C8 Corvette Zora to be part ZR1 and E-Ray

The Zora has been secretly tested at the Nurburgring, and its aerodynamic package is similar to that of the 2025 ZR1

It’s been less than six weeks since Chevrolet stunned the industry with the new Corvette ZR1. This true supercar killer packs 1,064 horsepower and a staggering 828 lb-ft (1,122 Nm) of torque. Now, an even more extreme Corvette Zora has been spotted up close during testing at the Nürburgring.

We’ve known for years that Chevrolet was planning a C8 to top the ZR1. It would be the most powerful, quickest, and fastest Vette ever built, and the star of the C8 generation. If you thought the ZR1 was crazy, you haven’t seen anything yet.

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Our photographers recently captured four Zora prototypes on a racetrack. Each car has a yellow sticker on its rear window, which means it’s powered by a hybrid powertrain. This setup is expected to combine the Corvette ZR1’s insane twin-turbocharged 5.5-liter V8 with the E-Ray’s front-mounted electric motor and battery pack.

What remains a mystery is exactly how much power the Zora will have. Chevrolet says there’s more room for improvement in the ZR1’s engine, so we expect some minor tweaks to it. The E-Ray’s electric motor currently makes 160 hp and 125 lb-ft (169 Nm) of torque. If Chevy boosts the LT7 to 1,100 hp, the Zora could be around 1,250 hp, or even more. That much power, combined with all-wheel drive, should make this car an absolute beast right out of the gate.

Visually, these prototypes don’t look too different from the ZR1. The front end looks largely the same, but the splitter might be slightly larger. There are limited changes to the sides, and the rear wing also looks the same. Of course, this doesn’t guarantee that the Zora will look exactly like the less powerful Zora, as these are just prototypes, and the finished product will likely be more aggressive, which is fitting considering its position in the Corvette lineup.

Baldauf