Corvette Report’s BREAKING NEWS from the week of 5-5-25
2025 Corvette ZR1 Is The 109th Indy 500 Pace Car
You could say that the Indy 500 LOVES Corvettes! Tune in early to be sure to see a fully decorated 2025 ZR1 Corvette pace the beginning of the 109th Indy 500. The first Corvette to pace the Indy 500 was in 1978. The beautiful black and silver (to commemorate the Corvette’s 25th anniversary) packed a whopping 220 horsepower. Perhaps a little more, as pace cars are typically given a sharp tune to run at their best. So, “maybe” the 1978 Corvette pace car had 250 horsepower.
Fast forward 47 years to the might supercharged 2025 ZR1 with 1,064 horsepower! Think about that. Since 1978, the top-of-the-line ZR1 has over FOUR TIMES THE POWER!
This begs the question: How much horsepower do the 2025 Indy 500 cars have? The Indy 500 cars use a turbocharged, 2.2-liter V6 engine that’s worth 700 horsepower. But wait, there’s more! These engines are augmented with a hybrid system that juices the little V6 to just under 800 horsepower. But that’s almost 300 horsepower LESS than the pace car 2025 ZR1!
Back in 1978, we never dreamed of a day when the Indy 500 pace car would have more power than the race cars. Yes, things that make you say, “Hmmm…”
For the full story, CLICK HERE. – Scott
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Updated Corvette C8 Interior With 3 Screens
This story has been kicking around for almost three years. Over the last month, we’ve seen several “through the side glass” images and even a technical line illustration that was a little hard to relate to without seeing the real thing.
But now we finally have a clear, driver’s side view of what’s going on. There’s still a “wall”, but the infotainment layout is different. Is it “better”? We’ll see.
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When the C8 came out, the interior took some getting used to. But most of the C8 owners I know are fine with the design, even though it’s very busy. But the entire design of the C8 is very busy, so the inside is in sync with the outside. No doubt, some C8 owners will grouse at the refreshed interior. However, considering that C8 Corvette sales have plateaued, Chevrolet has to do something to keep interest and sales up.
For the full story, CLICK HERE. – Scott
Leave It To A Mercedes Designer To Create An Incredible Retro C2 Corvette Sting Ray Coupe & a C3 Shark
Relax folks! Mercedes-Benz is not considering a Split-Window Coupe-inspired “Sting Ray”. There’s also a C3-inspired design that is equally as bold and retro. What you see in the photo-like images are computer renderings created by a Mercedes-Benz designer Maitreya Dhanak‘s side project.
Corvette designers have a long record of always looking forward when it comes to the “next Vette” work. Aside from the long hood/short deck shape, with fender humps, next generation Corvettes never borrow design popular elements. There’s only one Stinger hood and ’67-style side vents. The C8 ZR1 technically has a “split window”, but it’s a long way off the iconic ’63 Split-Window Coupe.
(Factoid: Chevy sold more 1963 Corvette convertibles than coupes; 10,919 to 10,594. Some Coupe owners had the split window replaced with a ”64-’67-style coupe window!)
For the full story, CLICK HERE. – Scott
PS – BTW…Germans like Corvettes a lot, as our friends Mario Brunner and Hanspeter Bohi can attest to.
Why the E-Ray is GM’s Premier Performance Corvette… For Now…
There was a time when the track-ready 405 horsepower C5 Z06 was the bomb. The 505 horsepower C6 Z06 was an even bigger bomb. Then came the 655 horsepower 2009 Supercharged ZR1! Where does then end, right? It looks to me that the answer is almost DOUBLE. Prognosticators are predicting the C8 Zora will have 1250 horsepower.
So, where does the E-Ray fit in? It’s not a track car. The C8 Z06 puts down 670 horsepower to the rear wheels. The electric hybrid E-Ray has a combined 655 horsepower and is quicker in the 0-60 mph sprint. How can that be? It’s the magic of All-Wheel-Drive. It’s not just for off-road vehicles and SUVs.
Here’s how the E-Ray fits in. It will not be the King of the Hill for long. The C8 Zora will be here before we know it, and it will be the quickest, fastest, baddest Corvette ever. However, it all leads to the C9. Corvette engineers delivered a lot with the C8 platform. They will not disappoint us with the C9. Buckle up!
For the full story, CLICK HERE. – Scott
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