[VIDEO] The 2026 Corvette ZR1X is Featured on Jay Leno’s Garage

Apr 6, 2026

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[VIDEO] The 2026 Corvette ZR1X is Featured on Jay Leno's Garage

Last week we learned that Jay Leno had taken delivery of his Black 2026 Corvette ZR1X from Sierra Chevrolet of Monrovia and now the full episode of Jay Leno’s Garage just dropped with the American supercar featured.

Jay was joined by his personal salesman, aka GM President Mark Reuss, for the walk around portion of the video. Jay is simply flabbergasted by the amount of performance offered versus the dollars spent. Confirming that he bought the car with his own money, he says you would have to spend a million dollars or more to get the kind of performance from anywhere else. He also praises the fact that the ZR1X is built by union workers in Bowling Green who take pride in their work.

Despite some of the bigger options that draw your attention, for Jay it’s a convenience item he found in the ZR1X. With the 2026 having the new interior, Jay calls out the new placement for his cell phone which now is held tightly on the console charger. “Most of them you put it down and you go around a corner and your phone hits you in the head.” With GM utilizing the same infotainment system for most of their vehicles, he comments how fast it pairs his phone instead of some of his European vehicles which can take forever and then still not get it right.

It’s also cool that Jay acknowledges his LT7’s engine builder Jason Neal, whose signature resides on the engine plaque affixed to the motor. He says, “So, when I get down to Bowling Green…Jason, I’m going to come see you and say hello!”

Jay’s ZR1X is optioned with the Asymmetrical package which puts a Red Competition seat for the driver while a Black GT2 seat is set up for the passenger. That look is also featured on the exterior with a Red/Black stripe across the length of the car.

With that portion of the walkaround now over, Mark exits the building while Jay slides into the driver’s seat to go for a drive. As he drives, he makes this observation:

“Once again, in my American-made car, I’m wearing my American-made [Jay Leno] watch made in Lancaster, Pennsylvania or Mount Joy, I guess it was. I don’t know. I like to buy American stuff when I can. And this is the classic example. I didn’t just buy it because it was American. I bought it because it was the best car you can get for this money. It’s just unbelievable.

I find it fascinating that Corvette and Mustang are battling it out for the lap record in Newberg ring. Who would have guessed that? You know, certainly Corvette certainly, but Mustang, well, that was the whole another surprise.

I just like to see America win. You know, people think because you do these videos, you get like free stuff and yeah, sometimes that is true. But no, I paid the price whatever the price was on the car. They don’t believe me. I’m not that influential that they would give me a free car. But I don’t mind. Like I said, I just find it to be the performance bargain of the century.”

As Jay drives, he continues to give the car its due, and then he takes it up to “The Crest” which he calls one of the best driving roads in America. “You literally can’t use all the power on the street, but it’s nice to have it just in case,” he says.

And finally, he ends his recording with this:

This is just the greatest American car. I want to thank Jason Neil, the guy who built my motor. Ray [Theriault], the plant manager, and Mark Reuss, the president of GM, for making all this happen. And I was glad to pay the full price because yeah, there’s no deals, nothing like that. Just an honor to be able to order one of these things cuz so many people are trying to buy them. Anyway, listen, see you guys next week. Hope you enjoy this piece of Americana and talk to you soon. Bye-bye.

Source:
Jay Leno’s Garage

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5 COMMENTS

Ralph Apr 6, 2026 At 5:10 pm

It’s good to be Jay.!👍

I saw him doing standup a few years ago and it was a funny show, but I think I would have rather spent that money to talk to him about cars for 2 hours.!😃
Bob in FL Apr 7, 2026 At 9:04 am

It’s all true. At this level of performance the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1X is a great value. Turbocharged performance hybrids are the best powertrain combo today. The top of the line exotics are all going that way – but they can’t get the cost down to match Chevrolet and make them attainable. At $250K, I’m a potential buyer. But I’ll never pay millions for a car even if they’re marginally better in some way.
Bob in FL Apr 7, 2026 At 9:06 am

You too can be Jay in a year or two. The ZR1X is a mass production car and is only limited by buyer demand. That’s a GOOD thing!
Toby Moore Apr 7, 2026 At 10:40 am

I have always admired Jay, for a host of reasons. Right now, it’s for the way he’s taking care of his wife, Mavis, amidst her struggles with dementia. My wife and I have first-hand experience with our own family members. It isn’t pretty. The fact that he is a diehard car guy like me and seems to be approachable, considerate, and always giving credit where credit is due, is simply icing on the Good Guy cake.
Raylan Benzl Apr 7, 2026 At 3:19 pm

Be it traditional corporate automotive medium or new media. GM uses him(Jay Leno) as a tool in their belt to affect the demand signal of each C8 Corvette model. That in turn affects us with market prices, sustainability, and future evolutions. Not saying he’s the sole influence, just a significant one. Significant enough to supersede any of the major automotive medium outlets (C&D, R&T, MT, Hagerty, etc.). If nobody cares about Leno, then following GM’s logic, people care even less about any of those major major outlets. Thanks, Ray