Chevrolet’s ZR1 and newly unveiled ZR1X Corvettes have been dominating headlines with their impressive performance figures. Last summer, Chevy introduced the ZR1, a twin-turbocharged powerhouse packing 1,064 horsepower courtesy of the all-new LT7 engine. Fast-forward to just last week and GM started to deliver the long-awaited ZR1 to their eager customers. A customer of Paragon Performance allowed their brand-new C8 ZR1 to be put to the test after a brisk 500-mile break-in, following its pickup in Kentucky under the museum delivery program and subsequent drive to Iowa for the world’s first C8 ZR1 dyno test.

It’s a bold move from General Motors and one that’s sparked serious buzz. But while the spotlight shines on the futuristic ZR1X, early ZR1 customers have quietly begun receiving their cars. Among the first to take delivery was a customer of Paragon Performance, a renowned Corvette tuning shop in Waukee, Iowa. With no performance upgrades or aftermarket support available yet, Paragon wasted no time in getting a baseline dyno reading from this brand-new C8 ZR1.

Their test car was 100% bone stock: no tuning, no bolt-ons, just 93-octane pump gas on an 85-degree day with 65% humidity. After a few warm-up runs to ensure everything was operating safely, Paragon strapped down the twin-turbo V8 and went wide open. The numbers? Absolutely wild.

The ZR1 laid down 1,028 rear-wheel horsepower at 7,100 rpm and 839 lb-ft of torque at 4,800 rpm. That’s significantly closer to crank-rated numbers than anyone expected — especially for a brand-new car, unmodified, and on a chassis dyno, which typically records 15% drivetrain losses. Paragon noted the dyno run used an STD correction factor (4%), but even when applying the more conservative SAE correction (6%), the numbers remain well into four-digit territory. The C8 ZR1 dyno run is proving its muscle in the real world already.

The bone-stock C8 ZR1 dyno run presented the team at Paragon performance with an impressive 1,028 rear-wheel horsepower at 7,100 rpm and 839 lb-ft of torque at 4,800 rpm.

For reference, Chevrolet rates the LT7 at 1,064 hp and 828 lb-ft at the crank, achieved via dual 76mm turbos and an 8,000-rpm redline. That makes the ZR1 the most powerful internal combustion production Corvette ever. Seeing it deliver over 1,000 horsepower to the rear wheels on its first dyno session is not just impressive, it’s game-changing.