The 2018 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 is expected to be offered with GM’s 10-speed automatic transmission.
A spy photographer for Motor Trend was recently able to snap an image of a ZR1 in prototype guise and it was fitted with an auto. Logic would dictate that this gearbox is the 10-speed automatic that GM developed alongside Ford and currently used by the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 and Ford F-150 Raptor.
There’s no confirmation as to whether or not the 2018 Corvette ZR1 will also be available with a seven-speed manual transmission. However, the company would be wise to offer the car with a stick-shift considering it will be the most enthusiast-oriented Corvette on the market and act as a farewell to the front-engine C7.
In terms of what will power the ZR1, there are currently two trains of thought. The first suggests that Chevrolet will simply uprate the 6.2-liter supercharged V8 of the Z06 to over 700 hp. Alternatively, there’s a strong possibility the track-focused supercar will utilize the new twin-turbo LT5 V8 set to be adopted by the C8-generation Corvette.
Whatever the case may be, we should find out before the end of 2017 or, at the very latest, during the first few months of 2018.