Corvette chief engineer teases an even wilder C8 variant beyond the 1,250-hp ZR1X, with Nürburgring glory in Chevy’s sights.
Corvette enthusiasts might want to hold off on declaring the ZR1X the ultimate C8. According to Corvette chief engineer Tony Roma, the mid-engine platform hasn’t reached its limits just yet.
Speaking to Top Gear at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, Roma described the C8 as “super capable” and insisted that “the ZR1X is not the end of the story, it’s just the latest chapter.” His comments immediately ignited speculation that Chevrolet is already developing an even more extreme iteration of the mid-engine Corvette.
The recently unveiled C8 ZR1X has already pushed boundaries with a twin-turbo 5.5-liter LT7 V8 combined with an electric motor for 1,250 horsepower. It rockets to 60 mph in under two seconds and blasts through the quarter mile in under nine seconds, topping 150 mph. Despite those staggering numbers, Roma hinted that his team remains hungry to push performance even further.
“The team that works on it has a very ‘what can we do, and how can we do it?’ attitude,” Roma said. “They see possibilities and not challenges.”
Roma also emphasized that Chevrolet still considers the Nürburgring Nordschleife a critical proving ground. The current benchmark for American performance is the Ford Mustang GTD’s 6:52.072 lap, a record Chevy is keen to beat. “We want to be the fastest American car – that’s an accolade we’d love to have,” Roma said, adding only, “stay tuned,” when asked about future attempts.
The Ford-versus-Chevy rivalry remains as heated as ever. Ford even fired a playful shot during Goodwood by revving the Mustang GTD next to a C8 E-Ray during Chevrolet’s presentation.
If Roma’s hints are any indication, the Corvette team intends to respond—not just with words, but with another C8 variant that could rewrite the record books.
