First Impressions: 2019 Chevy Corvette ZR1 On “Car and Driver Cover”

When we first get our eyes on photo leaks here at Chuck Hutton, there is sometimes heavy camouflage cover, and all sorts of other obstructions to the view of the new auto under wraps. You can get a general idea about what the car will be like, but it is much better to see the whole thing point blank. Car and Driver surprisingly did that this month, by featuring the 2019 ZR1 Corvette on the cover, recently unleashed in the desert sands and skyscrapers of Dubai. Dressed in orange, the first impression we got of the car was that it looks quite a bit more aggressive overall than the current Z06.

There is now a very massive hood vent, new bumper, giant rear wing, and side-skirts. This is obviously a track-bound work of pure engineering magic, that should easily possess enough downforce to keep it close to the ground during proper performance sessions. This release is a vehicle that very obviously wants to lead the pack, and its many upgrades make the the fastest street car that GM has ever constructed. The previous ZR1 from 2009 boasted 638 horsepower, but now 8 years later, the Corvette team had to create a powerful successor.

Some customers were not impressed with the last ZR1's hood window, and deemed it a bit cheap-looking. This time around, the engine is not as much out in the open, with what GM calls a “halo” hood. The carbon weave is aligned perfectly with the body panel, but the intercooler cover has the freedom to move around while the engine is running, since it is an active part of the drivetrain. There are also two openings in front of the cover that allow for the exit of overly hot air from the engine bay, housing 8 high-performing and sinister cylinders.

To conjure up 755 horsepower and 715 lb-ft of torque from high octane and dense air, the ZR1's new pushrod V8 features a 52-percent larger supercharger than the Z06's LT4, and this is where GM puts their very first dual-injection system to use. If you stick to the standard wing offering, top speed is somewhere above 210 miles per hour, and for the first time ever, you can opt for the 8-speed automatic. If you ever do decide that you want to slow down, the brakes are mammoth two-piece carbon rotor pieces, that have fixed six-piston aluminum calipers at the front for prime performance. Come see us on the lot here at Chuck Hutton in Memphis, and check out this new ZR1: the collision of future elements with tried-and-true classic, resulting in a 750-horsepower speed-summoning beast!