GM Launches the Most Powerful Chevy Corvette Ever: The 2025 ZR1

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DETROIT — General Motors has unveiled the latest iteration of its iconic sports car, the Chevrolet Corvette, set to be the most powerful model in the brand’s history.

The 2025 Chevy Corvette ZR1 will feature a twin-turbocharged 5.5-liter V8 engine, producing over 1,000 horsepower and 828 foot-pounds of torque. This significant power boost positions the ZR1 among elite supercars, typically priced in the hundreds of thousands.

“This car accelerates with the force of a freight train,” remarked Tadge Juechter, Corvette’s executive chief engineer since 2006, during a recent media event. “We anticipate this to be the fastest car we’ve ever produced by a considerable margin.”

The previous record-holder for the most powerful Corvette was the 2019 ZR1, which boasted 755 horsepower and 715 pound-feet of torque from a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 engine.

The new ZR1 is expected to surpass the previous model’s top speed of 212 mph, according to Juechter.

Pricing details for the 2025 Corvette ZR1, including the optional “ZTK” performance package, will be announced closer to the car’s production start next year. The 2019 model had a starting price of $121,000.

The ZR1 will join Chevrolet’s “Corvette family,” which includes models like the Corvette Stingray, starting at around $70,000; the E-Ray hybrid; and the Z06, a track-oriented car starting at about $112,000.

Brad Franz, Chevy’s director of car and crossover marketing, commented on the new ZR1, saying, “We’re pleased with the current lineup. The ZR1 represents the next evolution in our strategy.”

GM has hinted at an all-electric Corvette in the future, though specifics and timelines remain undisclosed. Discussions about a potential Corvette SUV have also been ongoing, but Franz declined to provide details.

Analysts on Wall Street, such as Adam Jonas from Morgan Stanley, have suggested that expanding the Corvette brand could significantly increase its value, estimating a potential worth of $7 billion to $12 billion.

Chevrolet has sold approximately 34,500 Corvette units annually over the past two years. In 2019, the Corvette underwent a significant redesign, transitioning from a front-engine to a mid-engine configuration to enhance performance and handling.

Limited-production models like the ZR1 are designed to generate excitement and drive sales of more affordable Corvette variants. “The ZR1 is our flagship model, attracting attention and boosting sales for the entire range,” Juechter explained. “This approach is part of our long-term strategy to maintain product relevance.”

The introduction of high-performance models has increased the average transaction price of Corvettes to about $106,000. With the launch of the ZR1 and growing sales of the Z06, whose buyers typically have a household income of $311,000, this average is expected to rise further.

Additionally, GM plans to ramp up production of the hybrid Corvette E-Ray, currently priced at around $105,000, from 2-3% to 10% of total production capacity, according to Franz.

The success of these models has also led to increased production shifts at GM’s Corvette plant in Bowling Green, Kentucky, since 2019.

Associated media – Associated media

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