The Corvette ZR1X is already the fastest and most powerful production example of Chevy’s iconic sports car built to date.
However, Chevrolet now says its mid-engined machine offers the fastest way to cover a quarter-mile for less than one million dollars.
It follows real-world performance testing at the US 131 Motorsports Park in Michigan, where the ZR1X made multiple runs on the specially prepared surface.
The result was a quarter-mile time of just 8.675 seconds, with a terminal speed of 165 mph. This makes the Corvette ZR1X quicker than a host of multi-million-dollar hypercars.
During the same run, the ZR1X also achieved a 0-60 mph acceleration time of just 1.68 seconds, generating a peak force of 1.75 G.
The all-American hypercar bargain
The Corvette’s rapid sprint down the quarter-mile strip was not just a one-off event, as Chevrolet completed multiple back-to-back passes. Using the same vehicle, all runs were logged at less than 8.8 seconds.
Notably, the ZR1X has a standard engine – although in this case, ‘standard’ means 1,250 horsepower and 953 lb-ft of torque from the hybrid V-8.
The twin-turbocharged 5.5-liter engine produces 1,064 horsepower on its own, with the electric motor driving the front axle adding a further 186 hp.
With electrified all-wheel drive, and the Corvette’s Custom Launch Control feature, nailing a quarter-mile time was made easy for Corvette development engineer and test driver, Stefan Frick.
“There are many different parts and subsystems on this car, with teams across the company responsible for them,” said Frick. “We were all motivated by the mission to break into the eights. This is a powerful example of the in-house skill at GM, and the level of performance we developed into this car.”
Made possible by being mid-engined
The Corvette ZR1X’s record-breaking run was made using pump gasoline, along with standard Michelin PS4S tires mounted on optional carbon fiber wheels.
Chevrolet did also test the ZR1X on an unprepared surface, resulting in a quarter-mile time of 8.99 seconds, with 0-60 mph taking 1.99 seconds. Even this puts the Corvette firmly amongst well-established supercar rivals.
“When we made the revolutionary shift to a mid-engine platform, this is the type of performance we knew was possible,” said General Motors president Mark Reuss.
Production of the Corvette ZR1X began last month, with a suggested retail price of $209,700. The company has also announced a ‘Stars & Steel Limited Edition’ model, made to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the United States.
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