Chevrolet’s new 1,064-horsepower ZR1 supercar puts its twin-turbo performance to the test on America’s most famous mountain road.
The Tail of the Dragon, a famed 11-mile stretch of U.S. Route 129 boasting 318 curves, has long been a proving ground for performance cars. This month, the spotlight fell on the 2025 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 as enthusiasts captured footage of the twin-turbocharged machine tackling one of America’s most demanding roads.
The video, published by the YouTube channel Chasing Curves, showcases the ZR1’s ferocious acceleration and unmistakable turbo spool as it carves through the dense forest bordering Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Unlike many scenic mountain routes, the Dragon offers no cross streets or driveways, giving drivers an uninterrupted canvas of winding asphalt.
Chevrolet’s latest ZR1 represents the peak of Corvette engineering. Its 5.5-liter twin-turbo V8 produces a staggering 1,064 horsepower, transmitted through a rear-wheel-drive layout designed for maximum performance. On the Tail of the Dragon, the car’s balance and handling are just as evident as its raw power, with the footage capturing the harmony between brutal straight-line speed and precise cornering.
Automotive enthusiasts have long regarded the Dragon as both a challenge and a pilgrimage. For the ZR1, the road serves as more than a thrill ride—it highlights the supercar’s ability to merge racetrack engineering with real-world driving. Each turbocharged surge through the tight bends emphasizes why the ZR1 is positioned as Chevrolet’s most extreme Corvette yet.
While the Dragon has claimed its share of drivers who underestimated its complexity, the ZR1’s run underscores how cutting-edge engineering and careful driving can make even the most twisting roads a stage for modern performance.
