2025 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 with a top speed of 233 mph

The 2025 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1, the flagship of the C8 Corvette family, has turned the conventional production Corvette on its head.

Chevrolet announced Tuesday that the new ZR1 hit a top speed of 233 mph during a recent test session on the high-speed oval that forms part of the ATP Automotive Testing Papenburg site in Germany.

The car was fitted with the ZR1's standard chassis and aero package, and a spoiler with a short wicker was standard equipment. It also had aluminum wheels with Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires and used a new top speed mode developed by Chevrolet for use on race tracks.

At the steering wheel was General Motors President Mark Reuss, who sped up while the engine was in sixth gear and on the redline. To make it official, he also ran the car in two directions on the northbound and southbound straights and calculated the average speed in both directions. This process takes into account wind and gradient and is usually required for inclusion in the record books.

Among the competitors that the ZR1 outperformed were such impressive cars as the Lamborghini Revuelto (217 mph) and the Ferrari SF90 Stradale (211 mph). There are faster cars, but they all cost over $1 million.

The ZR1 will not hit showrooms until next year. Chevrolet has not announced pricing, but the starting price is expected to be in the low $100,000s. A fully equipped model could hit the $200,000 mark.

As steep as that sounds, the ZR1 will be powered by a newly developed twin-turbocharged 5.5-liter V-8 producing 1,064 hp and mated to an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic. the ZR1 will also pay homage to the design used in the 1963 Corvette The ZR1 also stands out from the rest of the 2025 Corvettes thanks to its unique split rear window, which not only serves as an aerodynamic feature, but also as a unique feature of the ZR1. Also available is the ZTK Performance Package, which offers aerodynamic improvements that increase maximum downforce to 1,200 pounds.

Chevrolet is believed to be working on another more powerful Corvette variant, possibly called the Zora. It is expected to be even more powerful with the addition of a front-mounted electric motor, which may soon overtake the ZR1's top speed. However, Chevrolet has not mentioned any plans for additional Corvette variants beyond the ZR1.