Corvette brand, which is celebrating its 70th anniversary. Automotive engineering is being taken to the next level, thanks in part to the incredible new releases, the Corvette ZR1 and ZR1X. Like Wallace’s talented Corvette team, which has already sculpted some of the most storied iterations of the Chevy nameplate. At more than 1,000 horsepower and 828 lb-ft of torque, they mark the most powerful engines ever offered in the supercar segment. The ZR1 starts at $174,995 and the ZR1X starts at $207,395. While very different in design, both vehicles appeal to the same market of performance enthusiasts who demand unmatched speed and nimbleness.
The ZR1 and ZR1X, the latest versions of the eighth-generation Corvette, set incredible records. These vehicles are capable of an astounding maximum speed of 233 mph. They can even accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in only 2.3 seconds! This performance has been validated on iconic tracks, including a notable lap time of 6:50.763 set by Wallace at Germany’s Nürburgring in July.
Chevrolet kicks off the 2024 model year with the E-Ray, the first electrified Corvette. This important launch balances the brand’s commitment to innovation with its performance roots and is an important step forward. This evolution is one of the greatest simultaneous shifts in automotive engineering. Five years ago, the eighth-generation Corvette got a total do-over in its fundamental chassis, engineering and styling.
With its restricted production Quail Silver Limited Edition package, the ZR1X should prove extremely popular with collectors and hardcore enthusiasts. Unsurprisingly, the market response to these high-performance models has been equally swift. According to General Motors, they are selling faster than these less-expensive Corvettes, with an average of only 12 days on dealer lots.
Sales data, of course, tells the story of widespread and incredibly strong interest in a variety of Corvette pieces. The Corvette Stingray accounted for approximately 70% of sales volume last year, while the Corvette Z06 contributed 25%, and the E-Ray made up 5%. These numbers serve as a testament to the continued core appeal of the Corvette nameplate, with more than 160,000 sold since arrival of the mid-engine remake.
As Brian Wallace explains, the engineering that went into the ZR1 and ZR1X produces some seriously awesome power engineering. It for sure ensures a superior drivability. He states that “it’s really important for our car to have this huge bandwidth—to be livable on the street.” This balance is critical as it allows drivers to experience high performance without compromising everyday usability.
Wallace points out that “a good chunk of our customers live vicariously through us and our track times,” hinting at the connection between the brand’s racing pedigree and its customer base. Their performance and electronic controls increase safety on the road and overall performance. In this way, they empower drivers to truly harness the incredible power, without getting lost in the sauce. As Wallace notes, “without the chassis controls, you’d never have a 1,000-hp street legal car.”
Customer feedback has driven home just how appealing these capabilities are. Alterman, a prominent automotive expert, remarked, “I never thought I’d see the day of four-figure horsepower.” He praised the accessibility of power delivery, saying, “it’s very easy to modulate that power with the throttle…it’s so accessible, so predictable. You never feel like it’s getting away from you.”
It’s a comfort of operation that hasn’t gone unnoticed in the world of performance vehicles. Alterman stated, “the ride was compliant and didn’t beat you up even in track mode,” suggesting that they retain a level of comfort not commonly found in supercars.
Competitively, Wallace asserts that “what we’ve done with the ZR1 and ZR1X have put every competitor and the world on notice of what we’re able to do.” He feels that, even among supercar owners, the Corvette is held in the highest esteem for its transformation into a serious player in the hyper-performance market. Alterman echoes this sentiment by stating, “Ferrari and Porsche are building their brand on exclusivity. That’s not the business model of American manufacturers. No one will debate the performance per dollar of the Corvette compared to anything else out there.”
