The C8 Corvette has been nothing short of amazing since its launch in 2020. The mid-engine sports car has cemented itself among more expensive supercars and has represented the brand on the world stage in FIA WEC competition by winning the 2023 championship in the GT Am class. With the E-Ray and the Z06 in production, enthusiasts are focused on the next variant currently being tested. The ZR1 model has been the flagship of the Corvette lineup in years past, and the coming C8 ZR1 looks to carry the torch in that position.

Images courtesy of the Brink Of Speed YouTube channel

Plenty of rumors have floated around the industry regarding the C8 ZR1, from what will power it to how drastically the aero package will differ from the Z06. Earlier this year test mules were spotted at the Nurburgring track but were covered in loose black padding and sporting Z06 wings so as not to divulge the body lines of the ZR1. In October however, a ZR1 was photographed on the famed test track wearing nothing but a camouflaged wrap. With the black padding stripped away, the ZR1’s body and aero components were on display for spying eyes.

The most notable thing about the C8 ZR1 in the photos is the massive GT3-style rear wing. As much as we liked the Z06 unit, the wing on the ZR1 looks even better and fits with the rest of the changes to the exterior, making the ZR1 look very similar to the GT3.R race car. It’s a bit difficult to tell for sure, but it appears the wing is attached to the chassis instead of to the body. This would make the most sense considering the amount of downforce a wing of this size can generate.

Another feature caught in the images are inlet air ducts that are above the rear wheels on the quarter panel and the outside edges of the engine hatch. The ducts on the quarter panels most likely provide additional cooling to the rear brakes while the inlets on the engine hatch could provide cool air to a pair of turbochargers.

Up front, there is a noticeable change to the hood of the frunk as well. There is a large ducted area that would serve as a heat extractor for the electric motors if rumors of a hybrid powertrain option are true. This design feature not only serves a functional purpose but also adds to the aggressive styling that makes the ZR1 stand out. Other than that, the rest of the nose on the test mule in the images is the same as the Z06 with the Z07 aero package utilizing the same canards and front splitter.

Speaking of power, the expected and much-anticipated engine combination is going to be something enthusiasts have wanted for years. There are multiple spy videos with audio currently floating around the internet that some believe add credence to the engine being a turbocharged variant of the Z06’s flat-plane LT6. The turbocharged engine, currently referred to as the LT7, is expected to produce approximately 800 horsepower and 850 lb-ft of torque.

More unknown is whether or not a hybrid electric front drive system is currently on the test mule seen on track. Talk of the Zora model sporting the ZR1’s turbocharged LT7 combined with the E-Ray’s electric drive system has been possibly the most hyped Corvette news in the last year. An all-wheel-drive C8 with turbos that produces 1,000 horsepower is something enthusiasts’ dreams are made of. To read more about the Corvette’s hybrid electric drive system visit Electrified Magazine.

The C8 ZR1 test car spotted around Nurburgring has been putting in lots of laps and street miles. We can’t wait to see the ZR1 minus the camo wrap to get a full picture of its body lines. Vengeance Graphix has created a rendering that we think is close to what the production car will look like, and if so, it will be amazing. If the hybrid Zora model is to be launched alongside the ZR1 as rumored, it will be interesting to see how lap times will compare between the two variants and see how they stack up to the lap times of other supercars.

Stay tuned to LSX Magazine as we bring you updates on the C8 ZR1 and all things LS/LT-related.