RECORD-BREAKING CORVETTE ZR1 HITS 375 KM/H - WITH GM PRESIDENT MARK REUSS AT THE WHEEL NO LESS.
The 2025 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 has officially cemented its place in history as the fastest car ever produced by an American automaker. In a jaw-dropping test at Germany's ATP Automotive Testing Papenburg, General Motors President Mark Reuss piloted the ZR1 to an astonishing 375 km/h (233 mph), setting a blistering top speed record unmatched by any production car under $1 million. The Corvette team achieved this remarkable feat by setting a two-way average on both the northbound and southbound straightaways of the high-speed oval. For Reuss, it was a dream realized. “Setting the top-speed record in the Corvette ZR1 is a true triumph for Corvette and Chevrolet,” said Reuss. “This was an exhilarating, surreal experience for me personally. When we transitioned to mid-engine, we knew the ZR1 had the balance and performance to make something like this possible. Getting it done over there proves just how powerful this machine is, and how talented our development team is.” This record-shattering ZR1 is powered by the most potent V8 engine ever produced by an American automaker. The 5.5L twin-turbo LT7 DOHC flat-plane crank V8 cranks out an earth-shaking 793 kW (1,064 hp) and 1,121 Nm of torque, hitting redline at 7,000 rpm. Corvette’s leap to mid-engine design back in 2020 has unleashed new levels of performance, and now, with the ZR1, it's pushing boundaries that were once unthinkable.
Key Facts About Corvette ZR1’s Record-Breaking Run:
The ZR1 used for the record had a standard chassis and aero package, including carbon fibre ground effects, a short-wicker spoiler, and Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tyres on aluminium wheels.
Chevrolet engineers developed "Top Speed Mode," a feature that optimizes chassis control systems for maximum speed, exclusive for closed courses.
Reaching 375 km/h, the ZR1 hit redline in sixth gear.
This wasn’t a one-off; five engineers and both ZR1 test cars consistently surpassed 370 km/h during multiple runs, with an onboard engineer monitoring data in real time.
Papenburg’s optimal conditions - perfect temperature and air density - created the ideal environment for the Corvette team to push the limits of what’s possible.
This isn’t Chevrolet’s first high-speed triumph at Papenburg. Engineers have previously set top-speed records for both the sixth and seventh-generation Corvette ZR1s, as well as the Camaro ZL1.
A Glimpse at the Record-Breaking 2025 Corvette ZR1:
Engine: 5.5L twin-turbocharged LT7 DOHC V8 with a flat-plane crank.
Power: 793 kW at 7,000 rpm.
Torque: 1,121 Nm at 6,000 rpm.
Top Speed Mode: Optimized for peak performance, allowing a GM-estimated sub-10-second quarter mile.
Aero: Carbon fibre aero package delivers over 545 kg (1,200 lbs) of downforce at top speed.
Design Legacy: A nod to Corvette’s iconic history, featuring the return of the split rear window.Take a look at the YouTube video from the content creators at Chevrolet as they detail the process and action that happened when the powers that be took the 2025 Corvette ZR1 to a new factory series-production top speed record. Sort of expected with the most powerful production V8 making things exciting: Top Speed Announcement | Corvette ZR1 | Chevrolet
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