2025 Corvette ZR1: The Omaha Enthusiast’s Ultimate Guide to Chevy’s 1,064-HP Monster

By Josiah KaufmanBuying Guides Chevrolet Vehicle GuidesAug 25, 2025

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A new benchmark for performance has been forged in steel and carbon fiber—the 2025 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 is here, and it has obliterated every expectation.

For Omaha’s vibrant community of car enthusiasts, the Corvette name is sacred. We see your passion every summer at the H+H All Chevy Show, where hundreds of Corvette entrants from the original C1 to the mid-engine C8 draw thousands of spectators.

It’s for this loyal Omaha audience that we’ve crafted the definitive guide to the 2025 Corvette ZR1. Follow along as we detail the technical specifications, design, options, and historical significance of this display of American automotive excellence.

In This Post

Performance: Breaking the 1,000-HP Mark

The heart of the 2025 Corvette ZR1 is a bespoke engineering marvel known as the LT7 engine. This is not just an evolution; it’s a revolution.

The Twin-Turbocharged LT7 V8:

At its core, the LT7 is a 5.5-liter, dual-overhead-cam, flat-plane crank V8. This architecture, shared with the Z06’s incredible LT6 engine, is key to its character. A flat-plane crank allows the engine to rev higher and faster, producing a signature, exotic wail unlike traditional American V8s. But that was just the starting point.

To achieve hypercar power levels, the LT7 is fitted with a massive twin-turbocharger system. This is a significant shift from the superchargers used on the C6 and C7 ZR1 models. Twin turbos allow for more efficient power generation and packaging within the mid-engine layout.

The result is the most powerful factory engine in Chevrolet’s 113-year history. The official, mind-boggling numbers are:

1,064 Horsepower
7,000 RPM

828 lb.-ft. Torque
6,000 RPM

Power is channeled through a heavily reinforced 8-speed dual-clutch transmission, specifically fortified to handle the immense twisting force of the LT7. The result is not just raw power, but intelligently-delivered performance in a true American hypercar.

Record-Shattering Speed and Dominance:

With over 1,000 horsepower, the ZR1’s performance figures are simply astonishing.

2.2 Seconds
0-60 MPH

9.5 Seconds/149 MPH
Quarter Mile

To put this in perspective, the new C8 ZR1 is so fast it eviscerates the performance numbers of every previous ZR1 generation, including the legendary “King of the Hill” and “Blue Devil” models. It’s a vehicle built to hunt down and surpass the world’s most exotic machines on any track, on any day.

Official testing by Chevrolet has the new ZR1’s top speed at 233 MPH. In fact, you can watch their top speed run here. This feat makes the 2025 Corvette ZR1 the fastest production American car, the fastest production car for under $1 million, and the fastest completely-stock Corvette ever.

Design: Form Follows Function

You will know a ZR1 when you see it. Its design is a pure, unapologetic expression of aerodynamic aggression. It is wider, lower, and visually more menacing than any Corvette before it, and every single surface has been honed for performance.

Mastering Airflow:

The bodywork is a masterclass in airflow management. The unique front fascia is dominated by enormous inlets that feed crucial cool air to the car’s five additional heat exchangers, cooling the engine, transmission, and intercoolers. A massive “flow-through” hood vent, inspired by race cars, allows hot air to escape the front radiators, reducing lift and creating significant front-end downforce.

One of the most talked-about design features is the stunning split rear window on the coupe. This isn’t just a beautiful stylistic nod to the iconic 1963 Corvette Sting Ray; it’s a functional necessity, providing a channel for cool air to be drawn into the engine bay, keeping the ferocious LT7 at optimal temperature.

Aero Packages:

Standard Aero: This setup includes a sculpted low-profile rear wing and a highly effective front splitter. Even in its “standard” form, the ZR1 produces immense downforce, ensuring stability well past 200 mph.

ZR1 Carbon Fiber Aero Package: For those seeking ultimate track domination, this is the essential choice. It adds a massive, active high wing that can change its angle of attack in milliseconds, a more aggressive carbon fiber front splitter with dive planes, and functional underbody strakes. This package generates over 1,200 pounds of downforce, effectively gluing the ZR1 to the pavement for physics-defying cornering speeds.

The ZR1 also introduces bold new colors like Hysteria Purple and Competition Yellow, as well as exclusive wheel designs including optional carbon fiber wheels that reduce critical unsprung weight for sharper handling and suspension response.

Pricing and Trims: Corvette ZR1 Options

For those in Omaha ready to build their legend, the ZR1 is available as both a coupe and a hardtop convertible with two main trim levels. The 2025 Corvette ZR1 1LZ Coupe starts at $178,195.

1LZ Coupe (from $178,195): The lightweight, track-focused choice. It comes with all the incredible performance hardware of the ZR1 with GT1 seats and a premium 10-speaker Bose sound system.

3LZ Coupe (from $189,195): This trim adds a layer of hyper-luxury to the hypercar performance. It includes a full Nappa leather-wrapped interior, heated and ventilated GT2 seats, a 14-speaker Bose Performance Series system, and a custom leather-wrapped dash and doors.

ZTK Performance Package: This option is the key that unlocks the ZR1’s ultimate potential. It bundles the high-downforce active wing, the stickier Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R tires, and a uniquely tuned chassis with Magnetic Ride Control for the fastest possible lap times.

What’s Next: The ZR1X

The significance of the 2025 ZR1 is twofold. First, it has single-handedly elevated the Corvette into the hypercar stratosphere with its 1,064 HP LT7 engine. It stands as a direct challenger to European exotics costing three or four times as much, proving that American engineering can lead the world.

Second, it sets the stage for the next monumental leap. Chevrolet has officially confirmed what comes next: the 2026 Corvette ZR1X. This is the car that will carry the torch even further, creating a true American hypercar dynasty. It combines the ZR1’s 1,064 HP LT7 V8 with a 186 HP electric front-drive unit, resulting in 1,250 Combined Horsepower through an electrified all-wheel-drive drivetrain for a sub-2.0 second 0-60 MPH time.

The ZR1X is truly the next chapter in the Corvette story, featuring technology learned from the E-Ray and ZR1 to create an unmatched driving experience. From the die-hard enthusiasts like those at the H+H All Chevy Show to the new generation of performance fans, the message from Chevrolet is clear: the reign of the Corvette has only just begun. We can’t wait to see the first 2025 ZR1 roll into our showroom and, eventually, take its place as a future legend on the show field.