The Corvette ZR1 is finally here, and it’s more ferocious than we ever imagined. With 1,064 horsepower from its twin-turbocharged flat-plane crank V-8, it was set to be the most powerful C8 ever (by a wide margin). That is, until Zora came along.
Yes, an even crazier Corvette is on the way. The long-rumored Zora is expected to use the ZR1’s twin-turbo V-8 engine paired with the E-Ray hybrid’s electric motor and battery setup, resulting in all-wheel drive and around 1,220 horsepower. While Chevrolet hasn’t confirmed plans for the top-tier Zora, there are some telltale signs. Here’s a rundown.
There is Zora's Test Donkey
It’s always hard to tell which trim is hiding under the camouflage, but if you look closely, there are a few clues. Spy photos of the Corvette test mule reveal that engineers have been testing more than just the ZR1.
CorvetteBlogger do a good analysis in a new set of prototype photos, which provide some insight into the differences between the ZR1 and what appears to be a more extreme Zora. The change is in the radiator. Look closely, and you can see the E-Ray-style stacked cooler used on the ZR1-bodied test car.
This type of radiator is only found on the E-Ray, likely used to cool the battery and/or electric motor. Look at the radiators on the Z06 and ZR1, and you won’t see a stacked arrangement. So it’s reasonable to assume that this prototype uses the ZR1 engine combined with the E-Ray’s electric powertrain, aka the Zora.
Of course, this is just speculation at this point. Manufacturers test different drivetrains and cooling setups all the time, so it’s possible that Chevy is testing out odd radiator combinations with existing powertrains, or even adding extra radiators to confuse the curious. However, we think the Zora’s case is the most likely.
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ZR1 Can Accommodate E-Ray Electric Motorcycle
During our walk around the ZR1's deer cutout, we noticed some interesting design choices that hint at the Zora's presence.
Despite the twin-turbo rig and all the extra cooling load that comes with it, there’s still room in the center tunnel for the E-Ray’s 1.1-kilowatt-hour battery pack. Chevy could have used that space for larger cooling hoses or even storage space, but instead, the engineers left it empty. Telling story.
And while this may just be a matter of sharing components, we can't help but notice that Chevy opted to use a cooling hose up front that bends around the area where the electric motor would be located, leaving another large space begging to be occupied.
Of course nothing is certain, but all signs point to even crazier models in the future.
Corvette Chief Engineer Drops Big Hint
When talking to Motor1 about the Corvette trims and their respective power levels, chief engineer Tadge Juechter dropped a strong hint about an even more powerful C8 to come (emphasis ours).
“We have to be careful because we have been working [the ZR1] for six years,” Juechter said. Motor1We have to keep our mouths shut, and we are still working on things in the future“.”
On the surface, that sounds a bit vague, but it’s important to remember that Juechter is set to retire after the ZR1 launches, so it’s likely he won’t have much knowledge of the Corvette until the near future. That means his statement above is a lot more specific than it seems, hinting at a more powerful C8 on the horizon.
Chevrolet Compares Ferrari SF90 Stradale
Corvette engineers have been known to buy cars from competitors to use as benchmarks. Chevy famously bought a Ferrari 458 Italia, Porsche 911 GT2 RS, and Acura NSX to use as benchmarks against various Corvette trims. And they likely did the same for the Zora.
Back in June Chevrolet caught testing the Ferrari SF90 Stradale against a bunch of camouflaged Corvette prototypes. The SF90 pairs a twin-turbo V-8 in the rear with three electric motors—one in the transmission and two up front—for all-wheel drive. It’s a very similar setup to what we see in the Zora, albeit with far less power (the Ferrari makes “only” 986 hp).
It’s possible Chevy used the SF90 to compare it to the ZR1, as the power output is similar. However, given the Ferrari’s drivetrain setup, we think it was used for the Zora.
