FIRST LOOK: 2025 Corvette ZR1 – 1064hp, Turbos & 215mph!

Wow, the new Corvette ZR1 is quite something. For a start, one thousand and sixty-four horsepower is nothing short of A LOT. In fact, it’s nearly 400 more than the Corvette Z06, and higher than the likes of the Ferrari SF90 XX, let alone hybrid-assisted hypercars such as the McLaren P1, LaFerrari and Porsche 918.

And yet, all that power comes from a solitary 5.5-litre, twin-turbocharged V8, with not a jot of a hybrid system in sight. Which also means the ZR1 is rear-wheel drive only – and it doesn’t take a genius to work out that’s over 500hp per back tyre…

There is more to the 2025 Corvette ZR1 than just its peak power output though, so over to Top Gear’s Contributing Editor, Jethro Bovingdon, for a deep dive on how GM created a new ‘King of the Hill’…

WATCH MORE TOP GEAR:

Chapters:
00:00 - Intro/history
00:58 - Engine
01:58 - Walkaround
04:16 - Chief Engineer Jordan Lee
08:47 - Aero
10:10 - Body and chassis
11:20 - Wheel and tyre packages
13:48 - Interior
16:55 - Conclusion

MORE ABOUT TOP GEAR:

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[aceofaces]

1, 000 Hp from a factory vette is absolutely INSANE. This car makes more Hp than the original Bugatti veyron, this car is gonna be a monster

[MrLathor]

Always blows me away how much more competent of a vehicle the Corvette is compared to almost every other GM product. They really let the engineers off the leash.

[mkelebay]

AMG shifts to hybrid 4 cylinders, while America puts out this absolute maniac of an engine.

[deeppatel]

HUGE RESPECT TO GM! They did it. 1064 HP RWD and no electrification whatsoever! Love it!

[superfast]

GM deserves a huge round of applause for not going hybrid. Just an awesome high strung, high revving V8 with 2 big fat turbo's. Incredible! These things will more than likely make will over 1300 with just a tune and downpipes!

[Bluerig-qfxc]

Chevy is basically building a Hennessey Venom at this point

[LoogiBalloogi]

This car is almost like a modern-day Callaway Sledgehammer. 1064 horsepower is borderline ridiculous, but I love it.

[ciroc_lobster]

“Where did that 1 billion dollars go GM?”

GM: “This”

[chrish]

37ibs of thrust from the exhaust is the most American stat ever

[brodienorton]

This is what people want. Not hybrids, not evs. This.

My god it looks gorgeous in black with no wing

[pwnzqlm]

No hybrid with this much horsepower is crazy. Congrats to the engineers for creating this monster

[craigz]

Damn! It was long rumored it was gonna make “Over 800 Horsepower”, but 1064…holy shit! Chevrolet Engineers really know how to deliver when fueling buzz over new Vette models!

[BumpkinBros]

My Father worked on the new 'Vette proud of you Dad!

[wolfscreek]

1064 hp and 800+ torque Chevy had to bet pure cash on that mid engine and suspension. Ford and Chevy got a point to prove and I love it

[People-Business-And-Ideas]

The split window and quad tail lights are bonafide Corvette design signatures! A TRUE AUTOMOTIVE ICON. Well done GM.

[nicksherock]

Bro, 1064 HP? Those are Hypercar numbers.

[compaqedr]

Just a V8 and twin turbos making 1000hp. No complicated powertrain. Refreshingly nice.

[B-H]

Ferrari, porsche and Lamborghini are having nightmares tonight!!

[cjvaans]

They chould've just made 800hp+. But a thousand HP is bonkers! Holy Moly!

[DaftDriver]

The only thing more astronomical than the engine figures will be the dealer markups. Can't wait to see these on the showroom floor for over 300k and never be driven the way it deserves.