Latest news with #ZR1
Miami Herald
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Miami Herald
Corvette Boss Downplays ZR1's Chances Of Beating AMG ONE Record
With 1,064 horsepower, a mid-engine layout, and plenty of downforce, the C8 Corvette ZR1 is one of the most exciting cars to come off a production line, American or otherwise. All of the ingredients add up to something so spectacular that former Corvette engineer Jim Mero speculates it might even dethrone the $2.8 million Mercedes-AMG ONE at the top of the Nürburgring leaderboard. But according to someone who works at GM right now, specifically Tony Roma, who replaced the legendary Tadge Juechter as executive chief engineer for the global Corvette and performance cars team, that may be a bridge too far. Speaking with CarBuzz, he said, "I wish the car was that fast. I've seen so many things online, but just stay tuned." Car enthusiasts love to form a good conspiracy, and automakers (particularly American ones) love to hide Easter eggs in announcements, so when Chevrolet teased news from the Green Hell on June 28 (6/28), it naturally led to speculation that this was a coded message indicating a time below that of the AMG ONE (6 minutes, 29 seconds). But just as Ford downplayed the Mustang GTD's chances on the Nordschleife before setting the first sub-7-minute time for an American manufacturer, Roma reminds us that this is a unique place at which to seek a record, with numerous complexities. "It's more difficult than it's [ever] been to set a record at the 'Ring. They charge you a lot of money to talk about it, and they want to have certified timing and scoring," said Roma. "You have to rent the track, get the safety marshals, pay the licensing fee, pay the filming fee. And if your day rains, oh well. We are not based in Stuttgart [where Mercedes is], so we can't just go back next week. That's why you haven't seen us set a lap record attempt." Related: Can't Get A ZR1? This Tuner Has A Solution For Any C8 Corvette These issues are all pertinent. While we would all love to see a plucky, twin-turbo, V8 supercar with a six-figure asking price be an American David to the German Goliath of a multi-million-dollar hypercar built by the might of Mercedes with the powertrain and expertise of a Formula One dynasty behind it, the reality is that mastering the Nürburgring with minimal real-world practice is a feat in itself. However, Roma suggests that the ZR1 should comfortably improve on the front-engine GTD's time. "You can see the effort Ford had to put into the GTD. And they had to go back twice to get decent weather," said Roma, possibly suggesting the ZR1 could outpace the GTD even in less-than-ideal conditions. "All I can say is, stay tuned. We did go and drive around the Green Hell, and we're pretty proud of how the car did. And so, we're going to release more details when the time's right. Very soon, very soon." Corvettes wearing Stingray, Z06, and ZR1 badges have been spied on the Nürburgring, so perhaps multiple announcements will be made at once... Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Auto Blog
07-07-2025
- Automotive
- Auto Blog
Verus Gives the Corvette Stingray a Track-Ready Overhaul
By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . You may unsubscribe from email communication at anytime. America's Mid-Engine Muscle Gets Hotted-Up When Chevrolet moved the engine behind the seats for the eighth-generation Corvette, it changed the nameplate's history. The C8 Stingray is no longer just America's sports car; it's become a legitimate rival to Europe's best. That's even more true with the arrival of the C8 Corvette ZR1 and the electrified Corvette ZR1X, both top-dog models aiming to stand toe-to-toe against supercars and hypercars on the other side of the big ol' pond. The Corvette Stingray now sits in rarefied company. But what if you already have a Stingray and want visual and performance boosts? That's where Verus Engineering – the same company that worked with Ken Block's Hoonipig – comes in with its new range of aero upgrades, led by the Stage 3 Ventus package. Visual and Performance Boost for the Track Verus Engineering's new aerodynamic kit for the C8 Stingray goes beyond looks, though it certainly makes a statement with that towering swan-neck rear wing. Developed in collaboration with Paragon Performance and tested on track, the kit was designed to improve real-world performance by reducing drag and increasing downforce at all four corners. At the rear, a carbon fiber diffuser cleans up airflow under the car and improves tire grip by reducing lift. It works in tandem with a ducktail spoiler and the flagship V1X rear wing, which is adjustable and optimized specifically for the C8's profile. Up front, dual-element canards and a carbon fiber front splitter with optional air dam channel airflow to the right places, adding usable downforce while maintaining aerodynamic balance. Even the side splitters are made from polyweave – a motorsport-grade material that resists cracking and warping under stress. While a package is available, all the components are modular, meaning owners can start with a basic setup and add more aggressive pieces over time as needed. Source: Verus Engineering From Stage 1 to Stage 3, with Individual Pricing Verus Engineering sells the kit in stages through its Ventus Package lineup, depending on the performance level you're after. The Stage 1 kit includes the front dive planes and rear diffuser, while the Stage 3 kit, as shown in the demo car, is the most aggressive setup available and aimed at serious track use. Autoblog Newsletter Autoblog brings you car news; expert reviews and exciting pictures and video. Research and compare vehicles, too. Sign up or sign in with Google Facebook Microsoft Apple By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . You may unsubscribe from email communication at anytime. Verus Engineering didn't reveal the pricing for the whole kit, though individual prices for each part are available. The rear diffuser is priced at $2,000, while the side splitters come in at $650. The front splitter costs $2,000, with an optional carbon air dam available for an additional $850. The showpiece V1X rear wing, optimized for maximum rear-end downforce, is listed at $5,995. Optional upgrades such as CAM XM plates and splitter end plates can also be added for further aero refinement. All parts are now available for purchase directly from Verus Engineering's website. And, if ever you own the more aggressive Corvette Z06, it looks like the company's already working on a set of aero parts for the model. Source: Verus Engineering About the Author Jacob Oliva View Profile
Hamilton Spectator
06-07-2025
- Automotive
- Hamilton Spectator
An electric Corvette? And it's all-wheel drive? Yeah, it's bloody fast, too
Behind you, the low-strung bellow of a naturally aspirated, 6.2-litre pushrod V8. Chevy's LT2 small block snarls, gasps, barks and farts, the way any American-bred motor ought to. That's the past. Up front, or rather, through the E-Ray's audio system, you'll hear a synthetic, almost alien-like hum. It floods the entire cabin. It's intoxicating, even a bit annoying at times. It's a reminder that this Corvette is electrified, thanks to hybrid technology. This is the future. By the time you've come to your senses from the cacophony of go-fast decibels, you've teleported to your next destination. The 2025 Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray redefines your perception of what fast should be. It's bloody fast! But this Corvette is tremendously easy to live with. Chevrolet is unleashing its most potent Corvette yet. No, I'm not talking about the ZR1, although its 1,064-horsepower figure was already out of this world. The ZR1X combines the ZR1's twin-turbocharged flat-plane crank V8 and this E-Ray's electric motor. The combined output is a mind-boggling 1,224 horsepower. Let that sink in for a moment! Next to such colossal numbers, the E-Ray's 655-horsepower and 595 lbs.-ft. of torque (motive force) appear, well, sort of weak. But these numbers don't tell the story: it will take just 2.5 seconds for the E-Ray to sprint to 100 km/h from a standstill. It's a rocket. (I can only imagine what a ZR1X must feel like.) Look, all Corvettes are fast. But within the Corvette hierarchy — Stingray, Z06, E-Ray, ZR1 and ZR1X — the E-Ray remains a force to be reckoned with. It's a relatively unique machine in this space, given its combination of both gasoline and electric propulsion. Acura attempted this with the second-generation NSX, and we've seen some multimillion hypercars in the McLaren P1. But this is a first for an American sports car, and definitely a first for the Corvette. It's first-ever hybrid 'Vette. But don't expect the E-Ray's hybrid system to help it save fuel. It doesn't. The sole purpose of the 160-horsepower permanent-magnet AC motor installed on the car's front axle is to add 160 hp to an already potent machine. It also gives the E-Ray the benefit of being an all-wheel-drive sports car. Yes, the E-Ray can sort of drive in full electric mode, but only during a short period of time at very low speeds. The system is best appreciated in Stealth mode. The car takes off on electric power alone only to fire up its growling V8 once you've left the neighbourhood. This proved particularly handy one early morning on my way to the airport. And boy does that eight-cylinder sound glorious when it wakes up. During the week I was driving the E-Ray, Quebec got a summer's worth of rain. Chevrolet had planned to have me drive the car in the mid winter to prove a point: that the E-Ray is an all-weather sports car. But it wasn't to be. Even in late May's rain, the E-Ray's tenacious grip, aided by a set of Michelin Pilot all-season tires, turned its ludicrous performance into a normal, everyday affair. Getting to places fast in an E-Ray is a casual thing. It was comfortable. Sure, the confined, two-seat cabin isn't exactly sports sedan spacious. And you'll need to practice with your right arm placing your phone on the wireless phone charger between the seats. But except for these normal sports car compromises, the E-Ray is relatively spacious, given its small size, and it adapts well to different weather, thanks to its retractable top. There's storage. Obviously, nobody expects a Corvette to out-cargo a three-row SUV. But combining the front and rear storage compartments, you end up with enough space to fit anything from golf bags — two will fit — to a full complement of groceries. Yes, that retractable top will also fit in the rear compartment. There are things about the Corvette E-Ray I would change. I'm definitely looking forward to the updated interior in 2026. Although the 2025 model's large spine of buttons looks cool and all, it's not exactly an ergonomic success. The software lags when cycling from one drive mode to the next. That drive mode knob dial has an awkward resistance, as if Chevrolet doesn't want you to rotate it. Weird. This Corvette will brawl with McLarens and Lamborghinis all day on a racetrack, but it can serve as a formidable daily driver. The beauty of the E-Ray's electric assistance is that it takes none of the C8 Corvette's visceral, analogue, all-American flavour away. If anything, it enhances it. The Chevrolet Corvette lives on, even in the electric age. Type: Two-door sports coupe Engine: 6.2-litre hybrid V8; 655 horsepower and 595 pounds-feet of torque (motive force) Transmission: Eight-speed automatic Fuel: 14.7 litres/100 km in the city; 9.8l/100 km on the highway; 12.3l/100 km combined; and 13.1l/100 km observed Cargo: 340 litres, or 12.6 cubic feet Price: $179,720, as tested
Miami Herald
03-07-2025
- Automotive
- Miami Herald
The 2025 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 might be even rarer than expected
Like its predecessors, the new Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 has raised the bar for American performance cars. As if that didn't already guarantee future-collectible status, a new report claims first-year versions of the 1,064-horsepower super 'Vette will be even rarer than expected because Chevy simply can't build them fast enough. According to CorvetteBlogger, Chevy's model-year changeover from 2025 to 2026 is scheduled to take place on August 4. That gives the automaker a little over a month to build 2025 ZR1 models. General Motors has 310 orders for 2025 models in its system, but reportedly built just 65 cars since production started in April. In addition to the slow production rate, the Bowling Green, Kentucky, plant that assembles all Corvettes is scheduled to shut down for a summer break between July 4 and July 14. That leaves just 15 work days to build more than 240 cars, a feat Chevy doesn't seem to think is possible. CorvetteBlogger claims to have obtained an email from the automaker to dealers stating that it cannot commit to building all remaining orders before the model-year changeover, and that any 2025 ZR1 orders that are at 3000 Status (meaning they have been accepted by production control) or below will need to be resubmitted as 2026 models. The report also cites data from Corvette enthusiast Roger Kiel, who independently tracks production of the current-generation C8 Corvette. Kiel's data show an average daily production rate of one or two ZR1s per day. At that rate, around 100 units are likely to be completed by the August 4 cutoff date. Related: The Corvette ZR1 Might Be Even More Powerful Than Promised Pushing back some orders to the 2026 model year will do more than cause some customers to lose out on first-year bragging rights. The 2026 model year brings a redesigned interior for all Corvette models, which replaces the controversial button wall on earlier cars with a tri-screen layout that handles most control functions. The price also increases by $7,200 over the 2025 ZR1, while the destination charge goes up by $100. The change will also create a longer queue for orders. One 2026 Corvette order cycle has already come and gone, but reportedly without any ZR1 allocations. So customers hoping to secure a build slot will have to wait for another round of orders, plus any that don't get completed as 2025 models. But given the potential of this high-performance Corvette, it should be worth the wait. Related: 2025 Corvette ZR1 sets new speed record at 233 mph with 1,064 hp - firmly placing it in hypercar territory Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Yahoo
01-07-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
The 2025 Corvette ZR1 May Be Even More Rare Than We First Thought
Chevrolet's Corvette ZR1 is a revolution for American sports cars, packing power and performance figures that not long ago were the province of foreign exotica — but a new report indicates that the first batch to roll off the line for the 2025 model year may arrive in even more limited numbers than we first suspected. According to CorvetteBlogger, Chevrolet's model year swap between 2025 and 2026 Corvettes is scheduled to take place on August 4 —which means the company has a little over a month to churn out the MY25 ZR1s. But while General Motors reportedly has taken 310 orders into its system for the 1064-hp twin-turbo 'Vette, all for its inaugural model year, a mere 65 units have reportedly been built since production kicked off at the end of April. Further complicating matters: the Corvette's storied Bowling Green, Kentucky, plant is set to close for a summer break after Friday, July 4, and won't re-open until July 14. That leaves UAW workers in Kentucky just 15 days to build more than 240 Corvette ZR1s, a feat that Chevrolet, reportedly, doesn't believe is possible. At least, that's what the automaker signaled to dealers according to an email CorvetteBlogger says it obtained. The email reportedly states that the automaker cannot commit to building all 310 units in the order system in that time, and that any 2025 ZR1 orders that are at 3000 Status (signifying the order has been accepted by production control) or below will need to be resubmitted as 2026 model year orders. There's independent evidence to back this up, too. Corvette enthusiast and data mapper Roger Kiel has taken it upon himself to track the production of the C8-generation Corvette and posting his findings in Corvette-dedicated Facebook groups; the latest version shows an average daily production rate of two or three ZR1 units each day. This indicates that around 100 ZR1 units are likely to be built by the time of the model year switchover in early August. So, what's the big deal? Well, in addition to a revamped interior design, the new model carries a $7200 price bump versus 2025 model year ZR1s, in addition to a destination fee increase of $100. Another added complication is the way ZR1 allocations flow. One order cycle of the 2026 model year C8 Corvette has already come and gone, but no ZR1 units were reportedly allocated — hence why all 300-ish orders taken so far have been for MY25 cars. That means these ousted ZR1 buyers will have to wait for the next order cycle, and hope that it winds up offering some slots for the new hypercar-slaying C8. Clearly, C8 ZR1 production is still in its infancy, and prospective buyers will have to adjust their expectations accordingly. However, the transparent amount of performance on tap and the degree of American engineering pride exemplified by the ZR1 leads us to suspect most buyers will be more than willing to wait a little longer than they originally planned if that's the price for owning a 233-mph stock Corvette. You Might Also Like You Need a Torque Wrench in Your Toolbox Tested: Best Car Interior Cleaners The Man Who Signs Every Car
