800-HP 2022 Chevy Corvette Z06 Might Actually Be The ZR1: Report

Whatever it's called, expect it to be very, very fast.

C8 Corvette ZR1 Rendering

Christopher Smith

By: Christopher Smith

Aug 26, 2019 at 8:20pm ET

Add Motor1.com as a preferred source in Google

Comment

Here’s a bit of shocking information to shake up the C8 Corvette rumor mill. Muscle Cars & Trucks just dropped something of a bombshell about recent stories regarding the future Z06. We previously reported it would gain a Blackwing-themed DOHC V8 with twin turbochargers and 800 horsepower, which isn’t really surprising since that follows the general C8 evolution rumors we’ve heard about for over a year now. The latest scoop from MC&T backs that information up, but the moniker for this super ‘Vette allegedly isn’t Z06. Rather, it’s said to be the top-dog ZR1.

All These Rumors:

It’s just a rumor at this point; MC&T only identifies its “own sources” as the basis for the claim and GM obviously isn’t talking about it. Going back through our own list of rumors before the C8 reveal, we find mentions of a couple different DOHC V8 engines for the C8 displacing 4.2 liters and 5.5 liters. It was assumed the car would launch with the smaller mill, then evolve to the bigger engine on the Z06 and finally top out with the alleged 1,000-horsepower monster hybrid, combining the 5.5-liter mill with electric power.

Gallery: 2020 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray

2020 Chevrolet Corvette

107

First Production 2020 Corvette 2020 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray 2020 Chevrolet Corvette Live

Now that the C8 is out, we know it didn’t launch with the DOHC mill but a tweaked version of the C7’s 6.2-liter V8, which was also a rumor prior to the reveal. If the chatter about two different DOHC engine sizes are accurate, logic would dictate the Z06 receive the 4.2-liter mill with the ZR1 getting the 5.5-liter. It wouldn’t be a stretch to support MC&T’s claim by saying the Z06 could get the 4.2-liter engine in the 650-hp range, with the ZR1 getting the twin-turbo 5.5-liter for 800 hp. It would also fit Chevrolet’s previous formula of the Z06 being more of a track-oriented car, with the ZR1 holding the mantle as the most-powerful Corvette.

That is, until the Zora comes along.

What do you think?

View

Comments

Here’s the wild card in this sea of Z-branded badges. We know GM has the name Zora trademarked. We also know the camo-wrapped C8 prototype in New York had small Zora images on it. The mid-engine Corvette was the dream of Zora Arkus-Duntov, so if there was ever a time to shake up the hierarchy of ‘Vette flagship models, it’s now. Moving on from the ZR1, the Corvette Zora could be the 1,000-hp end-all-be-all American hypercar.

As before with the C8 reveal, we’ll have to be patient for a while. However the badges shake out, we suspect it will be worth the wait.

Source: Muscle Cars And Trucks

We want your opinion!

What would you like to see on Motor1.com?

Take our 3 minute survey.

- The Motor1.com Team

Share this Story

GO TO COMMENTS

(

)

Got a tip for us? Email: tips@motor1.com

View all comments ( )

Popular

12 Cars With Names That Make Absolutely No Sense

BMW Kept This Hatchback A Secret For Decades

Bugatti Restores One-Off Veyron With A Mirror-Like Aluminum Body

The Gas BMW M3 Isn't Dead: Next-Gen Prototype Roars