The 2026 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1X Is A True American Hypercar

The result is a factory-built Corvette generating a combined 1,250 horsepower, making it the most powerful production Corvette to date—a crown worn by the existing ZR1 for less than a year.

There has been a clear march towards the ZR1X during the Corvette's C8 era. First, it went mid-engine C8 in 2020, then came the Z06 with its exotic hardware and special engine, before the AWD hybrid E-Ray in 2024. ZR1 brought headline horsepower, and now, finally, the ZR1X integrates all those elements into the car that had long been rumored to wear the “Zora” codename.

Unsurprisingly, most of the ZR1X’s output—1,064 horsepower—comes from the twin-turbo 5.5-liter LT7 V8 driving the rear wheels through an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission. Up front, a revised electric motor contributes 186 hp and 145 lb-ft, with improved thermal capacity and energy draw thanks to a recalibrated battery system and a raised peak voltage. The front axle now disengages at 160 mph, up from the E-Ray’s 150 mph threshold.

Performance metrics are in hypercar territory: a sub-2.0-second 0–60 mph time and a quarter-mile in under 9.0 seconds, with a trap speed north of 150 mph—even on unprepared pavement. To put that in perspective, in stock form, those speeds will get you banned from every drag strip in America if you show up without a roll cage.

But Chevy is positioning the ZR1X as more than a straight-line missile. The hybrid all-wheel-drive system and PTM Pro (Performance Traction Management) software allow for simultaneous longitudinal and lateral acceleration up to 1.0 g. A new push-to-pass function tied to the cruise control stalk briefly unlocks the drivetrain’s full 1,250 hp when the driver is in the appropriate mode and ready to deploy.

In response to criticism aimed at the ZR1’s braking system, the ZR1X introduces a new carbon-ceramic braking package developed with Alcon. Internally referred to as the J59 setup, it includes 10-piston front and 6-piston rear calipers with massive 16.5-inch rotors, reportedly capable of hauling the car down from 180 to 120 mph at 1.9 g of deceleration. The package will also be made available on the standard ZR1 starting with the 2026 model year.

For track-oriented buyers, the ZTK Performance Package returns. It includes stiffer springs, Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2R tires, and additional aerodynamic hardware such as a rear wing, front dive planes, and underbody strakes. The base model rides on Pilot Sport 4S rubber with a friendlier suspension tune.

Inside, the ZR1X shares the updated 2026 Corvette interior layout. The cabin drops the C8’s vertical button strip in favor of dashboard-mounted HVAC controls and three digital displays: a 14-inch digital cluster, a 12.7-inch center touchscreen, and a 6.6-inch auxiliary screen for HUD and drive mode settings.

Pricing hasn’t been finalized, though estimates suggest the ZR1X will l and in the $250,000 range, making it the most expensive Corvette to date. Production will begin later this year, with sales expected to start before the end of 2025.

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