[VIDEO] MotorTrend Runs the 2026 Corvette ZR1 Through its Independent Performance Tests

By
Keith Cornett
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[VIDEO] MotorTrend Runs the 2026 Corvette ZR1 Through its Independent Performance Tests


Now that the 2026 Corvette ZR1 is out in the wild, it’s a great time to see what the magazines are saying about America’s latest version of the King of the Hill. That includes MotorTrend which put the new ZR1 through a series of independent performance testing to see how it lines up with official performance stats from Chevy.

We already know that the 2026 Corvette ZR1 comes with huge power as the rear-wheel-drive powerhouse features a 5.5-liter twin-turbo V8 engine that produces a staggering 1,064-horsepower and 828 lb-ft of torque. But it’s not just about raw power. Its aerodynamic package was designed to maximize that power on the track. That includes the giant wing for providing up to 1200 pounds of downforce, massive side inlets and a flow-thru hood to improve cooling, and a front splitter paired with an underwing helps keep the car stable and for maintaining control at high speeds.

MotorTrend says Chevy told them specifically to perform burnouts to warm the tires, and the editors didn’t disappoint. After the tire warming session, MotorTrend ran the car 0-60 mph for a recorded time of 2.5 seconds and the quarter mile where the ZR1 ran 9.9 seconds at 144.2 mph. These figures are both slower than the official Chevy times of 2.3 seconds 0-60 mph and a quarter mile time of 9.6 seconds.

However, only one rear-wheel-drive car has ever recorded a quicker time for MotorTrend and that’s the 2015 Ferrari LaFerrari which ran 0-60 mph in 2.4 seconds. In the quarter mile category, the ZR1 ranks third among rear-drive cars, trailing only the LaFerrari’s 9.7 seconds and the McLaren P1’s 9.8 seconds. It is important to note that both the LaFerrari and McLaren P1 are million-dollar hypercars, whereas the ZR1 starts at less than $200,000.

[VIDEO] MotorTrend Runs the 2026 Corvette ZR1 Through its Independent Performance Tests


And finally, MotorTrend put the ZR1 through their Figure Eight test which is where the car really shines as a track weapon versus just a straight-line machine. MotorTrend’s figure eight test simulates a racetrack in a compact format, evaluating acceleration, cornering, steering, transmission, grip, and braking in one lap.

In that test, the ZR1 completed the Figure Eight in 21.6 seconds. This time ties it for first place with the 2022 McLaren 675LT Spider and the Porsche 911 GT3 Touring. The ZR1 also achieved an average lateral G-force of 1.16 during the lap, surpassing both the McLaren and Porsche, indicating superior lateral traction.

Watch it happen below and then let us know your thoughts on these tests.

From MotorTrend Channel via YouTube:

Powered by a 5.5-liter twin-turbo V-8, the rear-drive ZR1 pairs massive power with an extreme aero package: gigantic rear wing, flow-through hood, huge side inlets, and an aggressive splitter and underwing setup designed to maximize downforce and cooling. Check out the video to see the results, because we discovered there’s more to this car than just straight-line speed.


Source:
MotorTrend / YouTube

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7 COMMENTS

  3. You need to remove the rear wing for quarter mile runs. That’s good for a couple tenths.

  6. Ferrari 296 GTBs have been running similar quarters for four years. Car and Driver had one that hit 150 in the quarter.

    So, Chevy, where are those 1,000 horses? Something is not right. And dealers want more for a ZR1:than what 296s are selling for.

  7. In the Motor Trend article, the writer said he was impressed by the “old fashioned” engine. The engineering breakdown analysis articles that I read in 2023 said it was state of the art and beyond. Some said it was a decade ahead of it’s competition. I think a 5.5L engine making 1064 hp while using 93 octane fuel is pretty sophisticated. Anybody else making 1000+ in the $200K pure ICE market segment?

    I have to assume that the writer is probably a “pure battery car” fan that prefers excessively heavy cars and long refuel/recharge times. Battery cars are really a different market segment.
    I still prefer a 5 minute fill-up.

    The best holistic powertrain combination today is a performance hybrid. But until I can get an allocation for a ZR1X, I’ll happily get in a 2026 ZR1 and drive it home from the Corvette museum in about 7 weeks. I waited patiently for 2 years to get it at MSRP.

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