Deliveries of the all-new 2025 Corvette ZR1 just began a couple of weeks ago, marking the arrival of the very first turbocharged version of the long-running model – one that churns out 1,064 horsepower, to boot. Though it starts out at roughly half the price of the Ford Mustang GTD, the two are essentially direct rivals, even though production of the latter – which has been underway for a few months now – will be far more limited as well. Now, however, the Mustang GTD has an even more powerful variant to do battle with – the 2026 Corvette ZR1X.
The 2026 Corvette ZR1X is essentially what many folks thought was going to be the Zora (named after the “father” of the Corvette, Zora Arkus-Duntov) – basically a regular ZR1 with electrification added to the mix. It combines the ZR1’s twin turbocharged LT7 V8 with an upgraded version of the E-Ray’s front-mounted electric motor, which results in an all-wheel drive Corvette churning out a cool 1,250 horsepower. It uses the E-Ray’s 1.9 kWh battery as well, but the usable energy has increased by 29 percent, meaning that it now churns out 186 horsepower and 145 pound-feet of torque on its own.
With that extra power on tap, flowing through all four wheels rather than just the rears, the 2026 Corvette ZR1X will accelerate from 0-60 miles-per-hour in a blazing time of less than 2.0 seconds, according to GM, and flash through the quarter-mile in 9.0 seconds at more than 150 mph – on an unprepared surface, no doubt. The ZR1X can also pull 1.0 g latitudinally and longitudinally at the same time, and beefed-up brakes help it post an equally stomach-churning 1.9 g of deceleration from 180-120 mph.
As is the case with the ZR1, the ZR1X can also be equipped with the ZTK Performance Package and its beefed-up spring rates, Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2R tires, and various Carbon Aero Package bits and pieces. Otherwise, it’s essentially the same as the rest of the C8 lineup inside the cabin. Though pricing for the most extreme Corvette ever conceived has yet to be unveiled, it won’t be cheap – though possibly cheaper than the Mustang GTD, at least.
Comments
This car will leave the GTD in the dust at 2/3 the price with no silly rules to order one and limits on production. The GTD is obsolete before it hits the street. To even compare the GTD to the ZR1X is a joke.
2/3 of the price? Where did you get that info from? I find it amusing that when the z06 fell short of expectations at the Nurburgring, Chevy fans threatened carnage of the GTD at the hands of the ZR1 for half the half the price. However the preordained Champ has now crept out of the ring, and we now have the 3rd contender – zr1x. Third time lucky?