2025 Corvette ZR1 Breaks the 1,000-Horsepower Barrier

2025 Chevy Corvette ZR1 Offers Up 1,064 Horsepower

The quintessential American sports car has grown and evolved beyond recognition over the past seven decades, but never has this growth been more evident than in recent years. First, the eighth-generation models finally fulfilled Zora Arkus Duntov's dream of a mid-engine layout when they debuted in 2020. Even more recently, the all-new 2025 Corvette ZR1 has obliterated the production 'Vette's power output record by breaking the 1,000-horsepower barrier for the first time.

The 2025 Corvette ZR1 is more than a sports car. It's more than a Corvette as we know it. It's the most powerful American V8 production car ever and one of the most powerful production cars in the world right now, with a power-to-weight ratio higher than that of a Bugatti Veyron. The list of superlatives drags on for a while, so let's jump straight into the details.

The Most Powerful American Production V8

The new Corvette ZR1 is built around the Z06's LT6 flat-plane crank 5.5-liter V8. Twin-turbocharged and heavily modified, the ZR1's version of the V8 mill is dubbed the LT7, and instead of the 670 ponies it makes in the Z06, it now generates an otherworldly 1,064 horsepower. Naturally, there's more to LT7 and its almost 300 extra ponies than a pair of turbos. The powertrain contains strengthened pistons and connecting rods, as well as new cylinder head castings with unique CNC machined ports and combustion chambers. There's also an entirely new intake system with a secondary port fuel injection system. All these improvements have led to a much lower compression ratio of 9.8:1 compared to the LT6's 12.5:1. Even the 8-speed dual-clutch has been strengthened and retuned so it doesn't fall apart under the pressure of 1,064 ponies and 1,200 pounds of downforce the ZR1 is capable of producing if optioned with the ZTK Performance Package.

Modern Supercar With A Retro Touch

Like the mid-engine layout, which 'Vette's grandfather Zora Arkus Duntov advocated for, another iconic piece from the sports car's golden era that Mr. Duntov couldn't stand, also made it into the new 2025 ZR1. It's the rear split-window design, of course. However, the carbon-fiber homage to the C2's iconic rear end is exclusively limited to coupe ZR1s. The new fully-fledged supercar is also available as a drop-top, but ZR1 convertibles, understandably, retain the C8's original rear-end design. In truth, the all-new ZR1 doesn't stray too far from the C8's path, design-wise. It's a modern Corvette worthy of a spot in the eighth-gen lineup, albeit not without adding some unique touches - most notable being the optional ZTK package. The carbon-fiber-heavy ZTK package is the one for track enthusiasts, as it enables a maximum of 1,200 pounds of downforce through a massive rear wing and front dive planes, as well as the largest carbon ceramic brake rotors in a Corvette to date and Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R tires that encircle them.

ZR1 Retains Similar Interior Styling Cues And Design

The interior, meanwhile, sticks to a more simplistic approach and remains even more faithful to the original C8 models. The driver-centric cockpit is both simple and imposing but above all, enjoyable. There aren't too many controls and gadgets to distract you from the ZR1's most important attribute, but there are just enough contemporary touches to unmistakably let you know you're in a modern car. Chevy Infotainment 3 Plus system, for instance, includes a 4G LTE mobile hotspot with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability - something not typically associated with track-focused sports cars, but then again, the all-new Corvette ZR1 is more than your run-of-the-mill stripped-off track car.

How Much Will A ZR1 Cost?

Pricing has yet to be announced but the expected MSRP of the base 1LZ model is around $150,000 to $180,000.

Final Words

The 2025 Corvette ZR1 represents a pinnacle of GM and American automotive engineering as a whole. It's more than merely the most powerful factory-built American V8 sports car - it's a symbol and vanguard of the next generation of American performance cars. The generation that has no intention of playing second fiddle to anyone and sends a strong message through the first of potentially many champions from the outset.