![[VIDEO] GM Teases an Even Crazier C8 Corvette Variant than the ZR1X](https://www.corvetteblogger.com/images/content/2025/07/071525_6.jpg)
Has this not been one of the most interesting few weeks for Corvette? We’ve got the new 1064-hp ZR1 finally in customers hands, the 1250-hp Corvette ZR1X has been revealed, and now we have been waiting not-so patiently for whatever kind of time that will come with the team’s testing of three Corvette C8s (Z06, ZR1, ZR1X) at the Nürburgring.
Now we’ve had a bunch of statements coming from Executive Chief Engineer Tony Roma who has been in Europe for the last couple of weeks as he attending the C8’s time trials at the Ring, watching the Nürburgring 24H Race, and then over to jolly old England for the E-Ray presentation at the 2025 Goodwood Festival of Speed. He’s attempted to tamp down on some of the wild expectations about setting the production car record. But it’s his latest statements in which he tells us that perhaps something even more wicked is about to come our way.
From TopGear.com:
“Speed is only relevant these days for bragging rights. For a car to have a certain amount of provenance, we have to offer a version of that car that’s capable of doing those silly numbers. The ZR1’s top speed attempt was not in expectation that our customers would ever repeat it, or even get remotely close, because you can’t legally do that.
“We had to go through a lot of testing to set that speed: travel to Papenburg, hire the track for three days, get a bunch of mechanics over and so on. But the fact that the car has proven it can do it is precisely why people buy cars like this. Having the crazy lap times and ridiculous acceleration is part of what makes these cars what they are.
“So I think we are going to continue to make the car faster for those bragging rights, because our customers appreciate that. It’s the same with any performance car manufacturer – we push each other with Nürburgring lap times for that reason.”
For Corvette fans, this excitement is palpable. It’s hard to believe that the 1250-hp ZR1X is not the range topper…it is just another level of Corvette performance in a thrilling game of automotive innovation. It’s now that we remember that comment about Doug DeMuro saying the ZORA would be 1400-hp so perhaps he was on to something.
Our friend Mike Brink also has good comments on these developments and more. The crazy thing is we are talking about a ZORA when it seems to us the logical step for the team would be the Grand Sport. But these comments are from the Chief Engineer so we’ll take him at his word!
Source:
Brink of Speed
Related:
The Corvette ZR1X Isn’t the ‘Final Boss’ of the C8 Era Says Corvette Chief Tony Roma
Don’t Expect the Corvette ZR1 to Break the Nürburgring Lap Record Says Chief Engineer Tony Roma
Corvette Chief Tony Roma Says Chevy Has No Plans to Offer an Electric Corvette For Now
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![[VIDEO] C8 Corvette ZR1X Takes Part in the World’s Greatest American Drag Race](https://www.corvetteblogger.com/images/content/uploads/2026/07/070326_1-218x150.jpg "[VIDEO] C8 Corvette ZR1X Takes Part in the World’s Greatest American Drag Race")
Enough of this foolishness. Get the parts we want off constraint. Make the cars as we order them and in a timely fashion.
Want ideas that will boost sales? Paint it any color ever offered on a Corvette. How about a center exit exhaust option on the E Ray? Maybe a light weight COPO Stingray Super Sport with upgraded brakes, tires and suspension with some billet parts like transmission oil pan.
All of these earthbound Patriot missiles are well and good, but the most amazing model for the street and your wallet is still the base StingRay.
Dear Tony:
I live in the EU and cannot place an order for the ZR1 or ZR1X as told by your EU importer….due to higher than “permitted” emissions standards.
So how will you compete with the “big boys” here by clearly demonstrating that GM can produce – or negotiate – this great vehicle into the EU market.
I suggest you drop any EV ZR1 or current ZR1 variant and focus on playing a stronger political game here than now designing another ZR1X (Zora??).
GM is missing the entire EU sales market – so sharpen your finger nails and get to the bottom of this issue as your 1st priority…and determine why the “big boys” here don’t have this issue / enforcement….and not in the NA markets..
I have owned several exotic cars in both the USA and Europe….but have never seen GM being pushed out of a regional market by politics..
Focus on Corvettes for the every day American that works hard so they can purchase one. Could care less about the 1% or click baiters.
Baseless conjecture. Tadge already said the ZR1 was the range topper. And we all expected the LT7 to be paired with the Hybrid motor. That “Zora” became the ZR1X. There will not be a higher trim. Not for C8. GM “might” decide to tweak a bit of performance out of the ZR1X in later model years–but there will not be a higher trim car. GM also “might” offer a gutted version of the ZR1X–same performance but NVH off the charts. Similar to the zeitgeist behind a Mustang Cobra Jet or GTD. But there will not be a “higher performance” car than the ZR1 trim; only tweaks, packages and factory add-ins for the ZR1.
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