Two spirited debates among enthusiasts on social media can now be put to rest. Despite numerous sources and publications indicating the new revolutionary Corvette C8 ZR1 was slated to be released as a 2025 model, some vocal enthusiasts across social media were still convinced the new model would not be ready until 2026. Well, the newly released teaser video from Chevrolet posted below is titled “The Corvette ZR1 is Coming This Summer,” so that should convince even the biggest skeptics.
The other debate surrounded speculation on why the Bowling Green Assembly Plant suspended tours indefinitely on February 5th of this year for what the National Corvette Museum cited as “manufacturing advancements.” In a subsequent CorvSport feature, I reported on the top three speculations from social media. The ZR1 was cited as the popular choice, but not all enthusiasts were convinced the suspension of tours was due to the ZR1.
Here’s a recap of the top speculations (full feature here):
- Honorable mentions (16% of the vote): LT3 tooling, hybrid/EV tooling, Chevy covering up for poor quality
- #3 (13% of the vote): Preproduction retooling/test fits for 2025 MY mid-cycle refreshes (interior, etc.)
- #2 (26% of the vote): E-Ray production ramp-up/issues
- #1 (45% of the vote): ZR1 preproduction for mules/prototypes and tooling
Now that these two uncertainties can be cleanly “swept right,” the ongoing discussion, which CorvSport has dubbed “The Great ZR1 Engine Debate,” remains. Here’s a summary of that debate, with relevant CorvSport articles highlighted for a deeper dive.
The Evolution of the Great Engine Debate/Summary of ZR1 Powerplant Theories:
- LT7 Twin-Turbo based on the flat-plane crank 5.5L LT6 out of the C8 Z06
- 670hp LT6 in concert with the E-Ray’s 160hp 1.9 kWh electric motor on the front wheels
- LT6-based Twin-Turbo with TWO electric motors
- 6.2L cross-plane crank V8 (most likely with twin turbos)
- 5.5L cross-plane crank Twin-Turbo LT7 with VVT and AFM
Now, onto this breaking teaser video from Chevrolet! While the video doesn’t reveal anything about what the ZR1 looks like without camo or give any clues about the ZR1 powerplant, it’s short and full of energy, so enjoy! If you want to keep up to date with all the fresh Corvette news and maintain a pulse on the lifestyle and culture of this exciting, iconic brand, CorvSport has the fastest-growing Corvette community on our Facebook page, with over 173,000 followers (54,000 since January 2023!). Come join other hardcore enthusiasts and say hello, Douglas B.
