Moving the engine to the middle of the Chevrolet C8 Corvette opens up a lot of possibilities for the automaker. Thanks to a massive leak, Hagerty found a General Motors document that obtained a bunch of upcoming Corvette trims that are worth getting excited about.
The internal document reveals that four new Corvette models are in the works: Z06, Grand Sport, ZR1, and ZORA. Other Corvettes have had Z06, Grand Sport, and ZR1 models, but the ZORA nameplate is special for a few reasons. Before we get to that, here are the juicy bits on the other models first.
The Corvette Z06 will come out for the 2022 model year with a 5.5-liter dual-overhead cam (DOHC) V8 engine. Chevy borrowed the engine from the Corvette C8.R and will reportedly be tuned to produce 600 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque. The engine in the racecar also has a flat-plane crankshaft, which, if it makes its way to the C8 Z06, should give it a more exotic sound than the muscle-car note we’re used to.
The Z06 will be followed by the Corvette Grand Sport for the 2023 model year, which will use the same LT2 6.2-liter V8 found in the regular C8 Corvette. Unlike the regular powertrain, the version in the Grand Sport will feature a hybrid powertrain for 600 hp and 500 lb-ft of torque – increases of 110 hp and 35 lb-ft of torque. Neither the outlet nor the document discusses the specifics of the powertrain, how many electric motors it will come with, or whether it will have all-wheel drive.
For the 2024 model year, Chevy will roll out the Corvette ZR1. What has usually been the top dog in the Corvette family, the upcoming C8 Corvette ZR1 will reportedly come with a twin-turbocharged 5.5-liter DOHC V8 engine. Power will be at an immense 850 hp and 825 lb-ft of torque, making the 755 hp and 715 lb-ft of torque found in the C7 Corvette ZR1 look pedestrian.
If you’re looking for the new king of the Corvette hill, you’ll have to wait until the 2025 model year, because that’s when the ZORA comes out. It will combine the twin-turbo unit from the C8 ZR1 with a hybrid powertrain for a combined output of 1,000 hp and 975 lb-ft of torque.
If the document holds true, Chevrolet is using the C8 Corvette for a lot of firsts. The latest generation of the sports car will see the first time the Corvette features a turbocharged engine and a hybrid powertrain. While Chevy is certainly looking into the future with the C8 Corvette and its advanced powertrains that are in the pipeline, the automaker is also looking to the past for some inspiration.
Zora Arkus-Duntov is known for being the father of the Corvette. He was the sports car’s first chief engineer and was also the first individual to picture the Corvette as a mid-engined vehicle. Without him, the C8 Corvette wouldn’t have been made. To pay homage to Zora Arkus, Chevrolet will be using the ZORA name on what’s shaping up to be the most powerful and advanced Corvette to date.
While we’re psyched to see all of the upcoming C8 Corvette models that Chevrolet has in the works, there’s a good chance that the coronavirus will delay at least one of these trims. Still, if these numbers are to be believed, they’re certainly worth the wait.