Dream into Action: C8 Corvette Rendered in ZR1 Form

Premium mid-engine Corvette could be called the ZR1 or the Zora, and it will definitely offer world-class performance.

Prior to General Motors finally making it clear that there is, indeed, a mid-engined Chevrolet Corvette coming to market, the automotive community had spent several years pining over spy photos of what was believed to be the next generation of the legendary American sports car. Those spy shots didn’t reveal many body lines, but the proportions were unquestionably those of a mid-engined layout. More importantly, we saw a variety of different aero bits being tested, including a massive rear wing.

Some people believe that the C8 Corvette test car with the big rear wing is the premium performance models, possibly coming with the name Zora, if they opt to go away from ZR1. However, the cars carrying those big wings didn’t appear to be any different from the same test cars without the wing, leading us to believe that it was actually an aerodynamics upgrade package being tested; not an entirely different package.

If that proves to be the case, then there could be a stronger, more extreme version of the C8 on the way and in the images here, our artists have drawn up what we believe could represent the premium performance version of the next generation Corvette.

The Front End

Based on the spy shots of the C8 Corvette, we know that it will have a short front end with an array of vents running across the front end. These will presumably supply the cooling air to the big front brakes while also possibly providing tuned air flow that will exit through the middle of the “hood” to help provide extra front end downforce at high speeds.

In ZR1 form, the front end of the C8 could feature a chin spoiler that extends much further to the ground, increasing front end downforce by channeling more air over the car and through the grille. The grille itself could have larger, more prominent openings and in addition to the chin spoiler, the front fascia itself could extend down further to bolster high speed aero properties, with dive planes mounted on each of the corners.

Finally, continuing to hone the air flow around the front end, the C8 ZR1 could feature a hood that has a cowl induction-style bulge, but rather than making room for a big engine, this unique hood would be helping to channel air more smoothly up over the windshield.

The Sides

Along the sides, the C8 has sculpted body lines that lead into large air intake ducts extending out away from the body just behind the doors. These are presumably the ducts used to capture engine intake air, so in a mid-engined car with more power, those ducts would be larger to capture more air. Furthering that effort, the portion of the rear hatch directly above the rear wheels could also have a set of ducts added to get more cooling air into the engine bay while also helping to push hot air out.

Elsewhere on the sides, the next generation ZR1 would have side skirts that extend much lower, lightweight center-lock wheels and carbon ceramic brakes wrapped in 6-piston Brembo calipers up front and 4-piston units out back. Of course, the side-view would benefit from the added aero up front and out back, while a unique suspension system would bring the whole car a bit closer to the ground.

The Rear End

Out back, we can expect that the C8 Corvette ZR1 would have a gigantic, adjustable wing perched at the rear of the hatch. Below that, the lower fascia would be unique, consisting up larger openings for larger exhaust tips and a prominent diffuser extending out from under the tail.

The Cockpit

On the inside, we would expect the next Corvette ZR1 to combine weight reduction with the high performance feel. We know that the car will come with a unique, flat-bottomed steering wheel that hovers over a large gauge cluster with a big infotainment screen mounted in the center of the dash and leather-wrapped seats that are contoured in all of the right places to provide support and comfort.

We can expect all of that to be present in the premium performance version, but we can expect loads of carbon fiber trim from the door panels to the dash, along with seats that are a bit more minimalist, possibly something from Recaro that cuts weight without reducing functionality.

Basically, the exterior of the C8 Corvette ZR1 is going to look a whole lot like a GT race car without the graphics, and while that seems extreme to some people, Porsche has been offering a similar package for the 911 for years now. On the inside, we don’t expect Chevrolet to go with a stripped-down cabin for the next ZR1, as it has traditionally come with a loaded interior and that is likely to continue in what will probably be the highest performance American car ever.

Join Corvette Forum now!

Patrick Rall

"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.

"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.

"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.

"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.

"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.

"Being based on Detroit," says Rall, "I never miss the North American International Auto Show, the Woodward Dream Cruise and Roadkill Nights, along with spending plenty of time raising hell on Detroit's Woodward Avenue with the best muscle car crowd in the world.

Rall can be contacted at QuickMirada@Yahoo.com