Zac Quinn 
The C8 Corvette ZR1 is on the way, set to put even the legendary Z06 to shame with its performance capabilities from the twin-turbo LT7 engine. Not only that, but it’ll be the last Corvette introduced that will highlight petrol power in all its glory. In other words, no electrification. Some spy photos posted by Kevin Bayerlein on the C8 Corvette Owners’ Facebook group, showcasing three legendary cars sporting some heavy camouflage. We’ve covered information on the exterior before, but since those cars had some heavy coverings, these reveal a bit more about what we can expect for the C8 ZR1.
What To Expect From The C8 Corvette ZR1
These photos showcase the front and rear of the cars quite well. We can see that these C8 ZR1 Corvettes each feature a large extractor similar to the GT3 race car, which opens things up for increased airflow from the grille, leading to improved front radiator cooling and increased levels of downforce. This likely comes at the expense of any usable front storage space that the other C8 Corvette variants see. We also get a better look of the smaller “NACA ducts” at the rear fender, just behind the main openings. These appear unique to the C8 Corvette ZR1, and likely aid in the extra cooling needed for its twin-turbocharged V8 engine, codenamed LT7. The LT7 will be a DOHC V8 like the LT6, but with a different personality. Whereas the LT6 is an all-motor, high-revving screamer of an engine with a flat-plane crankshaft, the LT7 will likely see a lower redline, and there’s speculation that it may even have a cross-plane crank.
While we’ve seen and known enough about these upcoming features, what’s most interesting about these C8 Corvette ZR1 prototypes is that the rear camo appears to cover a split-window design. The split-window design exclusively appeared on the Corvette in 1963, and is arguably the most sought-after configuration of the Corvette to this day. It was disclosed to us that the 2020 C8 Corvette Stingray was considered to have a split-window design, so perhaps this unique look is reserved for only the top-shelf models.
Living up to the ZR1 name, which has traditionally been reserved for the most powerful of Corvettes each generation, this car is expected to have an output of around 800 horsepower on tap. Plenty to make a Porsche 911 Turbo S blush, and then some, for what’s sure to be a fraction of the price. It’s bound to be the quickest Corvette yet, likely from 0-100-0 mph, but with all of that downforce hardware to go with it, it may not crack the 200 mph mark in terms of top speed.
It’s likely that we’re getting close to the reveal of the C8 Corvette ZR1, which will slot above the 670 hp Z06 supercar, and the E-Ray hybrid Corvette. However, there’s still a lot of runway for the C8, as we’re expecting to see a few more variants before the end of the decade. That includes the long-reported-on Zora; a Corvette hypercar that’s expected to have as much as 1,000 horsepower.
