The “Ultimate American Hypercar”? Chevy Reveals Corvette ZR1X

With the 2020 launch of the mid-engine Corvette Stingray, Chevrolet finally delivered the sort of sports car even fans of exotic European brands couldn’t ignore. Now, the bowtie brand is ready to take things to a new level with the Corvette ZR1X, a hybrid hypercar promising to outperform competitors like Aston, Ferrari and even Bugatti. More from Headlight.News.

In traditional fashion, Chevrolet likes to roll out an ever-faster series of variants with each new generation of Corvette. But for those who thought things couldn’t get any wilder than the new ZR1 package just now rolling into dealer showrooms you could be in for a shock.

Set to go into production later this year, Chevy has now pulled the covers of the “pinnacle” of Corvette variants, describing the new ZR1X as a “true American hypercar.”

Making 1,250 from its hybrid drivetrain, the 2026 Chevrolet Corvette ZRX1 will launch from 0-60 in “under 2 seconds,” the bowtie brand told reporters during a background briefing last week. Depending upon options, it will top out at 231 mph. That puts it into rarified air populated by only a handful of vehicles like the Bugatti Chiron, Porsche 911 GT3 and Ferrari SF90 Stradale.

What’s a ZR1X

Like the Stradale, the newest version of the ‘Vette is a hybrid. It pairs the already monstrous V-8 found in the new Corvette ZR1 with an upgraded electric assist system borrowed from the earlier Corvette E-Ray.

It picks up on most of the new features introduced on the ZR1, including the completely revised interior package with its three-screen display. But it offers a driver even more ability to control vehicle settings, with three separate modes for the battery pack.

As with the E-Ray, the Corvette ZR1X splits power, sending torque from the hybrid motor drive system to the front axle, power from its big V-8 to the rear.

For those pushing performance to the limit, whether on track or the street, “You can take advantage of the torque” said chief chassis engineer Cody Bulkley, “to dig you out of a corner.”

Powertrain

The primary source of power for the ZR1X is its hand-built, twin-turbo 5.5-liter Gemini V-8 – which is only now going into production for the Corvette ZR1. At 1,064 hp and 828 lb-ft of torque, it features a flat-plane crankshaft, finger-follower valvetrain, and dry-sump lubrication. Chevy engineers also came up with a novel design integrating each turbo into the exhaust manifold to minimize lag time.

The hybrid side of the drivetrain comes from the E-Ray – though it’s been upgraded, with toughened bearings and other components to handle the added power. And by digging deeper into the 1.9-kWh lithium-ion battery pack developed for E-Ray, the system hits peak power even faster, adding  another 186 hp and 145 lb-ft of instantaneous torque.

The V-8, in traditional Corvette fashion, drives the rear wheels, here through an 8-speed double-clutch transmission, the single-speed hybrid system putting power to the front axle. Note that while you can add the horsepower figures, getting to a jaw-dropping 1,250 ponies, the torque numbers aren’t additive, reaching peak at different times.

More Corvette News

• First Look: The ZR1 Pushes Corvette Into a New Realm
• The Corvette E-Ray is Fast – and Easy to Live With
• Why Has GM Dumped So Many Seasoned Corvette Execs?

Enhanced driver controls

That new 3-screen display makes it easier for a driver to not only track how the ZR1X is performing, but also to set it up for maximum performance and handling.

There are the usual driver modes, including sport settings, but ZR1X adds additional functions, three set to specifically deliver the most out of its battery pack:

• Endurance Mode, triggered by the new “Charge+” button, “adjusts the battery’s energy storage strategy for extended lapping, Chey explains;
• Qualifying Mode tunes the system for the “ultimate” lap time; and
• Push-to-Pass yields the absolute maximum power the driveline can deliver.

Like ZR1 and earlier Corvette packages, the X has a Launch Control function that lets you use brake and throttle to ensure the fastest take-offs possible.

As you’d expect, ZR1X drivers can disable “nanny” functions, such as traction and stability control. Even then, however. the new PTM Pro setting maintains regen-brake torque vectoring and front axle pre-control – which manages inside front brake pressure for maximum corner-exit traction.

Plenty of options

You can order the ZR1X in either coupe or convertible body styles, but the choices don’t end there.

Buyers can choose from a standard setup which is primarily designed for touring – though it will be more than capable of the occasional track day. It features Michelin PS4S tires and a magnetic ride control suspension.

The ZR Performance Package also gets the active suspension – albeit with higher spring rates — but its wheel are shod with Michelin Pilot Cup ZR tires.

A Zora by another name

If Corvette junkies are going to find anything to complain about its Chevy’s decision to dub the new hypercar the ZR1X. The long-rumored project was widely expected to be dubbed “Zora,” honoring Corvette’s legendary original chief engineer, Zora Arkus-Duntoff.

But there seem to be few other things to complain about, even for the pickiest performance fans. Perhaps the fact that the Corvette team may have run into a wall when it comes to future upgrades.

“This certainly is the pinnacle. The ZR1X really is a Corvette hypercar,” proclaimed Chief Engineer Josh Holder in a media background briefing.

Of course, there’s always the possibility of future upgrades to the hybrid side of the powertrain. But whether the platform could handle – let alone benefit from – that is uncertain.

But it raises the question of going all-electric, something GM President Mark Reuss hinted at several years ago. According to several sources who’ve talked to Headlight.News, that could happen eventually. But, when directly asked about timing, Holder said “not soon.”

Pricing and Availability

The Corvette ZR1 went on sale last month, starting at $174,995 – including a $1,695 delivery fee. Chevy is mum, for the moment, on ZR1X pricing but, if E-Ray is any example, there could be a hefty premium over the less audacious Corvette ZR1.

Along with the rest of the C8 family, the 2026 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1X will be assembled at the General Motors plant in Bowling Green, Kentucky.

Expect to see it reach U.S. showrooms before the end of this calendar year.