The C8 Corvette ZR1 is Coming This Summer

Chevrolet just dropped a teaser for the C8 ZR1 which will likely be the most powerful Corvette ever made.

Chevrolet may sell more Silverados than anything else, but the Corvette has been the halo vehicle for the brand for over 70 years. And within the Corvette lineup the ZR1 has long been the halo model. So, when Chevrolet drops a teaser video about the new C8 Corvette ZR1 on their YouTube channel, the world takes notice. We certainly did, as we must have watched the 20 second clip a hundred times by now. And that is despite the fact that the video didn’t reveal much other than confirm that the king of the hill Corvette will return this summer.

2019 was the last time a Corvette ZR1 was available. Those cars have done nothing but appreciate in value ever since. Thanks to the supercharged LT5 making an almost comical 755 horsepower, the C7 ZR1 has gone down in history as the most powerful Corvette ever. But that is very likely to change once the C8 iteration hits the streets. We don’t have any specifications yet but if someone offered you a bet with the over/under on horsepower being 800, we would suggest you take the over.

Twin-Turbos

If you ever wanted a twin-turbo Corvette you had to go aftermarket or you had to select the B2K option back in the day for a Callaway Corvette. There has never been a GM-produced twin-turbo Corvette. However, based on sound clips, spy photos, and the good old fashioned rumor mill, the C8 ZR1 will be packing a pair of turbochargers to help produce a silly amount of power. The final horsepower number is what is going to grab headlines when it is announced. But the ZR1 is going to have a lot more going for it than just raw power.

Active Aero

With an anticipated power figure that will make your eyes water, the new ZR1 is going to need all the help it can get to stay firmly planted to the ground. We are sure there will be plenty of mechanical grip thanks to fat, sticky tires and an advanced suspension. But that won’t be enough. The car is going to require aerodynamic grip as well. And it will go beyond simply bolting a giant wing on the back. In January GM submitted a filing with the United States Patent Office. That filing is for a new eLSD as well as an “active aerodynamic actuator.”

And the active aero that GM is looking to deploy on the ZR1 appears to be similar to the system used on the multi-million-dollar Pagani Huayra hypercar. There will be a control unit in the car that considers variables such as speed, steering angle, yaw rate, and lateral and longitudinal acceleration. Based on those variables it can activate individual aerodynamic surfaces. A system like this will not only help with grip and handling but also will not produce as much drag as a large, fixed wing. This should help the new ZR1 achieve a staggering top speed. All of this remains to be seen of course. But one thing is for certain. We can’t wait for the summer.

Photos: Chevrolet

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Joe Kucinski

Joe has been obsessed with cars since he got his very first Matchbox toy in the ‘70s. In 2003, he found a new obsession in track days that led to obtaining his SCCA competition license in 2015. In 2019, he became a certified driving instructor for the National Auto Sport Association. His love for all things four wheels has never wavered, whether it's driving some of the best cars in the world on the racetrack, tackling 2,000-mile road trips in 2-seat sports cars or being winched off the side of a mountaintop in a Jeep. Writing for the suite of Internet Brands Auto Communities sites, including Rennlist.com, Ford Truck Enthusiasts, 6 Speed and more allows him to share that knowledge and passion with others.