[VIDEO] Corvette ZR1 and ZR1X Gets the Buzz Award for Best Performance Vehicle for 2027

Nov 13, 2026

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[VIDEO] Corvette ZR1 and ZR1X Gets the Buzz Award for Best Performance Vehicle for 2027

The Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 and ZR1X have been named Best Performance Vehicles for 2027 in the annual Buzz Awards, beating out a field of high-powered competitors that included the Lamborghini Temerario and Ford Mustang Dark Horse SC.

The awards, presented by CarBuzz, HotCars and TopSpeed, recognize the best vehicles tested by their editors during the past year.

Judges cited the Corvettes’ extraordinary horsepower, blistering acceleration and comparatively affordable prices as key reasons for their selection.

“The ZR1s deliver true hypercar performance for a fraction of the cost,” CarBuzz declared in announcing the winners.

It’s difficult to argue with the numbers.

The rear-wheel-drive ZR1 produces an astonishing 1,064 horsepower and 828 lb-ft of torque from its twin-turbocharged 5.5-liter V8 engine.

For drivers who somehow find that insufficient, Chevrolet offers the ZR1X, which adds an electric motor powering the front wheels to produce a combined 1,250 horsepower and all-wheel drive.

Both cars use an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission.

The ZR1X can accelerate from zero to 60 mph in as little as 1.89 seconds, while the ZR1 has demonstrated a top speed of 233 mph. Both Corvettes have also recorded faster laps around Germany’s legendary Nürburgring than the standard Ford Mustang GTD, which won last year’s Best Performance Vehicle award.

But perhaps the most remarkable part of the story isn’t how fast these Corvettes can go.

It’s how relatively little they cost.

With the ZR1 priced just under $200,000 and the ZR1X starting below $230,000, Chevrolet is delivering performance comparable to exotic European machinery costing considerably more.

Both Corvettes even undercut the Porsche 911 GT3 and 911 Turbo S, despite offering dramatically more horsepower.

Of course, calling a $200,000 Corvette a bargain might sound ridiculous to the average motorist. But in the world of 1,000-horsepower supercars, that’s practically a clearance sale.

What impressed the judges most, however, was that the Corvettes deliver their extraordinary performance without sacrificing everyday usability.

Unlike many exotic supercars, the C8 Corvette offers a comfortable cabin, usable cargo space and a suspension capable of handling ordinary roads without punishing its occupants.

Chevrolet’s Magnetic Ride Control helps smooth out rough pavement, while the dual-clutch transmission provides remarkably refined operation.

Then there’s the sound.

According to CarBuzz, the twin-turbocharged V8 produces a high-pitched scream more reminiscent of a Ferrari than a traditional American V8.

The publication also praised the Corvette’s lightning-fast responses and surprisingly approachable driving characteristics.

“The fact that the ZR1s do literally everything amazingly, all for a great price and with real practicality, it’s impossible not to give it its flowers,” the judges concluded.

The Corvettes didn’t win without facing some formidable challengers.

Among the finalists was Ford’s Mustang Dark Horse SC, a supercharged V8 muscle car producing nearly 800 horsepower and offering impressive braking and handling capabilities.

Another serious contender was the Lamborghini Temerario, an Italian plug-in hybrid supercar combining a turbocharged V8 with three electric motors. It produces more than 900 horsepower and features an engine capable of revving to 10,000 rpm.

Nevertheless, the Corvette twins prevailed, combining superior horsepower, exceptional performance and relative affordability in a package the judges found difficult to beat. CarBuzz awarded the ZR1 Coupe a perfect 10 out of 10 for performance and a 9 out of 10 for value.

The Corvette also received scores of 8 out of 10 in several other categories, including exterior design, interior and cargo space, safety and technology.

For Chevrolet, the award represents another milestone in the Corvette’s remarkable transformation from an affordable American sports car into a legitimate challenger to the world’s most exotic automobiles.

And for enthusiasts who once wondered whether moving the Corvette’s engine behind the driver was a good idea, the ZR1 and ZR1X are providing a pretty convincing answer.

Apparently, the best way to beat the world’s supercars is to build one yourself — and put a Corvette badge on it.