade, with output totaling 420 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque. When we tested a 2025 Chevrolet Tahoe High Country with this engine, we managed the 0–60 mph dash in 6.3 seconds. A Duramax diesel 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six is also expected to return with 305 hp and 495 lb-ft of torque. Diesel models accelerate from 0–60 mph in just over 8.0 seconds. MPGs and Range We're expecting the 2026 Tahoe to have similar fuel economy as that of the 2025 model. The EPA rates the 2025 Tahoe with the base 5.3-liter V-8 engine at 14–15/18–20 mpg city/highway with rear-wheel drive and 15/19-20 mpg with four-wheel drive. Range is 384–408 miles. The available 6.2-liter V-8 nearly matches the efficiency of the 5.3-liter engine. With rear-wheel drive, the 6.2-liter Tahoe returns 15/20 mpg. Four-wheel drive variants are rated at 14/18 mpg. Like the 5.3-liter Tahoe, models with the 6.2-liter engine are rated at 384–408 miles of range. Diesel power is the most efficient way to go when configuring the Tahoe. The straight-six is good for 20/26 mpg city/highway and 528 miles of combined city/highway range. Safety Features Every 2026 Tahoe gets Chevy Safety Assist on all trims. Additionally, General Motors' Super Cruise hands-free driving will likely return for the LT, RST, Premier, and High Country trims. Front automatic emergency braking for vehicles and pedestrians Lane departure warning Lane keeping assist Automatic high beams Cargo Space and Interior Room The 2026 Chevrolet Tahoe carries over with the same interior dimensions as the prior model year. That means the Chevy compares favorably against the Ford Expedition. The Suburban, essentially an extra-long Tahoe, has much more cargo volume. Technology Infotainment The 2026 Chevrolet Tahoe has an 11.0-inch driver display and a 17.7-inch touchscreen with Google built-in functionality. Google Maps, the Google Play store, and Google Assistant voice commands are included, as are wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Chevy includes other desirable features as standard, like a 360-degree camera and USB ports in every row. Available tech includes a wireless charger, a digital rearview mirror, and a head-up display. Sound System A six-speaker sound system is standard on lower trims. Those desiring improved audio quality should upgrade to a higher trim to get the Bose 10-speaker arrangement. Chevy's Connected Camera System Remote monitoring is likely to return for the 2026 Tahoe with Chevy's Connected Camera System. You can use the MyChevrolet app to access the Tahoe's interior and exterior cameras to check on your car and its surroundings. Value Standard Features Should the 2026 Tahoe arrive as a carryover model, the list of standard equipment will continue to be very appealing. A V-8 engine sets the full-size SUV apart from rivals. Other default mechanical features include independent multilink rear suspension and a 10-speed automatic. 18-inch wheels are standard. Inside the cabin, the 2026 Chevrolet Tahoe is expected to come equipped with an 11.0-inch driver display and a 17.7-inch infotainment display with Google built-in software. Other standard tech includes the Chevy Safety Assist suite, a 360-degree camera, and Chevy's Teen Driver monitoring program. Recommended Trim We expect the 2026 Chevy Tahoe to return with six trim levels: LS, LT, RST, Z71, Premier, and High Country. Pricing begins in the low-$60,000 range for the entry-level LS trim with rear-wheel drive and climbs to about $80,000 for the top-end High Country model. Our pick is the Z71 trim, which looks good and is well-equipped with standard four-wheel drive, skidplates, red recovery hooks, and 20-inch wheels. Pricing for this trim begins in the low-$70,000 range. Though off-road-oriented, the Z71 model is a solid all-rounder, especially when equipped with the available Adaptive Air Ride suspension.
