2019 Corvette ZR1 Leaves Vehicle Virgins Absolutely Floored

We can’t tell if we’re jealous or envious of the Corvette ZR1 experience this YouTube personality had.

This video review comes to us from the YouTube channel of Vehicle Virgins and it features the 2019 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1.

Mike from the StreetSpeed717 YouTube channel recently lent his 2019 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 to the crew from the Vehicle Virgins YouTube channel and as you might expect, the host of this review loves the LT5-powered Chevy supercar. He loves the look, the loves the interior and he loves how it drives, finishing up with a short in-car interview with the owner of this stunning Corvette.

The Walk-Around

Before the host of this video takes to the street, he spends a few minutes talking about the performance numbers and looking at the key exterior design features of the 2019 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1. He starts off by discussing the 755-horsepower LT5 V8, with a massive supercharger that extends up through an opening in the hood. He then moves around to the rear, talking about the deafening quad-tip exhaust system that shoot flames and he finishes up the exterior discussion with a look at the new front end.

This new face has more intake ducts than the Z06, allowing the ZR1 to bring in plenty of air through the extra heat exchangers. With the extra air flow and the added intercoolers, the more-powerful LT5 shouldn’t have the cooling troubles of the LT4.

The walk-around finishes up with the host climbing into the driver’s seat of the 2019 Corvette ZR1. He points out that it has a similar feel to the Z06, with gobs of carbon fiber, alcantara and premium finishes giving the newest Chevy sports car the feel that you would expect from a six-figure supercar.

Driving the ZR1

After discussing all of the key features of the 2019 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1, the host of Vehicle Virgins heads out onto the open road with new supercar. He loves the way that the Competition seats look and hold him in place, but he loves the driving dynamics of the new ZR1 even more.

He calls the acceleration and sound “brutal”, but in a good way. As he roars around town, he shows off the Track gauge cluster and the Track heads-up display before turning to his bit on the transmission.

StreetSpeed717’s Corvette ZR1 was the first with a manual transmission to be delivered and the host of the Vehicle Virgins channel loves the three-pedal package. He talks about how it is far more engaging than the automatic transmission in the C7 Z06 and while the manual transmission offers slightly diminished performance figures – he recommends that everyone who orders a ZR1 gets the manual transmission.

Around the 14-minute mark, we get some focused driving footage with cameras on the roof, the rear end and on the driver’s head as he zips through some small town. This gives us the best chance to hear the LT5 roar, with the first person perspective giving us a great look at what it’s like to drive the new ZR1.

Finally, the video ends with an in-car discussion with Mike StreetSpeed717, during which time he discusses everything that he likes about the new Corvette ZR1.

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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