The 2025 Corvette

The Overview

The 2025 model year completed the mid-engine lineup. Chevrolet revealed the ZR1 on July 25, 2024: the Z06’s 5.5-liter flat-plane LT6 rebuilt as the twin-turbocharged LT7 — 1,064 horsepower at 7,000 rpm and 828 lb-ft, the first turbocharged engine in a production Corvette and the most powerful V-8 an American manufacturer had built — in the Z06’s wide body with a flow-through hood, carbon brake ducts in the wishbone bezels, turbo intakes on the hatch, the largest brakes ever fitted to a Corvette and, on the coupe, the first split rear window since 1963. GM’s figures: 2.3 seconds to 60 mph, 9.6 seconds at 150 mph in the quarter and 233 mph, run at 233.5 at Papenburg in October 2024 — the highest speed of any car made in America. It was priced on January 9, 2025 at $174,995 for a 1LZ coupe and $184,995 for the convertible including destination, $185,995 and $195,995 as 3LZs, with the $1,500 ZTK package (carbon aero at $8,495 required, FEJ suspension, Cup 2 R tires, 1,200 pounds of downforce) for the track cars; VIN 001 brought $3.7 million for the American Red Cross from Rick Hendrick at Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale that month.

Chevrolet took about 310 orders for the first year and built 180 in it — the first customer cars from April 28, 2025 after weeks of plant shutdowns for the wide-body tooling, 115 coupes and 65 convertibles counting the captured test fleet, 173 of them 3LZs, 83 with ZTK, 132 with the carbon aero — and carried 101 unbuilt orders into 2026; the rest of the lineup was a carry-over with three new colors (Competition Yellow Tintcoat, Hysteria Purple Metallic, Sebring Orange Tintcoat, for seven dropped), a Jet Black interior with blue stitching, a new Z51 spoiler, a black Stingray wheel and gloss-black Z06 wheels, $2,000 more on the Z06 ($113,795) and E-Ray ($108,595) and the Stingray unchanged at $69,995. The model year ran from September 9, 2024 to July 30, 2025 — the first 2026s were built the next day — and Bowling Green built 25,835 cars in it: 13,640 Stingrays (6,485 with Z51), 8,862 Z06s (1,805 with Z07), 3,153 E-Rays (1,079 with ZER, more than twice 2024’s count) and the 180 ZR1s, with Black the top color on a C8 for the first time.

An Arctic White ZR1 with the carbon aero paced the Indianapolis 500 on May 25, 2025 with Michael Strahan driving — the twenty-second Corvette pace car and the ninth year in a row — and on June 17, 2025 Chevrolet revealed the 2026 ZR1X, the LT7 with the E-Ray’s electric front axle for 1,250 horsepower. On the track the Z06 GT3.R won what the C8.R had not: Antonio Garcia and Alexander Sims took the IMSA GTD Pro drivers’ and team championships for Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports with a win at VIR and nine podiums between the two cars, Chevrolet won the GTD Pro manufacturers’ title, AWA won the GTD class at the Rolex 24, TF Sport won at Qatar and Fuji in the WEC, finished third in class at Le Mans and took the European Le Mans Series LMGT3 title.

The 2025 Corvette Story

The 2025 model year gave the C8 its fourth car and its shortest year. The ZR1 — 1,064 horsepower from the first turbocharged Corvette engine, 233 mph, the quickest, fastest and most powerful production Corvette there has been — arrived at the top of a lineup that was otherwise a carry-over with three new colors, a new interior, a new Z51 spoiler and $2,000 on the Z06 and E-Ray; and because the 2026 model year began on July 31, 2025, Bowling Green built only 25,835 of them in eleven months — 13,640 Stingrays, 8,862 Z06s, 3,153 E-Rays and 180 ZR1s, the fewest since 2022.

Four cars

The 2025 lineup was the most complete the Corvette has had — four cars on one platform at four prices:

The Stingray at $69,995 (13,640 built); the E-Ray, the hybrid all-wheel-drive car, at $108,595 (3,153); the Z06 at $113,795 (8,862); and the ZR1 at $174,995 (180).

The palette was cut to ten colors: Competition Yellow Tintcoat ($995; 1,675 cars), Hysteria Purple Metallic (1,707) and Sebring Orange Tintcoat ($995; 1,375) came in, and Hypersonic Gray, Cacti Green, Carbon Flash, Silver Flare, Ceramic Matrix Gray, Accelerate Yellow and Amplify Orange went out — and for the first time on a C8 Black (4,601) edged Arctic White (4,548) and Torch Red (3,387) for first. Inside, a Jet Black interior with blue contrast stitching (RPO 4IB, 691 cars) and blue stitching on its own (222) were new; the Habanero interior Chevrolet had announced does not appear on GM’s 2025 production sheet and arrived with the 2026.

The Stingray

For Stingray buyers seeking sharper handling and enhanced cooling for track use, the Z51 Performance Package remains a compelling option. Priced at $6,345, the package includes larger brake rotors, a shorter final-drive ratio for quicker acceleration, high-performance Michelin Pilot Sport 4S summer tires, and a more aggressive suspension tune with optional Magnetic Selective Ride Control (FE4). It also adds additional cooling systems for the engine and transmission, brake air ducts, and a performance exhaust that boosts output to 495 horsepower.

New for 2025, the Z51 package gains a redesigned rear spoiler, providing improved aerodynamic balance and a refreshed look. Chevrolet also introduces an available leather-wrapped airbag cover for the steering wheel on Z51-equipped cars, adding a touch of refinement to the cabin. For even more personalization, Velocity Yellow-painted brake calipers are now an optional finish.

Z51 went on 6,485 of the 13,640 Stingrays — 48 percent, down from 55 in 2024 and 65 in 2023 — with the new T0A spoiler on 5,384 of them and 240 cars deleting the aero; 3,042 had Magnetic Ride with it (FE4) and 848 without (FE2).

The Stingray was still the biggest seller — 8,403 coupes and 5,237 convertibles, 53 percent of the year — and unchanged under the skin. Powered by the 6.2-liter LT2 V8, it produces 490 horses in base form and 495 with the available performance exhaust. Torque peaks at 465 lb-ft, all funneled through an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.

GM quotes 2.9 seconds to 60 mph with the Z51 Performance Package. The trims split 4,457 / 6,337 / 2,846 across 1LT, 2LT and 3LT — the 1LT at a third, the highest share of any C8 year, as the $69,995 car became the value play beneath three others.

The three new colors replaced seven; the Z51 cars got the revised rear spoiler; the new Jet Black-with-blue-stitching interior was a 3LT option.

A black-painted Stingray wheel (QE5, 176 cars) joined the seven finishes of 2024, and the yellow calipers were renamed Velocity Yellow. The Stingray’s prices did not move: $69,995 for a 1LT coupe including the $1,695 destination charge, $77,095 and $81,745 for the 2LT and 3LT, $7,000 more as a convertible — the October 2023 prices for a second year.

The Z06

If the ZR1 is raw aggression, the Z06 is precise execution. Its flat-plane crank 5.5-liter LT6 V8 revs to 8,600 rpm and delivers 670 hp with 460 lb-ft of torque. Unlike the turbocharged ZR1, the Z06 uses no forced induction, relying instead on high-revving power and razor-sharp responsiveness.

Performance was unchanged — 2.6 seconds to 60 mph by GM’s figures — and so was the car; Bowling Green built 8,862 in the short year, 4,786 coupes and 4,076 convertibles, 1,805 with the Z07 package (20 percent, down from 26) and another 764 with the carbon-ceramic brakes alone.

Z07 adds track-specific aerodynamic upgrades, Brembo carbon-ceramic brakes, Michelin Cup 2 R ZP tires, and optional carbon fiber wheels that save over 40 pounds in unsprung mass. These upgrades translate into sharper handling, stronger braking, and more grip.

The Z06 took the three new colors and the new interior, and gained a gloss-black version of its spider wheel (SRN, 2,308 cars — the second most popular Z06 wheel in its first year), pearl-nickel and polished finishes, and the E-Ray’s revised fuel-economy label. It went up $2,000: $113,795 for a 1LZ coupe, $122,695 and $127,345 for the 2LZ and 3LZ, $120,795 to $134,345 for the convertible, including destination. 6,540 of the 8,862 were 3LZs.

The E-Ray

The Corvette E-Ray remains the most radical member of the C8 lineup. It pairs the LT2 V8 from the Stingray with a 160-hp electric motor at the front axle. This hybrid system delivers 655 total horsepower and the only all-wheel-drive configuration in Corvette history.

GM quotes 2.5 seconds to 60 mph — the quickest Corvette until the ZR1 arrived. But the E-Ray isn’t just about speed. Its AWD setup allows confident year-round driving, even in poor weather. It’s also capable of quiet, all-electric driving in Stealth Mode, ideal for early morning departures or cruising through neighborhoods.

A 1.9 kWh lithium-ion battery recharges through regenerative braking and engine operation. There’s no plug-in function, keeping the weight and complexity down.

The E-Ray shares the Z06’s wide body, Magnetic Ride and carbon-ceramic brakes, and its second year was more than twice its first: 3,153 cars — 1,374 coupes and 1,779 convertibles, 1,079 with the $500 ZER package — against 1,417 in 2024, as production caught up with orders. It took the new colors and interior and went up $2,000 to $108,595 for a 1LZ coupe ($114,095 and $119,545 for the 2LZ and 3LZ; $115,595 to $126,545 as a convertible).

The order guide

Across all trims, Chevrolet continues to make the Corvette one of the most customizable sports cars on the market. Buyers can choose from a long list of features and personalization options:

Coupes and convertibles are offered on all models; Trim levels: 1LT to 3LT on the Stingray, 1LZ to 3LZ on the E-Ray and Z06, 1LZ or 3LZ on the ZR1; Three seat styles: GT1 (comfort), GT2 (sport), and Competition Sport (track-ready); Dozens of exterior paint colors, interior combos, and wheel finishes; Optional front lift system with GPS memory; Carbon flash badging, edge red accents, and stealth trim packages; Performance Data Recorder with telemetry overlay.

There are also appearance packages that mix carbon fiber ground effects, rear spoilers, roof panels, mirror caps, and engine covers to create a fully unique Corvette.

The take rates on GM’s sheet: the front lift on 14,015 cars (54 percent), GT2 seats on 14,069, the Performance Data Recorder on 19,906 (77 percent), the Stealth interior trim on 7,219, Carbon Flash mirrors on 9,173, Museum delivery on 520, right-hand drive on 436 (none of them ZR1s).

The ZR1

Chevrolet revealed the ZR1 on July 25, 2024 — the first ZR1 since the 755-horsepower 2019 — and it was a different kind of car: the Z06’s hand-built 5.5-liter flat-plane V-8 with two turbochargers, in the Z06’s wide body with its own cooling and aero, at a price that doubled the Z06’s.

The LT7 is the LT6’s architecture with two 76-mm ball-bearing turbochargers built into the exhaust manifolds, new heads with larger combustion chambers, a second port-injection fuel system, forged pistons and rods, and an anti-lag calibration: 1,064 horsepower at 7,000 rpm and 828 lb-ft at 6,000 — the most powerful V-8 any American manufacturer has put in a production car, hand-assembled at the Performance Build Center inside the Bowling Green plant. It is the first turbocharged engine in a production Corvette, and it carries a $3,000 gas-guzzler tax.

The eight-speed dual-clutch was strengthened for it — shot-peened gears, new input shafts, more clutch clamp load — and GM’s figures are 2.3 seconds to 60 mph, 9.6 seconds at 150 mph in the quarter and a top speed of 233 mph, run at 233.5 mph by Chief Engineer Tony Roma at the Papenburg oval in Germany in October 2024, the highest of any car made in America by an automaker; Car and Driver recorded 2.2 seconds and 9.5 at 149. Power goes to the rear wheels only, through a flow-through hood for the intercooler, carbon-fiber ducts in the wishbone bezels for the rear brakes and new intakes on the hatch for the turbos.

The body is the Z06’s with larger front intakes, a carbon front splitter and rocker moldings, a standard rear spoiler with adjustable wickers and — on the coupe — a split rear window, the first since 1963. Brembo carbon-ceramic brakes with cross-drilled rotors (J58) are standard, the biggest ever on a Corvette.

Inside it is a Z06 with ZR1 badging and the carbon-fiber trim package on most cars (110 of the 180 took the top FA6 package). Chevrolet priced it in January 2025 at $174,995 for a 1LZ coupe including the $1,695 destination charge — lower than the market had guessed — $185,995 as a 3LZ, and $184,995 and $195,995 for the convertible, the first ZR1 convertible since the 2019. GM accepted about 310 orders for the first year and built 180 in the model year, 115 coupes and 65 convertibles; 101 of the unbuilt orders were carried into 2026, and dealers and auction houses call the first-year cars the Launch Edition, which is not a GM package.

The ZTK package and what came next

The ZR1 was the end of one line and the start of another: Chevrolet revealed the 2026 ZR1X — the ZR1’s LT7 with the E-Ray’s electric front axle, 1,250 horsepower, the car the rumors had called Zora — on June 17, 2025, while the 2025 ZR1s were still being built.

The ZTK Performance Package is the ZR1’s Z07 — 83 of the 180 took it — and adds:

The carbon aero package with its high rear wing, dive planes and tall hood Gurney lip (required, and on 132 of the 180 cars); the FEJ suspension with stiffer springs and ZTK-specific Magnetic Ride tuning; Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R tires; and over 1,200 pounds of downforce at top speed, which the package trades for a lower terminal speed.

The ZTK package is $1,500, but it requires the $8,495 carbon aero package, so the real price of a ZTK car is $9,995 over a standard ZR1 — and the carbon-fiber wheels (43 cars took the exposed-weave SU1 set) another $9,995 and up.

An Arctic White ZR1 with the carbon aero paced the Indianapolis 500 on May 25, 2025, and the first retail car, VIN 001, had brought $3.7 million for the American Red Cross from Rick Hendrick at Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale in January — more than the Z06’s $3.6 million. The 2025 ZR1 is the rarest C8 by a wide margin, and the sections below say what it has brought.

Eleven months, 25,835 cars

The 2025 model year began on Monday, September 9, 2024 and ended on Wednesday, July 30, 2025, with the first 2026s built the next day — the earliest changeover of the C8 era, with the 2026 ZR1X and the carried-over ZR1 orders waiting — so it was the shortest C8 year since the eight-month 2022 and the smallest since it: 25,835 cars against 42,934 in 2024. GM’s year-end sheet counts 13,640 Stingrays (8,403 coupes, 5,237 convertibles), 8,862 Z06s (4,786 and 4,076), 3,153 E-Rays (1,374 and 1,779) and 180 ZR1s (115 and 65, including the captured-test-fleet cars), 44 percent convertibles. The first ZR1 customer cars were built from April 28, 2025, after weeks of plant shutdowns for the wide-body tooling, and about 108 had been delivered when the year closed. 22,333 cars stayed in the United States, 2,703 went to Canada, 341 to Japan, 158 to Mexico, 107 each to Europe and the Middle East, 68 to Australia and New Zealand, 15 to Southeast Asia and 3 to Israel; 436 were right-hand drive, 520 were delivered at the National Corvette Museum, and seven ZR1s went to Canada, four to Mexico and five to the Middle East.

The ZR1 paces Indianapolis

The 2025 Corvette ZR1 paced the 109th Indianapolis 500 on May 25, 2025 — an Arctic White coupe with a Jet Black interior, the carbon aero package and carbon-fiber wheels, with the race logo’s emerald green and gold in its stripes — driven by Michael Strahan, the Pro Football Hall of Famer, the twenty-second Corvette pace car since 1978 and the ninth year in a row (after the 2024 E-Ray and the two 2023 Z06s). With 1,064 horsepower it was the most powerful pace car the race has had. Alex Palou won. No replica was sold.

Racing: the championship season

The Z06 GT3.R’s second season brought the titles the C8.R had left behind. In IMSA’s GTD Pro class the No. 3 Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports car of Antonio Garcia and Alexander Sims finished third at the Rolex 24 and second at Sebring, Detroit and Watkins Glen, won at Virginia International Raceway on August 24, 2025 and took nine podiums between the two cars to clinch the GTD Pro drivers’ and team championships at Petit Le Mans, where the No. 4 of Tommy Milner and Nicky Catsburg was second and the No. 3 third; Chevrolet won the GTD Pro manufacturers’ title, its first in the class and its fifteenth IMSA GT title. The customer cars did the rest: AWA’s No. 13 won the GTD class at the Rolex 24 in January, TF Sport won the Qatar 1812 km in February and the 6 Hours of Fuji in September in the World Endurance Championship’s LMGT3 class and finished third in class at Le Mans with the No. 81, and TF Sport’s No. 82 won at Imola and Portimão to take the European Le Mans Series LMGT3 title, with more wins in GT World Challenge America and Asia. The 2026 ZR1X and the Corvette’s first Bathurst 12 Hour followed.