When the speculation began years ago about a phenomenal ZORA model coming from Chevrolet to honor the legend of Zora Arkus-Duntov, it was widely presumed the ZORA model would be the top variant, with the highest horsepower and, of course, the largest price tag. That seemed to be the consensus. These speculations held firm as each new C8 variant was introduced, and as we moved through the Z06 and E-Ray reveals, nothing really changed. [Author’s Note: This article is FREE and not behind a paywall. If/when any popups occur, please click to make them disappear and continue enjoying the article.]
When now-retired Executive Chief Engineer Tadge Juechter recently stated which Corvette variant would be the “most expensive” model produced for the eighth-generation Corvette (hint–it’s not the ZORA), a handful of publications reported on it (us included). But when the dust settled and new spy photos and videos of the ZORA started trickling out, most enthusiasts and journalists seemed to have forgotten what Tadge said. Before we revisit his quote, made while doing a YouTube video with Car and Driver, let’s take a moment to remember why Zora Arkus-Duntov is such an important figure for our beloved Corvette.
Profiling Greatness: Zora Arkus-Duntov (Published by CorvSport’s Josh Boyd)
“Though it is certainly difficult to imagine today, some 65 years ago, the Corvette was well on its way to being discontinued after only two years of production. Upon its release, the Corvette rode an initial wave of popularity that died as quickly as it began. By 1954, critics were relatively unamused with the American sports car’s not so sporty performance. At the heart of the Corvette was the “Blue Flame,” an anemic inline-six powerplant that did well to muster 150 horsepower.
The public’s relative disinterest came as little surprise to then assistant staff engineer, Zora Arkus-Duntov. After all, Duntov had pointed out the Corvette’s less than impressive performance attributes a year earlier, in the very letter to Chevrolet Chief Engineer, Ed Cole, that left a sizable enough impression to warrant his immediate hiring. It should likely have come as no surprise then that Duntov would go on to pen a second memo only two years later, titled “Thoughts Pertaining to Youth, Hot Rodders, and Chevrolet.”
In this memo, Duntov outlined his ideology that the Corvette must exude performance appeal, in order to find favor with consumers of a younger age demographic. Top Chevrolet brass took note, and the Corvette became the benefactor of an optional 195 horsepower 265 cubic-inch, small-block V8. This addition has more often than not, been cited as the Corvette’s saving grace…” Continue Reading
The Controversy Begins: What Exactly Did Tadge Say?
On July 25, 2024, as the reveal of the stunning 2025 Corvette ZR1 was sending shockwaves around our community, Car and Driver released a YouTube video where they had the opportunity to talk about the ZR1 with Tadge Juechter. We’ve cued up the video to the moment when Tadge says this (15:33):
“The ZR1, last three generations anyway, have represented the best of everything. You know, what’s the best car we can do for as broad a range of people who can afford a car like this, and it’s not cheap. I mean you get a lot for what you pay, but it’s not a cheap car. As the range-topper, you know, it’s the most expensive Corvette we’ll be doing. And so yeah, you want to give people exactly what they want. So, we haven’t always offered convertible versions of our most potent cars. In this case, the C8, we’re able to do that, and so pretty much all the bells and whistles that you would expect on a luxury GT, you know you can get this on one of the most powerful cars ever produced…”
- “The ZR1… as the range-topper… it’s the most expensive Corvette we’ll be doing…” Tadge Juechter, 7.25.2024
Wait, what? “The ZR1… as the range-topper… it’s the most expensive Corvette we’ll be doing…” How is that possible? In May of last year, Car and Driver teased us with the ZORA and ZR1, and the model hierarchy was very clear.
Let’s take a closer look at the descriptions in front of these Corvettes.
Car and Driver’s 1,000 horsepower number for the ZORA jives with a chart Don Sherman of Hagerty.com released in early 2020, which was reported to be sourced from leaked documents. If you follow this roadmap of C8 development, you’ll see slight errors in the leaked information, but the ZORA was clearly indicated to be the top dog.
But then, this happened.
1,064
When the official 7.25.2024 reveal of the 2025 Corvette ZR1 rocked the world, and the horsepower number was revealed, it blew that leaked chart out of the water and turned everyone’s expectations upside down. Initially, there were speculations around our community that the ZORA would fill the 850 horsepower slot, but that chatter quickly died down as ZORAs were spied testing in various locations.
The ZORA Will Definitely Have A Hybrid Setup
The first clue: Nurburgring testing in Germany was the most notable location that gave clues about the ZORA’s powertrain. All hybrid and EV vehicles that use the Nurburgring are required to carry an official ‘Ring-specific warning sticker to alert first responders that the car is electrified in some form. These yellow stickers, located on the back engine hatches of the ZORA prototypes, have been seen during the recent spy shots. We don’t currently have any exclusive spy photos in our library, but Autoevolution has a full arsenal in a recent feature.
The second clue: ZORAs out testing have been spotted with the verticle front radiator similar to the E-Ray’s.
What They’re Saying Now
- The AI overview you should get if you Google “Corvette Zora.” If you do a live search and click on the paperclip icon, Google will tell you the AI sources.
- These are just a few screenshots you’ll get if you Google “Corvette Zora horsepower.”
Many more publications have recently done similar reporting, but nobody (except CorvSport) is reporting and reminding the community what Tadge said.
Questions We Are Left With
- Were Tadge’s comments a smoke screen?
- Could the ZORA be more powerful but less expensive? (That’s not logical)
- Is it possible the ZORA will use the LT6 in concert with the E-Ray’s electric motor? That would put the ZORA right in the 800-horsepower range.
- Did Tadge misspeak?
Only time will tell, but what a wonderful time to be a Corvette enthusiast!
Thanks for joining CorvSport today! 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 172,000 followers (53,000 since January 2023!). Come join other hardcore enthusiasts and say hello. This is Douglas B. signing off–click here if you would like to see more of my features.
