The new Corvette ZR1 hits unthinkable speeds.
The Chevrolet Corvette has always been an American performance car known and cherished for its ability to punch above its weight. It’s boasted performance, engineering, and style of rivals from across the globe with much higher price tags and lower production numbers, and for decades been the poster child of American performance. However, the latest generation of the Corvette, the C8, marks the biggest milestone yet in the Corvette’s history. Delivering on a decades-long promise of a mid-engined layout, the C8 Corvette has unlocked virtually limitless supercar potential.
That potential is being realized by the recently-revealed Corvette ZR1, which employs a twin-turbocharged V8 engine to achieve an unthinkable 1,064 horsepower. With its aggressive, innovative, racing-focused aerodynamics, 1,200 pounds of downforce is acting on the car at top speed. Speaking of which, the Corvette ZR1 hit a record-breaking top speed recently, with GM’s president, Mark Reuss, behind the wheel.
The car reached 233 mph at the High-Speed Oval Track at ATP Automotive Testing in Papenburg, Germany, with a standard chassis and the standard aero package, with Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires. In Top Speed mode, developed by Chevrolet engineers exclusively for track use, the car hit 233 mph in sixth gear at the redline. The run makes the new ZR1 the fastest car ever produced by GM, and according to Chevrolet “the fastest car ever built by an American auto manufacturer.” With this new speed record hit, it’s clearer than ever that the Corvette is in a new era as a truly formidable supercar.
Image Source: Chevrolet