Supercar Slayer: The 2025 Corvette ZR1 and Its Tremendous 1064 HP Muscle

We have had so many reasons to admire the Corvette line here at Jim Butler Chevy of St. Louis over the years! The Car and Driver crew cranked out a blog last week detailing the new Corvette C8 ZR1 and immediately knew they were dealing with something special. During their first dragstrip launch, the new mid-engined marvel blasted through the quarter mile in under ten seconds! When the time came to hit the pavement at Milford Proving Grounds, it nailed down a faster top speed than its predecessor.

The 2025 Chevy Corvette ZR1 is the first Vette to boast turbocharged power, and the first production model to crank out over 1,000 horsepower! It shows up eagerly at the table with 1,064 hoof-pounding horses, rendering it the most powerful ever. The last C7 Corvette had made quite intense waves with its 755-horsepower supercharged 6.2-liter V8. It’s insane to ponder that this new ZR1 has more power than a pair of C6 Z06s! These each yielded a 505-horsepower punch courtesy of 7.0-liter V8s.

The new ZR1’s other impressive other stat is its torque, which resides at a head-turning 828 lb-ft. The supply is also limited in the transmission’s first two gears to go easy on the 8-speed dual-clutch automatic. The engine has much wider gears, stronger input and output shafts, and a beefed-up oiling system to meet the demands of the track. The engine boasts a class-exclusive intake system with a cool Edge Blue paint hue and strengthened connecting rods.

There are brand-new head castings and pistons that allow a lower compression ratio. The LT7 also boasted a modern anti-lag system that helped stay on top of precision responsiveness. The C8 Z06 startled industry experts worldwide with its Virginia International Raceway Grand Course time. Here it was nearly a second faster than the old C7 ZR1 and snagged sixth place in Car and Driver’s all-time Lightning Lap results. Huge horsepower numbers don’t always pose a direct correlation with quicker lap times, but the new ZR1 has the muscle and the tuned hardware to compete with the world’s most ferocious supercars.

The 2025 Chevy Corvette ZR1 foregoes the front trunk for the addition of a flow-through hood. This provides much-needed extra downforce while also playing “crossing guard” for heat exchange. The side air intakes have a brand-new duct built-in to handle brake-cooling duty. The ZR1 also shows up eagerly on the scene with a convertible body style and a modern take on the traditional split window. There are also unique aero add-ons that provide up to 1200 pounds of downforce and allow for a top speed of 200 mph.

The braking system is composed of 15.7-inch carbon-ceramic rotors, made of heat mitigating material. The carbon-fiber roof lowers the center of gravity, and there are optional wheels with the same material that assist in shedding mass. The layout is natural and very driver-focused, with 12.0 and 8.0-inch touchscreens. The 3LZ trim adds a unique stitching pattern on the doors, and there’s a Habanero color scheme with a blue stitching option. This amazing beast’s production will begin next year at GM’s Bowling Green, Kentucky factory.