Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 (C7)

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 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. If you ordered the manual, the gate is dog-leg first-down on most performance variants — read the shift-knob diagram before you pull away cold.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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).

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.

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).