Thursday 25th August 2016

First Corvette C7 ZR1 spy shots

What to do when the 650hp Z06 is insufficient? More power and a huge wing!

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Just how mad can the American sports car/muscle car scene get? Already we've had a Camaro with 305-section tyres all-round, a Mustang with carbon fibre wheels and a Viper that can generate a tonne of downforce. Here's the latest: the Corvette ZR1, a car that has to sit above even 'Big Nasty' itself, the 650hp Z06.

Corvette stops for no sign

More power would seem a given; remember the last Corvette ZR1 made 640hp where the Z06 had 505hp. Don't expect another 135hp gain though - a 785hp Corvette might be a bit much - but around 700hp seems likely. Hopefully a manual gearbox can stay as well.

As can be seen here too the aerodynamic mods should be, well, extensive. Over and above the Z07 pack this car brings a gigantic rear wing, what are likely to be much bigger front arches and, given the amount of camo there, some changes at the back too.

With just a couple of images currently available, there's very little else to tell right now. But given where the Z06 has already established Corvettes in the American fast car hierarchy, this ZR1 will surely be something truly spectacular. That's before any mention of the Nurburgring either...

[Images: S. Baldauf/SB-Medien]

[big_rob_sydney]

Should be a beast. I'm looking forward to seeing its performance stats. I wonder how it'll go against some european metal like the 911, 488, and r8.

[irocfan]

sh/could be interesting

[Banned Member]

I hope it blows away the competition.

[Evilex]

Surely its immediate target should be the Viper ACR.
Or is that TOO hardcore?

[Matt Harper]

Evilex said:

Surely its immediate target should be the Viper ACR.
Or is that TOO hardcore?

Viper production ends this model year.

[GIRF]

big_rob_sydney said:

Should be a beast. I'm looking forward to seeing its performance stats. I wonder how it'll go against some european metal like the 911, 488, and r8.

I would think given the z06's performance in comparison to those that chevy has its sights set a tad higher.

[PHMatt]

The three digits I would most like to see next to the word corvette are R, H and D.

[CheckmateJCW]

PHMatt said:

The three digits I would most like to see next to the word corvette are R, H and D.

I'll second this, I still fancy picking up a used C6 Z06 in the next couple of years, but I'm put off using it daily by the LHD.

I know they get much more expensive by the time they make it to the UK, and they're no longer the performance bargain they get in the states, but I still think GM is missing a trick not offering a RHD 'vette for the UK and AUS

[Clivey]

They'll probably be too busy fulfilling US orders. - That's why UK deliveries of RHD Mustangs didn't happen until ages after the States.

[dvs_dave]

This thing will have mental performance. Way up on the 911, R8 etc. Given that the "lowly" Z06 can already do a 6:59 Nurburgring lap (fingers in ears, la la la la from the Euro fan boys), the ZR1 will knock a few seconds off that. It's going to be in or exceed the 918, P1 LaF performance class, for 10% of the price.....
http://horsepowerkings.com/hail-to-the-king-2015-c...

[swisstoni]

I'd like it to come over here in RHD too - and stick two fingers up to the connoisseurs.

[swisstoni]

GIRF said:

big_rob_sydney said:

Should be a beast. I'm looking forward to seeing its performance stats. I wonder how it'll go against some european metal like the 911, 488, and r8.

I would think given the z06's performance in comparison to those that chevy has its sights set a tad higher.

FLemke - is this your McLaren, being dropped by a Corvette?. That would be funny