Ever since we first laid our eyes on the 2019 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1, we knew it was going to be a fantastic vehicle. With a 755-hp supercharged 6.2-liter V8 engine and a price tag of roughly $120,000, the new ZR1 offers supercar-besting performance at a somewhat affordable price.
Doug DeMuro got his hands on a new ZR1 and called it the most insane Corvette in history. With these videos, I usually watch the whole thing at one time. But with the ZR1, I had to skip ahead to the part where he actually drives the car. It’s been roughly 10 years since we saw the last ZR1, which was another supercar beater, and I was planning on waiting another 25 minutes to see how it performs.
If you’re like me and want to do that, you’ll have to skip ahead to the 18.33 mark when he finally gets behind the wheel of the supercar.
There’s no mistaking the ZR1 for being anything but a proper supercar
The first thing that hits is just how hard the car rides. The example tested here has the insane ZTK Performance Package, which brings things like the massive rear wing, gripper Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires, different brakes, and a tweaked suspension setup. The latter is probably what’s jostling him around on minor bumps.
The other thing is the ZR1’s gearbox. The supercar can be fitted with a seven-speed manual transmission or an eight-speed automatic. While some may scoff at the idea of getting an automatic transmission in a car like the ZR1, it’s the quicker option. But the gearbox isn’t as quick as some dual-clutch units on the market.
Still, there’s a lot to get him excited when it comes to the ZR1. The supercharged V8’s sound is thrilling, as is its performance. When searching for something that’s in the same league, his mind goes directly to the Porsche 918 Spyder. While the ZR1 isn’t as fast as Porsche’s hybrid, it’s not that far off. To even compare a $120,000 American brute to an $845,000 German chisel means Chevy got a lot of things right.
After watching the review below, you’ll want to start saving your pennies to see if these puppies start to depreciate in the near future. I know I do.