Just days ago, out of nowhere it seemed, Chevrolet dropped a teaser reel on Instagram that there was a big announcement for the Corvette brand today, and wow, they were not kidding! The short reel was simple, with only today’s date popping up with an X above it. Just when you didn’t think GM could outdo themselves with the 1,064 HP ZR1, now we enthusiasts get a 1,250 HP monster with eAWD! [Author’s Note: This article is FREE and not behind a paywall. Yes, FREE! If/when any pop-ups appear, please click to dismiss them and continue enjoying the article. One may require two steps–first, the arrow on the left, then the x on the top right.]
And while rumors of a ZORA model have been swirling around for years, GM once again kept enthusiasts (and journalists) on their toes, naming the ZORA concept as simply the ZR1X–a trim level versus a standalone model. Not surprisingly, as I’m scanning through the hundreds of reactions on social media, dropping the ZORA name has many enthusiasts scratching their heads. Naming semantics aside, GM had this beast in their pocket the whole time.
“From day one, we designed the mid-engine Corvette architecture with ZR1X in mind,” said General Motors senior vice president Ken Morris. “This is the most revolutionary platform in Corvette history, supporting the widest range of American sports cars and delivering world-class performance at every level.”
“Hypercar Status Accomplished…”
What’s Inside CorvSport’s Guide To The Big Reveal
- 2026 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1X Hybrid Highlights
- The Official Reveal Video From Chevrolet: Meet ZR1X
- Community Chatter From The National Corvette Museum
- Reveal Photos From The Bowling Green Assembly Plant
- More Photos From Chevrolet
- A Blast of Brand-New ZR1X Videos From Chevrolet
1) 2026 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1X Hybrid Highlights
- 1,250 combined horsepower (1,064 HP from the ZR1’s twin-turbocharged LT7 V8 plus 186 HP from a beefed-up version of the E-Ray’s electric motor)
- 973 combined lb-ft of torque (828 lb-ft from the LT7 plus 145 lb-ft from the front axle electric motor)
- Electrified AWD technology: Via the electric motor from the E-Ray, but with 26 more horsepower and 20 additional lb-ft of torque.
- Hybrid! The battery’s 1.9-kWh gross capacity is the same as the E-Ray’s, but the usable energy increased by 29 percent, allowing Chevy to raise the peak operating voltage and, in turn, the output. This is combined with an extra 1000 rpm over the E-Ray (from 16,000 to 17,000).
- Performance: GM estimates a 0 to 60 mph in under 2 seconds, and a quarter-mile time in under 9 seconds with a trap speed of over 150 mph!
- Pricing: Not yet announced, but expect north of $250,000.
- Chevrolet reveal video quotes: “The most powerful car we’ve ever produced. The quickest Corvette ever at 1,250 horsepower.”
- Eat lightly, because Chevy claims the ZR1X can simultaneously pull 1.0 g latitudinally and longitudinally.
- Stopping Power! Chevy designed a totally new braking kit (internally called the J59 package). The new set comes with Alcon 10-piston front and six-piston rear calipers mated to 16.5-inch front and rear rotors, which are the largest discs ever offered on a Corvette.
2) The Official Reveal Video From Chevrolet: Meet ZR1X
Video Preview From Chevrolet:
“1,250 combined horsepower. 0 – 60 in under 2 seconds. Electrified AWD. The new 2026 ZR1X is the most advanced Corvette ever imagined. It’s a true American hypercar and the pinnacle of Corvette performance.”
Video Stats:
- Views: 8,879
- Comments: 508
- Likes: 2,500
- Length: 1:59
Top Comments:
- “Chevrolet isn’t playing no games and they are calling it a HYPERCAR themselves…This is true elevation of the C8 platform and I’m here for it guys.” @Fasteddiebreakshearts
- “GM will do literally anything instead of using the name Zora.” @PigglyWigglyDeluxe
- “Growing up in the 90’s, I NEVER would’ve imagine the Corvette team putting out a car like this. It’s very obvious that Chevrolet is hiring and promoting car people, and not accountants. What a stellar car this is.” @Myrdoc
3) Community Chatter From The National Corvette Museum
- The Corvette community is excited and engaged on the NCM’s Facebook page! With over 815 reactions and 53 comments, there is a lot of enthusiast engagement and fun to be had!
4) Reveal Photos From The Bowling Green Assembly Plant
All of these photos are fully credited to NCM Insurance Agency Collector Vehicle Insurance, sourced via Facebook.
5) More Photos From Chevrolet
For a deeper dive into the ZR1X with more photos, visit Chevrolet.com.
6) A Blast of Brand-New ZR1X Videos From Chevrolet
Performance | The 2026 ZR1X
Corvette ZR1X | The Most-Advanced Corvette Ever
Electrified AWD | The 2026 ZR1X
Pinch me, because the math checks out and I’m in LUST! Did you ever think we would see 1,250 HP from a factory Corvette?!? Are you CORVETTE OBSESSED like we are? The team of renowned authors and contributors at CorvSport hopes you sense our passion for the iconic Corvette, and our vast database of articles and guides should prove it–5000+ features since Scott Kolecki founded CorvSport over 15 years ago! Join the fastest-growing Corvette community on our Facebook page, with over 169,000 followers (50,000 since January 2023!). Meet other hardcore enthusiasts and say hello. This is Douglas B. signing off–click here if you would like to view more of my features.
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