Corvette Insider: An Overview of ZR1 | Chevrolet
The power is just unrelenting
and almost indescribable. Hi, I’m Brad Franz
from Chevrolet Marketing, and today I’m here with Josh Holder on the introduction of Corvette ZR1. Josh, we understand the team’s
been super excited about this, but before we dive into ZR1, can we just talk a little bit about
the journey that we’ve been on and what Corvette has meant
over the last couple of years leading up to this point? We planned the ZR1 from the beginning. So with the Stingray, followed by the track ready Z06, followed by the all-weather capability of the E-ray, the hardware that goes in each of those cars, uh, was planned from the beginning, which is why the LT7 evolved from the LT6. It’s still got that flat plane crank,
high revving magic, uh, but this time the equipped turbochargers really bring the power to these unbelievable levels. And you know,
when you sit and you look at the car, it just looks fast, right? Like every Corvette. How important is it to also keep the design cues that have made this generation of Corvette so special? Well, keeping the foundation
lets us keep the fantastic mid-engine proportions. The cues on the ZR1 expand upon its performance. So everything you see on the outside of the ZR1
has some functional purpose and many of them have
more than one functional purpose. The intercooler heat exchanger in the hood. Not only does it cool the charge air, but it also helps create front down force. Let’s talk about the numbers. Can you give us a rundown of what
ZR1’s bringing to the table here? Brad, the numbers are incredible. 1064 horsepower, more than 800 foot pounds of torque
from 3000 RPM to 6,500 RPM, more than a thousand pounds
of downforce at top speed. And a quarter mile time, well under 10 seconds. Let’s just take a step back. Are you confirming two 12 plus today? Significantly faster
than 212 miles an hour. It’s absolutely incredible. And when you start
to think about the acceleration, how does that feel? It’s, it’s really mind blowing. Um, the first time you get in the car, you, you’re, you get this experience that’s like,
oh my God, what, what did I just feel? But it doesn’t go away. It never disappoints. You never get used to this kind of power. It’s always special, it’s always enjoyable. So the ZR1 represents the first ever
factory turbocharged Corvette. When you think about turbochargers,
some might say, Hey, there’s gonna be some lag. You know, it takes a little bit of time to spool up. What are some of the things that you all did
as a team to mitigate that? Josh Holder VO: That’s a great question, Brad. And these turbochargers are massive. 76-millimeter compressors. So, in the design of the turbocharger,
we phase the exhaust cams and the engine to keep turbo speed
as high as possible. We change ignition timing, throttle position, and we have a, a special wastegate
that’s electronically controlled. So we can use those features to keep
turbo speeds as high as possible. So when you’re exercising the ZR1
on the twisty roads, your favorite place to drive, or even on the track, that massive power and torque
is always available. It’s incredible. Well, Josh, thanks so much
for the time today. Really appreciate it. I think everyone’s gonna be extremely excited about what the 2025 Corvette ZR1 has to offer. You guys really rocked it. Thanks for giving us a vehicle like this. Thank you, Brad.
We can’t wait to share it with the world.
Equipped with heart-pumping speed and crafted with jaw-dropping style, the Corvette ZR1 is the next chapter of our mid-engine masterpiece.
We join Corvette Chief Engineer Josh Holder to discuss the intricacies and history that came to make the ZR1 one of the fastest and most powerful Corvettes in the lineup to date.
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