Chevrolet has signalled the imminent arrival of the next iteration of its performance flagship, the Corvette ZR1, with a 20-second teaser video posted to YouTube overnight.
According to Chevy, “The unthinkable is coming this summer” which for us Aussies translates to a mid-year unveiling with the Detroit rumour mill pointing to power coming courtesy of a twin-turbocharged version of the current Z06’s 5.5-litre flat-plane crank V8 producing in excess of 635kW (around 850hp) and more than 1100Nm.
Following last year’s launch of the Corvette E-Ray it’s possible, if not likely, a decent chunk of that prodigious output will be delivered with hybrid electric assistance. Specifically, the E-Ray’s front drive axle, which would make this mid-engined monster the first-ever all-wheel drive Corvette.
Spied multiple times during recent pre-production testing, we already know the ZR1 retains the Z06 quad-exhaust at the top of its rear diffuser and a dramatic aero treatment includes a giant rear wing, deep front splitter and canards (or flics) on the lower edges of the nose to manage vortices passing the front wheel wells.
Combine that aero efficiency with huge hybrid muscle and 0-100km/h acceleration in the low 2.0-second bracket is a near certainty.
Stay tuned for more details as the most powerful production Corvette ever produced draws nearer to launch.
Comments