Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 first drive: hype meets hyperspeed

Again in March, we introduced you an exclusive look into how Chevrolet’s engineers tuned and tweaked, sculpted and simulated to show the eighth-generation Corvette right into a 233-mph missile, the 1,064-horsepower ZR1. However whereas I’m a racing simulator fan by means of and thru, there’s nothing like driving an actual automotive on an actual monitor, and this previous week it was time to do precisely that.

That monitor, the Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in Austin, Texas, is as actual because it will get. Host of the Components One United States Grand Prix since 2012, it’s three and a half miles of sinuous asphalt with sufficient turns to see simply how effectively these engineers sorted the automotive’s dealing with, plus a protracted again straight simply good for letting that large motor actually sing.

COTA can be the proper place to check out the ZR1’s downforce, one thing that wasn’t a lot of an element main as much as the automotive’s record-breaking 233-mph run. Extra downforce means extra grip, which is all the time good, nevertheless it often comes with the penalty of aerodynamic drag.

That’s one purpose why there’s truly two completely different ZR1s. First is the bottom mannequin, with simply the (comparatively) petite spoiler on the again of the trunk lid. Then there’s what Chevy calls the ZTK trim with the Carbon Fiber Aero Package deal. This contains the huge rear wing you see right here, plus quite a few different aerodynamic bits and items. In alternate for a decrease high velocity (you’ll want the bottom automotive if you wish to go 233 mph) you get a whopping 1,200 kilos of downforce.

To steadiness out the wing, an efficient scoop up entrance replaces the frunk present in lesser fashions of the Corvette. On the ZR1, air is ducted upward by means of the hood and over the windshield. This helps preserve the nostril caught at velocity, which in flip helped me speed up rapidly.

Earlier than I actually obtained on the ability, I took only a single familiarization lap of the monitor in a ZTK-equipped ZR1. That was sufficient to heat up the tires and myself earlier than I actually obtained into it. On the subsequent lap, I hit 175 mph on COTA’s again straight, then pulled greater than 1.5 Gs of deceleration after I hit the brakes.

These are world-class efficiency figures. Braking that onerous appears like somebody’s turned the world the wrong way up — or a minimum of spun it 90 levels.

The forces whereas cornering are almost as violent. The seemingly infinite sequence of right-hand corners towards the tip of a lap actually take a look at your health within the ZR1. Pulling over 1.3 G within the corners means your neck goes to get an actual exercise.

By the way in which, these are all numbers that I verified utilizing the in-car Efficiency Information Recorder, which not solely captures a high-definition view ahead of your on-track antics however overlays quite a few factors of telemetric knowledge and in addition embeds all that knowledge for later evaluation, similar to the professionals.

The numbers on that telemetry and the sentiments I obtained contained in the automotive verify that it is a degree of efficiency not like any Corvette earlier than. Regardless of that, it’s nonetheless very a lot a Corvette in that every one its efficiency is approachable. It solely took one lap to get snug diving into the corners, routinely pushing previous the tires’ limits and rapidly recovering to make the subsequent flip with out an excessive amount of drama.

The superior traction, stability, and ABS programs on the ZR1 are a giant a part of that. Removed from the fun-killing digital aids we’re used to on the monitor, these programs labored to make me quicker, actually solely letting themselves be recognized by the occasional blinking mild on the dashboard. Even with the aids on, I may nonetheless kick the tail out when popping out of the slower turns earlier than launching down the next straights.

There’s one large disappointment within the new ZR1, although: It ships first as a 2025 mannequin, which suggests it comes with Corvette’s outdated inside, together with the unlucky row of buttons that awkwardly bisects the cabin. 2026 Corvettes feature a thoroughly revised and improved layout, together with a brand new triple-screen structure.

The ZR1 will get that new inside, however not till the 2026 automobiles seem later this yr. So, when you’ve got the $174,995 to get your self right into a ZR1, I’d counsel ready till the second mannequin yr, arduous as that could be.