Plentiful Horses for Heart-Racing Thrills: The 2025 Corvette ZR1 and its Turbocharged Twin-Turbo V8!

We are always trying our hardest to keep up on prototypes that have been seen testing in the wild here at Jim Butler Chevy of St Louis, as this clues us into the “greatness of things to come”! A few 2025 Chevy Corvette ZR1 examples have been spied recently in the U.S., with the solid promise of even more thrilling performance than the impeccable Z06. The most recent prototypes officially snapped on film were not at the first scene of the Nürburgring Nordschleife, but rather a familiar form of golden arches right here in the States.

Parked outside a McDonald’s and looking as ferocious as ever, a few photos snapped by Kevin Bayerlein on the C8 Corvette Owners and Friends group on Facebook depicted this ‘Vette. It boasted rear lip spoilers and the same fixed wing as the Z06, and all feature very aggressive front fascias with bold aero elements and smaller air intakes on the rear quarter panels. These are not seen on any other track-conquering version of the C8, with the ZR1 serving as the Corvette’s flagship version until a surprise “Zora” variant arrives on the scene. 

The ZR1 is slated to arrive with a 5.5-liter twin-turbocharged V8 cranking out as much as 850 horsepower, and 825 lb-ft of torque. This nudges it aggressively over the C7-generation ZR1, which roars ferociously out of the gate with 755 horsepower and 715 lb-ft of torque. Two different aero packages will likely be up for grabs, with the more track-focused of the pair one-upping the current Z06’s 736 lbs of downforce at a brisk 186 mph. 

The ZR1 uses the legendary Z06 as its starting point, cranking power output to an all-time high. This is the exciting entry point that allows for competition against the Lamborghinis and Ferraris from the valiant supercar club and is likely to spur an even more powerful hybrid model for arrival in 2026. The electric motor powering this capable beast should be able to push the Corvette towards the 1000 horsepower mark! The 2025 ZR1 will include a pair of capable turbochargers to the 5.5-liter V8 in the Z06. 

All this top-notch power will be sent to the rear wheels, where grippy tires will help dole out lightning-fast lap times. The ZR1 is also expected to keep the beefy carbon fiber brakes from the Z06 and blast rightfully up to 60 mph in under 2.5 seconds. With all the circumstance and hullaballoo from the C8 and its mid-engined mastery for the past few years, a fact that can slip one’s mind is that the C7 ZR1 is the most powerful ‘Vette in existence. From 1990-1995, the C4 ZR-1 was prominently nicknamed “King of the Hille”, due to its outright mastery of everything in the souped-up stratosphere. 

At the front, it’s easy to make out vents in the frunk lid, which are set in a classic ZR1-style black strip. This is most likely an aero feature that will allow for superior downforce, with “blade” vents that show up easily on a car with a white camo wrap. The Motor1.com auto review crew had concluded during a close look that the 5.5-liter’s exhaust note is very different from the 6.2-liter pushrod V8 present in the Stingray. With rumors of the ZR1’s epic sightings dating back to 2020, the incoming Chevy Corvette ZR1 may not exist as a bargain basement model, but it is a quite welcome and unbridled thunder on wheels! 

King of Capacity: The 2024 Chevy Suburban Commands with Power, Guts, and Proficiency

The 2024 Chevy Suburban full-size SUV proudly leads the large-sized truck class with industry-best cargo room, excellent powertrain choices, and the capability to move a good number of passengers and their gear. The Morningstar.com review team was eager to try out the stretched version of the “already-big Chevy Tahoe”, as this people-moving machine can accommodate up to 9. It’s simple to bring along gear for climbing, little league, church outings, or soccer with this Jim Butler Chevy favorite!

The Suburban offers a class-leading 144.7 cubic feet of cargo room, heartily beating out rivals such as the Jeep Wagoneer L and Ford Expedition Max. The Suburban enjoys everything about its large stance which boasts big power, backed fearlessly by a large selection of V8s or amazing turbo-diesel 6-cylinder. The standard 5.3-liter V8 offers the standard form of might to move this resounding road warrior while allowing for a towing capacity of up to 8,300 lbs. This is easily sufficient for an RV or boat to explore the almost 800 miles of tree-lined shores at Table Rock State Park.

The optional 6.2-liter V8 provides even more grunt and emits its legendary and enjoyable breed of sound when you get on the throttle. The diesel option offers the same 420 lb-ft of torque that the 6.2-liter does, while sincerely and stoically offering the best fuel economy of the group. Available on every trim except the off-road oriented Z71, it’s been a revered engine for years among truck purists! The Premier and High Country trims now offer the hands-free Super Cruise driving system, which works on over 400,000 primo digitally-mapped miles of roads in North America.

With the new switch to an independent rear suspension, this current generation of Suburban has a unique touch of refinement over prior versions. It also enjoys admiration from many diehards for its truck-like traits. The Premier and High Country trims also now come standard with captain’s chairs, while the LT trim steps things up nicely with leather-appointed upholstery and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. There’s a 10.2-inch infotainment screen that quells the masses’ appetite for frequent upgrades to bigger and better things, along with the prowess of top-end models easily “rivaling an Escalade” with luxury touches such as heated and ventilated front seats.

Behind the third row is where a quite incredible stat in the large-sized auto realm is born, with 41.5 cubic feet of storage at your disposal. With both rows folded, there are 144.7 cubic feet, offering up enough space to fully claim the next extended weekend as ‘thoroughly adventure ready’. This is more than the rivals in the form of the Jeep Wagoneer L and Expedition Max, assuring that all the best additives for exploration can come along!

Since diesel engines have all but gone extinct, car fans love that GM still offers one in the Suburban. The fact that it’s so high-performing and all-around awesome will make it memorable for years to come. Cranking out as much torque as the larger V8 and managing up to 27 mpg on the highway, it remains as one of the features that allow it to stand out in today’s versatile truck offerings. Each trim above the LS also comes with a hands-free power liftgate, which is ideal when completing the weekend’s all-inclusive grocery or Home Depot run.  

We are standing by eagerly waiting to meet you this spring season here at Jim Butler, where the Suburban and many other thrilling vehicles are waiting for you to experience them. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to enjoy a test drive of this model that Motor Trend called “The quintessential SUV, rich in sheer utility and boasting all of the extra-large stuff most shoppers prioritize!”