New Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 Rumoured to be a 900-hp Hybrid With AWD

The all-new, mid-engine 2020 Chevrolet Corvette has been one of the biggest and most polarizing reveals of the year, but it’s not done yet.

After sources indicated the next-gen Corvette Z06 could deliver up to 800 horsepower by using a version of the 5.5-litre V8 that powers the Corvette C8.R race car, a new report by Motor Trend claims the ZR1 variant will feature a twin-turbocharged V8 hybrid powertrain with all-wheel drive.

A hybrid ‘Vette? That’s right. It could generate in excess of 900 horsepower—about 150 more than the current ZR1—making it the most potent production Corvette ever built and also the first with AWD.

Photo: Chevrolet

The website says it receive information from a “high-placed” (though anonymous) employee at General Motors, who also talked about a pair of electric motors being fitted into the new Corvette’s front trunk area.

As the numbers above suggest, this would clearly be an attempt to maximize performance, more specifically by relying on the motors to fill the torque gaps in the rev range. We’re not counting on improvements in fuel economy, especially with the extra weight. Meanwhile, the AWD setup would give the Corvette ZR1 more grip in corners and in slippery conditions.

Photo: Chevrolet

While we wait to see if Motor Trend’s report turns out to be accurate, remember that production of the base 2020 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray is not going to start until February due to the UAW strike earlier this fall.

Share on Facebook

More on the subject

NewsHennessey Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 Cranked up to 1,000 hp and More
Seriously, how excited are you about the upcoming launch of the 2020 Chevrolet Corvette ? We sure are. There will be many reasons to love that car, and we’re very curious to see how much power and performance engineers can extract out of its new mid-engine configuration. Now, consider what …
First Drives2019 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1: Behold the Beast
LAS VEGAS, Nevada – I was sent for a ride of the ZR1 on a road circuit right beside the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. And when I got into the car, Tony Kanaan, winner of the 2013 Indianapolis 500 and IndyCar driver for A.J. Foyt’s team, greeted me with the …
NewsNext-gen Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Could Deliver 800 Hp
The Chevrolet Corvette is back in the news after one media outlet suggested that the eighth-generation Z06 will launch in late 2021 as a 2022 model with 800 horsepower and 700 pound-feet of torque, maybe more. According to Automobile , Chevrolet will use an evolution of the twin-turbocharged 4.2-litre “Blackwing” …
First Drives2020 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray: Already Fantastic
ANN ARBOR, Michigan— Two pre-production copies of the new, mid-engine 2020 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray were among the three dozen vehicles submitted to the North American Car of the Year (NACTOY) jury for three days of testing. Both were 3LT models equipped with the essential Z51 performance package and virtually all …
NewsReport: Chevrolet is Losing Money With the 2020 Corvette Stingray
The eighth-generation (C8) 2020 Chevrolet Corvette is not only one of the year’s most important new debuts with its exotic looks and mid-engine configuration, but also a real bargain in the sports-car segment with a base price of just $69,998 in Canada. When you factor in the exchange rate, it’s …