Chevy Corvette ZR1: A quick historical past of the quickest Corvette

Historical past is stuffed with quick Corvettes, however for many years, absolutely the most intense road-going Corvettes have borne the ZR1 title. And this 12 months, Chevy has launched the newest within the line, the 2025 Corvette ZR1. It is essentially the most highly effective one ever, with options by no means earlier than seen on the mannequin. You’ll be able to learn all about it in our primary function story, however the ZR1’s historical past is value its personal look. That is what you may discover right here, with an summary of all 5 ZR1 generations, plus some attention-grabbing information associated to them.

ZR1s previous and current

First-gen 1970-1972 C3 ZR-1:

• A “Particular Goal Engine Package deal” meant for racing, not a standalone mannequin. Upgraded mechanicals like brakes and suspension; omitted energy steering, air-con, radio, and wheel covers.
• Engine: Reworked LT1 350-cubic-inch V8 with a four-barrel carburetor. Put out 370 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 380 pound-feet of torque at 4,400 rpm. Not essentially the most highly effective trim within the lineup; a 454-c.i. LS5 choice received 390 hp.
• Specs: 0-60 miles per hour in 5.7 seconds, quarter-mile in 14.2 seconds at 102 mph, 3,285 kilos.
• Value: $968.95 on prime of the $5,192 base Corvette coupe worth.
• Manufacturing: 53, coupe and convertible, four-speed handbook solely.
• Be aware: The one ZR-1 up to now to return close to the start of a era; the C3 launched in 1968. A Automotive and Driver evaluation on the time stated, “The current Corvette will doubtlessly be the final front-engine mannequin,” predicting a mid-engined coupe by 1972 (the C3 retired in 1982). Chevrolet’s then-GM John DeLorean “pronounced the mid-engine model should be a useful sports activities/GT automotive, weighing within the neighborhood of 2600 lbs. and containing an engine of about 400 cu. in.”

Second-gen 1990-1995 C4 ZR-1:

• The RPO ZR1 choice successfully created a special automotive.
• Engine: New all-aluminum 5.7-liter, 32-valve, quad-cam LT5 V8 designed by Lotus in England, constructed by Mercury Marine in Oklahoma. 375 hp and 380 lb-ft. That was 125 hp and 40 lb-ft over the usual Corvette. The air administration system may deactivate eight of the sixteen consumption runners and gasoline injectors to fulfill gasoline economic system necessities.
• Tires: Goodyear Eagle GS-C 275/40 ZR 17 in entrance, 315/35 ZR 17 in again. The just-launched Lamborghini Diablo wore 245/40 ZR 17 tires in entrance, 335/35 ZR 17 in again.
• Specs: 0-60 mph in 4.4 seconds, 13.13 quarter mile at 110 mph, 180-mph prime pace, skidpad 0.93 G, 3,465 kilos.
• Value: $58,995 — the $27,016 choice worth on prime of the $31,979 base coupe MSRP. In 1991 the ZR-1 choice worth jumped to $31,000, making the ZR-1 the primary GM product to price greater than $60,000.
• Manufacturing: 6,939, all six-speed handbook coupes.
• Be aware: The C4 ZR-1 broke data, birthed a legend, and by the top of its run the 405-hp LT5 V8 was the primary mass-produced V8 engine rated over 400 hp within the post-smog period.

Third-gen 2009-2013 C6 ZR1 (‘now hyphenless, children!’):

• A devoted mannequin, the quickest, strongest, most costly mannequin GM had ever constructed.
• Engine: Extremely modified LS3 referred to as the LS9 — a supercharged, 6.2-liter, pushrod V8 with 638 horsepower and 604 pound-feet of torque, 208 horsepower greater than the bottom Corvette, 133 horsepower greater than the Z06.
• Specs: 0-60 mph in 3.4 seconds, quarter mile in 11.5 seconds at 128.3 mph, 205-mph prime pace, skidpad 1.05g, 3,350 kilos.
• Value: $105,000, in comparison with $47,895 for a base coupe and $30,055 add-on for the Z06.
• Manufacturing: 4,684. Coupe, six-speed handbook solely.
• Be aware: Was the literal reply to the real-life query, “Geez, if that is what you are able to do with $60,000 [for the Z06], I ponder what a $100,000 Corvette would seem like?”

Fourth-gen 2019 C7 ZR1:

• A one-year-only send-off for the front-engine Corvette.
• Engine: Upgraded model of the Z06’s supercharged LT5 6.2-liter pushrod V8. It featured a bigger supercharger and intercooler, further radiators and an output of 755 horsepower and 715 pound-feet of torque. That was a rise of 105 horsepower and 65 pound-feet of torque over the Z06.
• Specs: 0-60 mph in 2.8 seconds, quarter-mile in 10.6 seconds at 134 mph, 212-mph prime pace, 3,560 kilos (coupe).
• Value: $120,990
• Be aware: This era of the ZR1 was out there with both an automated or handbook transmission, in addition to each targa and convertible physique kinds. This was the primary time for the reason that authentic ZR-1 that the 2 physique kinds have been on supply. One other neat truth: Chevy put a gap within the already bigger hood to accommodate the larger supercharger and intercooler.

Fifth-gen 2025 C8 ZR1:

• The primary mid-engine ZR1, the primary turbocharged turbocharged ZR1, the primary with a flat-plane crankshaft, and the primary to crest 1,000 horsepower.
• Engine: Twin-turbo 5.5-liter LT7 V8. It is derived from the DOHC, flat-plane crank-equipped V8 from the C8.R racecar and Z06 avenue automotive, however with a pair of turbochargers. It makes 1,064 horsepower and 828 pound-feet of torque — an insane 394 horsepower greater than the Z06.
• Specs: Particular acceleration occasions have not been introduced, however Chevy estimates underneath 10 seconds for the quarter-mile and a prime pace above 215 mph.
• Value: TBD
• Be aware: That is the final Corvette that can have been labored on by legendary Corvette engineer Tadge Juechter.
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ZR1 spotter’s information: From wallflower to conflict hammer

The C3 ZR-1 hid its fancy bits inside, and was indistinguishable from the common Stingray. The C4 ZR-1 had a wider rear with a convex fascia and rounded-square taillights, rectangular exhaust suggestions, and a CHMSL on the prime of the rear hatch. C6 ZR1 prospers just like the hood’s polycarbonate window, twin gills on the entrance fenders, carbon brakes and CF roof make it unmistakable. The C7 ZR1 can solely be confused with the sort of mortal risk often plastered with “BEWARE OF” indicators. The C8 takes after the ZR1 with large vents and different aero aids. It even revives the split-window look from the C2 with warmth extractors down the center of the rear window.

A suspension’s bumpy street

In 1988 GM engineers labored with Lotus and Bilstein on an Energetic Dealing with system for the C4 ZR1 that will measure “pace, tire load, steering, throttle, and several other different inputs into a posh algorithm” to regulate twin hydraulic dampers on the fly. Bilstein had helped develop the energetic suspension on the Porsche 959, and Lotus’ Formulation 1 crew had been engaged on Energetic Suspension since 1981.

GM constructed 25 prototypes in 1989 to check the system, however Energetic Dealing with would not jibe with Eighties know-how and production-car necessities. Issues included electrical interference, inadequate responsiveness, the system’s 300-pound weight, and a 5-hp draw to run the two,200-psi, belt-driven hydraulic pump. Moreover, boutique bits like Moog actuators jacked up the value; at one level GM deliberate on making Energetic Dealing with a $39,000 choice on prime of the C4 ZR-1’s worth.

GM walked away from that to develop the Selective Trip FX3 suspension, nonetheless a notable advance. Nonetheless, engineers utilized the C4 ZR-1 classes and new know-how to the Energetic Dealing with on the C5 Corvette, and the now-familiar magnetorheological suspension that is nonetheless adequate for the C7 and C8 ZR1s.

From Blues Brothers to house

The C6 ZR1 engine bay featured an embossed Jake on the consumption snorkel, as a nod to the Corvette Racing Group. Some trivia: One in every of Jake’s origin tales says he is named after the “Blues Brothers” character. The stylized blue model of Jake seen on C6 ZR1 mules and prototypes was “Blue Satan” Elwood, “Blue Satan” being the event code title for the C6 ZR1.

The C8 ZR1 hides an engine bay secret, too. There’s a little bit rocket on the engine (and on the Z06’s) for the reason that twin-cam engine household is known as Gemini, just like the NASA house program of the identical title. The mythological roots of Gemini seek advice from twins, and we surprise if a part of the title choice needed to do with the engine structure being double-overhead cam, additionally known as “twin cam.”

Hold it down again there

Chevrolet says the manually adjustable Excessive Wing within the ZTK Efficiency Package deal for the C7 ZR1 produces as much as 950 kilos of rear downforce at pace. The brand new C8 ZR1 ZTK Package deal produces a mixed 1,200 kilos. The Huge Wing on the 2016 Dodge Viper ACR collected 1,500 kilos of downforce at 150 mph. The Bugatti Chiron rear wing produces 772 kilos of rear downforce at 236 mph; in full 49-degree airbrake mode the Chiron wing presses almost 2,000 kilos on the rear axle.

Killing Vipers

The C4 ZR-1 wanted main surgical procedure to beat the unique Viper (admittedly, the unique Viper was little greater than two seats and 4 wheels bolted to an explosion). Chevrolet engineer and race driver John Heinricy created the so-called “Snake Skinner” ZR-1 by virtually gutting a C4 ZR-1 inside, tweaking the engine, and swapping inventory components all through for lighter components.

The C6 ZR1 wanted no operations, profitable each comparo that did not contain a Viper ACR, and that judged something apart from uncooked character.

And in the long run, the ‘Vette received the conflict, because the Viper’s gone, however the Viper leaves one final legacy. The Viper ACR’s 7:01.30 Nürburgring time nonetheless stands because the quickest lap by an American manufacturing automotive. The C7 ZR1 by no means received its shot at setting a document, so the duty will fall to the brand new C8 model.

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