01
How to start it
Step on the brake, press the START button on the upper console (it's lit red on Z06/E-Ray). The mid-engine V8 cracks behind you. E-Ray fires silently in 'Stealth' mode below 45 mph.
Corvette ZR1
CuratedCurated
Chevrolet fits the Corvette ZR1 with 5.5L Twin-Turbo Flat-Plane V8 and RWD. Output is 1,064 hp; listed weight is 3,670 lb; the price is about $175K. The catalog lists 0–60 mph in 2.3 seconds and a 233 mph top speed.
Research links
Trims
Choose a trim · 5 available
Tap a trim to open its full page — specs, features, build configurator and a maintenance schedule tailored to that trim.
Other variants
More Chevrolet Corvette builds
This model is offered in multiple distinct builds — each gets its own page so the specs, drivetrain and pricing stay accurate.
Features
What this car offers
Safety & driver assistance
- Carbon-ceramic brakes
- Stability control
- Front + side airbags
- Launch control
Performance hardware
- Carbon-ceramic brake rotors
- Launch control
- Adaptive / magnetorheological dampers
- Electronic limited-slip differential
- Multiple drive modes (Comfort / Sport / Track)
Cabin & technology
- Digital instrument cluster
- Premium leather upholstery
- Wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto
- Bluetooth + smartphone integration
- Premium audio system
- Heated and cooled seats
Safety rating
5/ 5
Value score
9.5/ 10
Performance, build, and ownership-cost composite.
Overview
About the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1
The C8 ZR1 is the fastest Corvette ever built, and its engine is the story. The LT7 is a twin-turbocharged 5.5-litre flat-plane-crank V8 — take the Z06's naturally aspirated LT6, add two turbochargers running around 20 psi, and you get 1,064 hp and 828 lb-ft from a pushrod-free, DOHC, race-derived architecture. It is the most powerful engine ever fitted to a production car by an American manufacturer.
Turbocharging that engine required substantial rework: a new intake, revised camshafts, forged pistons, and a cooling system with a huge front-mounted heat exchanger plus dedicated intercooler circuits. The turbos sit low behind the engine, feeding through short paths to keep response sharp on a car that revs to 8,000 rpm.
Chevrolet quotes over 230 mph, and — the more impressive number — a 9.6-second quarter mile from a rear-wheel-drive car, which speaks to how much work went into the tyres, differential and traction software.
The optional ZTK package adds a high-downforce rear wing, dive planes, stiffer springs and Michelin Cup 2R tyres, producing more than 1,200 lb of downforce.
Its market position is aggressive by design: it costs a fraction of the European hypercars whose figures it matches, and it is arguably the best-value performance engineering available anywhere at any price.
How to use
Owner's walkthrough
Practical guide for everything a new owner asks on day one — starting the car, finding the gear selector, drive modes, infotainment, driver aids, and easy-to-miss features.
02
Where the gear selector is (and how to use it)
Corvette places gear buttons high on the console: pull the R and D paddle-tabs toward you, press the M button for manual paddle control, P button up top for park.
03
Drive modes
Drive modes are accessed via the Drive Mode Selector on the console (PTM dial on Corvette). Available modes typically include Tour, Sport, Track, Weather, My Mode, Z-Mode (Corvette). Each mode reshuffles throttle mapping, steering weight, adaptive dampers (if equipped), exhaust valves, and stability-control thresholds. On performance trims, an 'Individual' or 'Custom' slot lets you save your favorite combination so you can recall it with one click instead of nesting through menus.
04
Cluster & head-up display
The driver display is a 8 to 12-inch reconfigurable digital cluster. Use the steering-wheel left thumb-pad to cycle layouts (Classic, Sport, Navigation, Minimal). When in Sport / Track mode the cluster automatically swaps to a wide tach with gear indicator and tire-temperature readout. The head-up display brightness, height, and content are configured from Settings → Displays → HUD.
05
Infotainment & voice control
Infotainment runs on Google built-in (Maps, Assistant, Play Store). Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard; pair from Settings → Connections the first time, then it auto-connects whenever your phone is in range. "Hey Google" wakes the in-car assistant for nav, climate, calls, and messaging without touching the screen. The main display also hosts vehicle-specific apps: tire pressures, performance data recorder (where fitted), drive-mode customizer, and the camera views.
06
Driver assistance
Standard driver aids include adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Toggle each system individually from the driver-assist menu (steering-wheel left-pad → Assistance). Highway-driving assist (hands-off in marked lanes on supported roads), automatic lane-change on indicator tap, traffic-jam assist for stop-and-go, and a 360° surround camera with transparent-hood mode are all available and worth enabling for the first time before driving in heavy traffic.
07
Fueling
Premium unleaded (91 or 93 octane) is required on Chevrolet performance models — the engine timing is set for it and lower octane causes audible knock and reduced power. Fuel-cap release is a button on the driver door panel; the cap is capless (just push the nozzle in).
08
Keys & phone-as-key
Beyond the physical key, this car supports GM Digital Key (Ultra Cruise / Super Cruise models). Set up phone-as-key from the myChevrolet app: it provisions a secure credential to your phone's wallet so a tap on the door handle unlocks the car and placing the phone on the wireless charging pad authorizes ignition. You can also share temporary keys to family members (with optional speed and area limits on performance trims) directly from the app.
09
First-week tips & easy-to-miss features
A few things every new owner tells us they wish they'd known on day one:
- Always use the front-axle lift before driveways and speed bumps — it stores the lift point in GPS so the car raises automatically next time.
- Warm tires and oil for at least 8–10 minutes before using Race / Track mode; cold rubber on this much power is the #1 cause of off-throttle spins.
- Download the brand app (myChevrolet) and pair it with your VIN before your first long trip — remote climate, charging/fuel-level checks, and remote lock-status save you walking back to the garage in winter.
- Steering-wheel rotary mode dial: rotate AND press to commit (a single rotate doesn't engage the mode on most trims — it just previews).