Chevy is on a roll with the Corvette right now. The company just launched the ZR1, a 1,064-horsepower fire-breather with more performance than cars triple the price. But that car likely won’t be the very top of the Corvette range, at least judging by these spy shots out of Germany.
Our spy photographers caught what they believe to be the upcoming Corvette “Zora” lapping the Nürburgring during a recent test session. The long-rumored trim, set to sit above the already-capable ZR1, will likely take the platform to its ultimate conclusion in terms of performance.
Photo by: KGP Photography
Photo by: KGP Photography
Photo by: KGP Photography
What does that mean, exactly? Years of rumors have pointed to the Zora as combining the ZR1’s 5.5-liter, 1,064-hp twin-turbo V-8 with the electric motor from the Corvette E-Ray, for an all-wheel drive, mid-engine weapon with hypercar-rivaling performance. In the E-Ray, that e-motor makes 160 hp. So combined, we’re looking at at least 1,224 horses.
That’s just an educated guess right now, though. It could make even more.
The extra power and AWD traction should make for even more impressive 0-60 times and lateral performance. Going by these photos, it seems the Zora will likely share most of its aero-laden bodywork with the ZR1. With the optional aero package, which adds a series of carbon-fiber wings, the ZR1 can produce over 1,200 pounds of downforce at top speed.
Photo by: KGP Photography
The differences are subtle, but obvious if you know where to look. The biggest giveaway is the yellow stickers on the rear windows—mandatory for hybridized cars testing on the Nürburgring. That raises some questions, seeing as how the ZR1 isn’t a hybrid.
Look even closer, and there are further hints that these cars are more than just ZR1s. As our spy photographers point out, these prototypes are running an extra vertically slotted radiator, seen mounted behind the driver-side grille in the bumper. That radiator isn’t present on the production ZR1, and on the E-Ray, it’s used to cool the electric motor. Why would it be here, except to do the same?
Photo by: KGP Photography
Photo by: KGP Photography
Photo by: KGP Photography
Photo by: KGP Photography
Photo by: KGP Photography
Chevrolet has been tight-lipped on the Zora’s existence, meaning no official reveal date has been set. But seeing as how these near-production-ready prototypes are out and about, we can’t imagine we’ll have to wait much longer to see a full unveiling.
Pricing for the Corvette Zora is, unsurprisingly, a mystery at this time. But we can make an educated guess based on what we already know. The ZR1 starts at $174,995 including destination. Add in $38,600—the difference between a Corvette Stingray and an E-Ray—and you get $213,595.
If that sounds like a lot of money for a Corvette, well, it is. But the Zora will likely have the performance to match cars priced over $1 million, making it a relative bargain in the world of hypercars. That’s the Corvette’s entire ethos, after all.
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Source: KGP Photography