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The Corvette Zora Didn't Happen Because The ZR1X Is An AWD ZR1
The Corvette Zora Didn't Happen Because The ZR1X Is An AWD ZR1

Auto Blog

time19-06-2025

  • Automotive
  • Auto Blog

The Corvette Zora Didn't Happen Because The ZR1X Is An AWD ZR1

Zora Seemed Like The Perfect Name Zora Arkus-Duntov was no ordinary engineer. He turned the Corvette into a true sports car, and although he was several decades ahead of his time, he even advocated the idea of putting its engine in the middle of the chassis. The man died in 1996, long enough to see the ZR1 badge move from performance package to new model line in the C4, but he didn't see his idea of a mid-engine 'Vette realized, as the car only made that change with the reveal of the C8 in 2019. Before that car arrived, a patent filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office in 2014 gave General Motors the right to use the Zora name on a car. GM reapplied for the trademark in 2019, just as the C8 was preparing to enter the world, so the puzzle pieces were falling into place. The ultimate C8 seemed like a romantic way to immortalize the man. Chevrolet could combine the layout that Zora championed with the most capable version of that car, which would surely be a fitting tribute to the man. But when Road & Track asked why our expectations were not met with the nomenclature and we instead got the alphanumeric ZR1X name, the response from a spokesperson was simply, 'ZR1X is an extension of the ZR1 family, so we believe ZR1X is a fitting name for the new variant.' That Explains ZR1X, But Not Why Zora Was Passed On R&T was not satisfied with that answer either, so the publication asked directly why Zora wasn't used, especially since the trademark was secured. 'I know Zora was broadly speculated by enthusiasts, but since it was future product, it was never something we weighed in on,' said the spokesperson. 'What I can tell you is the team felt this Corvette was deserving of the ZR1 designation, and it was an opportunity to show that even though ZR1 and ZR1X are different cars, they have strong familial resemblance and represent ultimate Corvette performance.' Fair enough – we'll give our thoughts on this explanation momentarily. But what does the 'X' stand for? This might seem like a silly question to ask. Surely it references the fact that this is an AWD take on the ZR1, or perhaps an 'Xtreme' version since it has more power, right? Wrong. There was reportedly 'no grand scheme behind it' – the name 'was about sticking close to ZR1.' This leads us back to the cesspool of speculation. Ford decided to call its first electric crossover Mustang Mach-E because the first part of the name is so familiar and could thus help ease the introduction of a new concept (in this case, an electric crossover), and the sales numbers prove the strategy worked. It seems GM simply added a letter to the ZR1 name for similar reasons – a hybridized AWD Corvette may have been a hard sale with an uncommon new name. Our Take: Chevy Had No Choice But To Expand The ZR1 Family Source: Chevrolet Hardcore enthusiasts are resistant to change and averse to the perceived dilution of a nameplate. Many BMW M3 fans bemoaned the move to a V8 in the E9X generation because, in their minds, the recipe had to include a straight-six engine. Similarly, some have already started to denigrate Shelby American's GT350 because it doesn't have a naturally aspirated flat-plane crank V8 like the S550 version that Ford made, so you can be sure that some ZR1 fans will argue that, to them, the badge has always signified a rear-wheel-drive front-engine sports car, even if the engine under the hood has always changed. Fanatics decide that a car fits in a certain box, and then they get annoyed when that box no longer fits. Simply put, GM had a choice between mildly redefining what the ZR1 badge means by putting it on a car with AWD and a hybrid system, or it could have gone the other way, putting the Zora badge above ZR1. This would have been a slippery (and expensive) slope. Autoblog Newsletter Autoblog brings you car news; expert reviews and exciting pictures and video. Research and compare vehicles, too. Sign up or sign in with Google Facebook Microsoft Apple By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . You may unsubscribe from email communication at anytime. By placing 1,250-horsepower AWD Zora above 1,064-hp traction-limited ZR1, GM would be conceding that the latter no longer means the cream of the Corvette crop; the existence of the Zora would mean the ZR1 is 'less than.' Changing to a mid-engine layout was controversial but necessary, but changing the name that signifies the pinnacle of Corvette performance? That would be a marketing nightmare, and when you've spent the last 55 years (excluding the C5 generation) ensuring that the ZR1 badge is what comes to mind when thinking of an all-American supercar killer, slapping a new name on essentially the ultimate evolution thereof would be disrespectful to the Corvette brand's heritage, and in this world, selling cars is more important than yet another nod to the man who helped shape it. To be fair, Chevy could well still use the Zora name for some kind of limited-run send-off when the C8 is ready to retire in a few years, or it could be reserved to introduce a whole new take on Corvette performance as an EV… About the Author Sebastian Cenizo View Profile

Why Didn't Chevy Name the Ultimate C8 Corvette 'Zora?' We Asked GM to Find Out.
Why Didn't Chevy Name the Ultimate C8 Corvette 'Zora?' We Asked GM to Find Out.

Yahoo

time17-06-2025

  • Automotive
  • Yahoo

Why Didn't Chevy Name the Ultimate C8 Corvette 'Zora?' We Asked GM to Find Out.

The ultimate production Corvette is officially here, and it's called the 2026 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1X. Speaking of... how about that name? If you've ever gone into the Corvette forums or spend any amount of time looking at preview posts for this hybridized ZR1, and you're likely to come across the name 'Zora' being commonly used as a reference to this car. Those familiar with the Corvette story know the name refers to a man, Zora Arkus-Duntov — the engineer responsible for turning the Corvette into a genuine sports car. You can read all about that history here, but at a high level, all you need to know is that he championed the idea of a mid-engine Corvette. With the C8 finally making the front-to-mid transition, many thought GM might honor Zora by naming the ultimate version of the C8 after him. (Not to mention 'Zora' is a pretty sweet name for a car.) But now, the final piece of the C8 performance puzzle is in place — and Chevy named it the ZR1X. We asked why, and a Chevrolet spokesperson provided the details. 'ZR1X is an extension of the ZR1 family, so we believe ZR1X is a fitting name for the new variant,' a spokesperson told Road & Track. But why not Zora, we queried? 'I know Zora was broadly speculated by enthusiasts, but since it was future product, it was never something we weighed in on,' the same Chevy spokesperson told us. 'What I can tell you is the team felt this Corvette was deserving of the ZR1 designation, and it was an opportunity to show that even though ZR1 and ZR1X are different cars, they have strong familial resemblance and represent ultimate Corvette performance.' When you dive into the details on the ZR1X, it makes sense. The X is essentially a ZR1 with beefed-up E-Ray hybrid components dropped in to add performance and make it all-wheel drive. Chevy isn't saying this, but maintaining the ZR1 designation ensures a 'greater' version of the Corvette doesn't minimize the herculean car that the ZR1 is. Like Chevy says, they're different cars, but both the ZR1 and ZR1X represent 'ultimate Corvette performance.' What's the 'X' stand for, then? Upon seeing the name, our minds went directly to all-wheel drive references, or even as an abbreviation for 'Xtreme.' But nope — Chevy says there was 'no grand scheme behind it,' and that it 'was about sticking close to ZR1.' In short, the X stands for nothing, officially. Consider X an unknown variable. (See what we did there?) And if you're interested in the full deep dive on the new top-of-the-food-chain Corvette ZR1X, make sure to check out our reveal post here. You Might Also Like You Need a Torque Wrench in Your Toolbox Tested: Best Car Interior Cleaners The Man Who Signs Every Car

The Evolution of the Chevy Corvette: America's Sports Car Turns Supercar
The Evolution of the Chevy Corvette: America's Sports Car Turns Supercar

Yahoo

time07-06-2025

  • Automotive
  • Yahoo

The Evolution of the Chevy Corvette: America's Sports Car Turns Supercar

Read the full story on Modern Car Collector In a new feature video from Modern Car Collector (MCC), viewers are invited to take a thrilling ride through time in "The Evolution of the Chevrolet Corvette: From Classic to Supercar", a visual chronicle of how America's beloved sports car became a global performance powerhouse. The Corvette's story began in 1953 as a sleek concept car revealed at the GM Motorama in New York. With just 300 hand-built units, the original C1 set the tone for a bold new chapter in American automotive history. But it was visionaries like Harley Earl, GM's legendary design chief, and Zora Arkus-Duntov, often called the "Father of the Corvette," who pushed the car beyond its show-car roots and into true performance territory. The MCC video walks viewers through all eight generations of Corvette evolution—from the split-window C2 Sting Ray and the brute-force C3 big blocks, to the high-tech innovations of the C4 and the return to racing form with the C5 Z06. As each generation progressed, so too did Corvette's capabilities, culminating in today's C8 platform, the first production Corvette with a mid-engine layout. Highlights include the C8 ZR1, a supercharged beast expected to push 850 horsepower, and the Corvette E-Ray, which fuses electrification with all-wheel drive for the first time in the model's history. This engaging MCC production doesn't just focus on horsepower—it celebrates the cultural significance of the Corvette, its place in racing lore, and its unmatched ability to adapt and evolve without losing its American soul. Whether you're a lifelong Corvette enthusiast or a newcomer to the legend, "The Evolution of the Chevrolet Corvette: From Classic to Supercar" is a must-watch journey through 70 years of performance, innovation, and iconic design. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter

1955 Chevrolet Corvette Test Bed Is Our Auction Pick of the Day
1955 Chevrolet Corvette Test Bed Is Our Auction Pick of the Day

Car and Driver

time11-05-2025

  • Automotive
  • Car and Driver

1955 Chevrolet Corvette Test Bed Is Our Auction Pick of the Day

This chassis, EX87, was the first Corvette to have a V-8. Piloted by Zora Arkus-Duntov and Indy 500 winner Mauri Rose, this car is steeped in GM history. The bodywork and V-8 are replacements, but the chassis still bears some tell-tale signs of its test-bed history. The current Corvette ZR1 features a midship-mounted, twin-turbocharged V-8 good for 1048 horsepower. That's not an expected power output, that's a resolution number for your computer screen display. But wind the clock back and you can draw a direct line from the most powerful Vette of all time to this V-8-powered first-generation C1 Corvette. Bring a Trailer Pick of the day at Bring a Trailer (which, like Car and Driver, is part of Hearst Autos) is titled as a 1955 Chevrolet Corvette with a 327-cubic-inch V-8 fitted, but it is so much more than that. This is chassis EX87, the car driven by father-of-the-Corvette Zora Arkus-Duntov to more than 160 mph at General Motors' Arizona proving grounds, the test bed used to prove that a V-8-powered Vette was the way forward for the breed. Bring a Trailer The Corvette kicked off its lineage with three hundred hand-built Polo White examples in 1953. Think the beginning of the Fallout Netflix series of 1950s Americana: lots of futuristic optimism, chrome, and shiny curves. The Corvette was America's idea of what a sports car might look like, but while the front-to-rear weight distribution was pretty balanced, the six-cylinder powerplant wasn't really up to the task. Mauri Rose, a GM engineer and a three-time Indy 500 winner, knew that a V-8 was just what the Corvette needed. He had, after all, headed up the team that created the Chevy small-block V-8. Originally an unsold 1954 model, EX87 was the first Vette fitted with V-8 power by Rose, then later handed off to Arkus-Duntov for further development. Bring a Trailer By 1956, GM had a dedicated V-8 Corvette ready to go, so chassis EX87 was separated from its bodywork (which was fitted to another car) and had its Duntov-tuned 307-cubic-inch V-8 and manual transmission replaced with a two-speed auto and a 265-cubic-inch V-8. Later, a 327-cubic-inch V-8 replacement motor was fitted. The bodywork is 1955 spec, but the spine of this car is infused with early Corvette history. Had Rose and Arkus-Duntov not convinced GM's bean counters with this machine, the Corvette may well have gone the way of the Ford Thunderbird. Instead, the modern, mid-engined Vette is the kind of thing that has Ferrari owners mopping their sweaty brows like in that scene from Airplane. The ZR1 is a beast, and this is its genesis. Bring a Trailer Further, this example has been in the same ownership for 57 years, a lifetime by collector-car standards. It comes with the expected reams of documentation and correspondence, and some neat test-car features like a tow hook for mounting speed-measuring equipment. It's a very pretty car, in a Richard Scarry–looking sense, but the history here is the draw. Indiana Jones might tell you that this proto V-8 Corvette belongs in a museum. Instead, you have the chance to park it in your garage. The auction ends May 19. Brendan McAleer Contributing Editor Brendan McAleer is a freelance writer and photographer based in North Vancouver, B.C., Canada. He grew up splitting his knuckles on British automobiles, came of age in the golden era of Japanese sport-compact performance, and began writing about cars and people in 2008. His particular interest is the intersection between humanity and machinery, whether it is the racing career of Walter Cronkite or Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki's half-century obsession with the Citroën 2CV. He has taught both of his young daughters how to shift a manual transmission and is grateful for the excuse they provide to be perpetually buying Hot Wheels. Read full bio

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