Latest news with #Z06
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Not One, But Two Corvettes Break Ford Mustang GTD's American Nürburgring Record
Not One, But Two Corvettes Break Ford Mustang GTD's American Nürburgring Record originally appeared on Autoblog. Corvettes set new records without the help of professional drivers When Chevrolet unveiled the Corvette ZR1X recently, it immediately moved to the very top of the C8 pile with its insane power and performance. We knew it was only a matter of time before Chevy let the ZR1X loose around the Nürburgring, where we fully expected it to destroy a number of exotics. Well, the manufacturer decided to take no less than three C8s to the famous Green Hell: The Z06, ZR1, and ZR1X. The results, as you can well imagine, are explosive. And, to prove how great these cars are, Chevy used three non-racecar drivers to make history. Their achievements were covered in a fascinating new documentary titled 'Homegrown Speed: A Corvette Story.'Top Corvettes Now Fastest American Cars Around Nürburgring View the 1 images of this gallery on the original article All three Corvettes proved their worth around the full-length, 12.9-mile track. The only modifications were recommended safety equipment like a roll hoop, a fire extinguisher, a six-point safety harness, and a full containment race seat. The times below were set in the Prototype/Pre-Production category, given that the ZR1/ZR1X aren't sold in Europe and the Z06 was a US-spec model. The 670-horsepower Z06, the mildest of these three, set a time of seven minutes and 11.826 seconds. That's already a spectacular result, but everyone knows that a sub-seven-minute lap time is what legends are made of. The ZR1 accomplished that easily by setting a time of six minutes and 50.76 seconds, and the mighty ZR1X accomplished a time of six minutes and 49.275 seconds. Both the ZR1 and ZR1X were faster than the Ford Mustang GTD on the all-time list of Nürburgring production cars. Here's the top 8 and their times: Mercedes-AMG ONE: 06:29.090 Porsche 911 GT2 RS Manthey Kit: 06:43.300 Porsche 911 GT2 RS MR: 06:44.749 Mercedes-AMG Black Series: 06:48.047 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1X: 06:49.275 Porsche 911 GT3 RS: 06:49.328 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1: 06:50.763 Ford Mustang GTD: 06:52.072 While some hinted that the AMG ONE's record was under threat from the ZR1X, it's worth remembering that the Mercedes is a $2.8-million hypercar with an F1-derived powertrain featuring a 1.6-liter V6 and four electric motors. It's like nothing AMG has ever developed, and for an (expected) fraction of the price, Chevy's supercar offers a similar level of performance. Even the Corvette boss himself downplayed the ZR1's chances of beating the Merc, but being faster than the GTD will be immensely satisfying. What's perhaps interesting is that the ZR1X was just barely faster than the ZR1, despite having 186 more horsepower. This closer-than-expected result likely has to do with the added weight of the ZR1X's hybrid powertrain. Why Did Chevy Choose Not To Use Professional Drivers? View the 3 images of this gallery on the original article Generally, Nürburgring lap times are set with experienced professional drivers behind the wheel, who have the skill and quick reflexes to deal with the demanding track and a powerful supercar. Chevy went in a different direction, though, and wanted to set the lap times with its own people, so chose to do it with three engineers instead. These drivers were Brian Wallace, Lead Vehicle Dynamics Engineer and ZR1 driver; Drew Cattell, Vehicle Dynamics Engineer and the ZR1X driver; and Aaron Link, Vehicle Performance Manager and the driver of the ZR1. Chevy's not-so-subtle flex to the rest of the sports car world is simple: The top Corvettes are so good, they don't require racecar drivers to extract record-breaking performance out of them. 'We've created a different kind of relationship between our cars, iconic tracks, and our engineers, it is how we develop our vehicles,' said Ken Morris, senior vice president of Product Programs, Safety, Integration and Motorsports. 'These Corvettes weren't piloted by pro racecar drivers. They were driven by the same engineers who designed, engineered and tuned them. Brian, Aaron and Drew have grown into world-class drivers and even better engineers. Their lap times now rank among the fastest ever recorded by non-professionals at the 'Ring, which is so cool.' One can't help but wonder what time might have been set with a pro driver behind the wheel of the ZR1 and ZR1X, though. Taking Three Corvettes To The Nürburgring Was A Logistical Nightmare Three months before the trip to Germany, the Chevy team began preparations for the Nürburgring run by practicing with simulations, as they did everything possible to familiarize themselves with the track and the cars. Already a logistical nightmare with one car, the team's three-car trip involved many moving parts with the shipping department and via customs. Eight tire ovens were needed so that the three 'Vettes always did a lap on warmed-up tires, and each car required its own team to get the cars ready for when the track surface temperature was ideal. At the end of each lap run, large fans had to be brought in to cool the engines down, all while the team kept a close eye on changing weather conditions. Chevy previously hinted that the ZR1X wasn't the peak of the Corvette C8 platform, and when asked again what's coming next, they did the same, but without providing any details as to what else could be lurking in the future. We highly recommend watching the full documentary to appreciate Chevy's effort, in what is an iconic achievement for American sports cars. Not One, But Two Corvettes Break Ford Mustang GTD's American Nürburgring Record first appeared on Autoblog on Jul 31, 2025 This story was originally reported by Autoblog on Jul 31, 2025, where it first appeared.
Car and Driver
a day ago
- Automotive
- Car and Driver
Chevy Will Release Nürburgring Lap Times for Hi-Po Corvettes Tomorrow
Tomorrow, Chevy will reveal the official lap times it set at the Nürburgring Nordschleife in Germany with the Corvette. The teaser video shows the three high-performance Corvette variants: the 670-hp Z06, 1064-hp ZR1, and the 1250-hp ZR1X hybrid. Chevy says their goal is to be "the fastest American supercar" at the iconic German track, putting a target squarely on the 6:52.072 time set by the Ford Mustang GTD in May. The wait is almost over. Last month, Chevrolet posted a video on the Corvette Instagram account that teased an official Nürburgring lap time for the latest and greatest versions of America's revered sports car. Now another video has been published on social media, announcing that Chevrolet will reveal official lap times for the legendary 12.9-mile Nürburgring Nordschleife tomorrow. The key detail here is that the post said lap times, plural. This suggests that Chevy will release a time for both the 1064-hp Corvette ZR1 and the 1250-hp Corvette ZR1X Hybrid. A still shot from the video shows three Corvettes parked on the track: a red ZR1, a yellow ZR1X, and a black Corvette Z06. All three are wearing the optional aerodynamic packages. This also means we might get a Z06 lap time, and while this will presumably be slower than that of the ZR1 and ZR1X, it should still be plenty fast. When we ran a 2023 Corvette Z06 at Lightning Lap 2023 around Virginia International Raceway, it set an impressive 2:38.6, making it the fifth fastest car in Lightning Lap history at the time and the quickest car with a naturally aspirated engine. The Z06 now sits sixth overall on the Lightning Lap leaderboard and was only two-tenths behind a McLaren 765LT. Chevrolet In the video, Chevrolet says they are aiming to be "the fastest American supercar that's ever lapped the Nürburgring." That likely means that Chevy's target is beating the Ford Mustang GTD, which set a time of 6:52.072 in May. It will likely be far more difficult for Chevy to take top honors for a production car at the Nürburgring, with the current fastest time being a 6:29.090 set by the Mercedes-AMG One, effectively a Formula 1 race car made road legal. Luckily, we don't have to wait too much longer to learn the official times. Check back tomorrow to see what Chevy accomplished with the Corvette in Germany. Caleb Miller Associate News Editor Caleb Miller began blogging about cars at 13 years old, and he realized his dream of writing for a car magazine after graduating from Carnegie Mellon University and joining the Car and Driver team. He loves quirky and obscure autos, aiming to one day own something bizarre like a Nissan S-Cargo, and is an avid motorsports fan.
Miami Herald
a day ago
- Automotive
- Miami Herald
Corvette Z06 Discounts Are Growing as Dealer Lots Fill Up
Not too long ago, the C8-generation Chevrolet Corvette Z06 was one of the most anticipated cars in America. It aimed to take on European heavyweights like the McLaren 750S and Porsche 911 GT3 at a fraction of the price. With its mid-mounted flat-plane V8, it wasn't a traditional Corvette, but it still held to its performance roots. Now, things have shifted. More than 1,700 Z06s are sitting unsold on Chevrolet lots across North America, and the discounts are starting to show. When the Z06 launched, demand far outpaced supply. People were willing to pay handsomely over MSRP to get one. But clearly, that buzz hasn't lasted. Interest shifted once GM showed off the top-of-the-range Corvette ZR1 and the hybrid ZR1X. Suddenly, once interested buyers, or even those who ordered a Z06, started jumping ship. But who can blame them? While the Z06 has a naturally aspirated V8 with 670 hp, the ZR1's twin-turbocharged V8 makes 1,067 hp. That's not even to mention the ZR1X that benefits from 1,250 hp. With supply building up and fewer takers, dealers are starting to feel the pressure. Ironically, once highly sought-after Z06s are now selling below sticker. Using Chevrolet's online inventory tool, we found 3,678 C8 Corvettes currently for sale in North America. Out of that total, 1,701 are Z06s, which is more than twice the number of E-Rays available. In some cases, these Z06s are being discounted by over $10,000. For example, Clark Chevrolet in Texas has a 2025 Corvette Z06 1LZ listed for $109,209 – $12,000 lower than its MSRP. If you've been contemplating pulling the trigger on a Z06, now might be your moment. After all, it is still one of the best bang-for-your-buck performance cars money can buy, rivaling exotics that cost more than double its price. The Z06 might not be the hot ticket it once was, especially with the ZR1 in the picture, but that's not a bad thing for enthusiasts. For the first time since launch, you can walk into a dealer, pick your perfect spec, and buy one without feeling swindled. And in the era of hybrid and electric supercars, the naturally aspirated Z06 is starting to look like the last of a dying breed. Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Perth Now
17-07-2025
- Automotive
- Perth Now
Even hotter Chevrolet Corvettes to come, but don't count on an EV
There are even hotter versions of the current C8-series Chevrolet Corvette in the works despite the heroics of the flagship ZR1X – the most potent, rapid production Corvette in the nameplate's 72-year history. Currently the performance pinnacle of the C8 Corvette range, launched in 2020, the 2025 Corvette ZR1X packs a combined 1250hp (932kW) from its twin-turbo 5.5-litre LT7 V8 petrol engine and front-axle electric motor, with a staggering 0-100km/h time of 2.0-seconds flat. Just when Corvette fans thought things couldn't get any better, GM Performance lead engineer Tony Roma has told Top Gear there's even more to come from the current model. 'The ZR1X is not the end of the story, it's just the latest chapter,' Mr Roma told the British of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Supplied Credit: CarExpert 'The backbone we've built into the C8 is proving to be super capable. The things we've learned from creating the various models so far and the opportunities we have in the future with this chassis are incredible. 'The team that works on it has a very, 'what can we do, and how can we do it?' attitude. They see possibilities and not challenges.' Sadly, the ZR1X won't be offered in Australia, with the slow-selling Corvette E-Ray hybrid V8 remaining the most capable Corvette locally here – although its performance stats barely edge out the more expensive Z06. Mr Roma says both the E-Ray and the Z06 provided learnings the engineering team applied to the ZR1X – and even more capable C8 Corvettes to come. Supplied Credit: CarExpert That includes posting higher top speeds, with Chevrolet not supplying a top speed for the ZR1X – which, given its capability, should be higher than the Z06's staggering 233mph (375km/h) v-max. 'Speed is only relevant these days for bragging rights,' Mr Roma told Top Gear. 'For a car to have a certain amount of provenance, we have to offer a version of that car that's capable of doing those silly numbers. 'The ZR1's top speed attempt was not in expectation that our customers would ever repeat it, or even get remotely close, because you can't legally do that. 'The fact that the car has proven it can do it is precisely why people buy cars like this. Having the crazy lap times and ridiculous acceleration is part of what makes these cars what they are. Supplied Credit: CarExpert 'We are going to continue to make the car faster for those bragging rights, because our customers appreciate that. It's the same with any performance car manufacturer – we push each other with Nürburgring lap times for that reason.' Those speeds will be achieved with a V8, despite GM teasing a battery-electric Corvette concept back in 2022, with a recent follow-up earlier this year. Mr Roma told another UK title, this time Autocar, an electric Corvette must be about more than numbers – and that given the increasingly rapid performance in everyday EVs, Corvette buyers will be looking for something beyond acceleration times. 'We talk about what it would take to make a capable enough car, but right now it's still science fiction,' Mr Roma told Autocar. Supplied Credit: CarExpert 'And so that's our challenge – to come up with something different, that something engaging. 'When you're buying a car like a Corvette, why are you buying it? You're buying it because you want something special. You want to be engaged in the art of driving. 'And so, when we can figure out how to do that, and as we put more electrification in the car, we will, but we're not going to do an electric version of this car just to do it. That would defeat the entire purpose.' MORE: Everything Chevrolet Corvette
7NEWS
17-07-2025
- Automotive
- 7NEWS
Even hotter Chevrolet Corvettes to come, but don't count on an EV
There are even hotter versions of the current C8-series Chevrolet Corvette in the works despite the heroics of the flagship ZR1X – the most potent, rapid production Corvette in the nameplate's 72-year history. Currently the performance pinnacle of the C8 Corvette range, launched in 2020, the 2025 Corvette ZR1X packs a combined 1250hp (932kW) from its twin-turbo 5.5-litre LT7 V8 petrol engine and front-axle electric motor, with a staggering 0-100km/h time of 2.0-seconds flat. Just when Corvette fans thought things couldn't get any better, GM Performance lead engineer Tony Roma has told Top Gear there's even more to come from the current model. 'The ZR1X is not the end of the story, it's just the latest chapter,' Mr Roma told the British of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. 'The backbone we've built into the C8 is proving to be super capable. The things we've learned from creating the various models so far and the opportunities we have in the future with this chassis are incredible. 'The team that works on it has a very, 'what can we do, and how can we do it?' attitude. They see possibilities and not challenges.' Sadly, the ZR1X won't be offered in Australia, with the slow-selling Corvette E-Ray hybrid V8 remaining the most capable Corvette locally here – although its performance stats barely edge out the more expensive Z06. Mr Roma says both the E-Ray and the Z06 provided learnings the engineering team applied to the ZR1X – and even more capable C8 Corvettes to come. That includes posting higher top speeds, with Chevrolet not supplying a top speed for the ZR1X – which, given its capability, should be higher than the Z06's staggering 233mph (375km/h) v-max. 'Speed is only relevant these days for bragging rights,' Mr Roma told Top Gear. 'For a car to have a certain amount of provenance, we have to offer a version of that car that's capable of doing those silly numbers. 'The ZR1's top speed attempt was not in expectation that our customers would ever repeat it, or even get remotely close, because you can't legally do that. 'The fact that the car has proven it can do it is precisely why people buy cars like this. Having the crazy lap times and ridiculous acceleration is part of what makes these cars what they are. 'We are going to continue to make the car faster for those bragging rights, because our customers appreciate that. It's the same with any performance car manufacturer – we push each other with Nürburgring lap times for that reason.' Those speeds will be achieved with a V8, despite GM teasing a battery-electric Corvette concept back in 2022, with a recent follow-up earlier this year. Mr Roma told another UK title, this time Autocar, an electric Corvette must be about more than numbers – and that given the increasingly rapid performance in everyday EVs, Corvette buyers will be looking for something beyond acceleration times. 'We talk about what it would take to make a capable enough car, but right now it's still science fiction,' Mr Roma told Autocar. 'And so that's our challenge – to come up with something different, that something engaging. 'When you're buying a car like a Corvette, why are you buying it? You're buying it because you want something special. You want to be engaged in the art of driving. 'And so, when we can figure out how to do that, and as we put more electrification in the car, we will, but we're not going to do an electric version of this car just to do it. That would defeat the entire purpose.'
