Is the 2019 ZR1 the Ultimate Corvette?

YouTuber Doug DeMuro can’t help but smile when he lets the 755-horsepower Corvette stretch its legs.

Internet celebrity Doug DeMuro recently got his hands on a 2019 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1, a machine that he dubs the “ultimate Corvette”. As is the case with all of his reviews, the host evaluates the car on both performance capabilities and the overall driving experience, addressing issues like the rough ride and the hard-to-access rear cargo area as much as the powerful engine and premium gadgets.

The Introduction

At the beginning of the video DeMuro talks about the history of the ZR1 name and he explains that he borrowed this 755-horsepower Chevy from a viewer and fellow YouTuber who has a Camaro ZL1, a Viper, a Demon, a Trackhawk and a GT500. Jealous.

His introduction to the new ZR1 begins with the hard numbers – 755 horsepower, a top speed of 211, the ability to dash from 0-60 in 3.1 seconds and a price tag of $143,000. He also points out that the new Corvette has more power than the Lamborghini Aventator, the same top speed as the Ferrari 812 Superfast and double the torque of the Lexus LFA.

Exterior Walk-around

DeMuro’s review of the exterior of this 2019 Corvette ZR1 begins out back, where he addresses the issue with the massive, optional rear wing. While it looks great and offers incredible levels of downforce, it makes accessing the trunk area difficult.

When he moves around to the front end, Demuro gushes about the front splitter end caps, pointing out that the cover part of the front reflectors and that the low-reaching splitter is likely to get beat up during normal use.

Finally, he looks at the unique hood design, with the engine sticking up through the hole in the middle. The hood is awesome, but as DeMuro points out, it somewhat obstructs the driver’s view.

Interior Run Down

Next, DeMuro climbs into the passenger’s seat for a look at the cockpit of the new ZR1. He highlights some unique features, including the manual door latches on the floor and the passenger’s side heated/cooled seat controls, with one set on the center console and another on the right-most HVAC vent.

While in the 755-horsepower Corvette, the host points out the personalized dash plaque on the center stack while pointing out that the YouTuber who owns this car actually drives it, rather than keeping it in storage to protect future value. At this point, he takes a shot at Ferrari Enzo owners who do not drive their cars.

While DeMuro doesn’t like how the heads-up display competes with the hood in the driver’s view, he likes the functionality of that system while also praising the performance data recorder system.

The Drive

Finally, Doug DeMuro gets into the driver’s seat to experience the C7 ZR1 and as you might expect, he loves it. From the roar of the LT5 engine to the acceleration forces, the YouTuber can’t help but grin from ear-to-ear while driving this beast. He does voice some concern about the rough ride, but he loves the sound and the driving dynamics of the new Corvette ZR1.

In the end, he gives the new Corvette ZR1 a score of 65 out of 100. That sounds like based on the average scholastic scoring system, but it’s not. Instead, it’s based on “the Doug scale,” and it puts the new Chevy supercar among some of the other best performance cars on the road today.

Join the Corvette forums today!

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