The Gauntlet Is Thrown!

[blueline]

Welp, Porsche has its work cut out for it regarding the new C8 ZR1. My question is how (or will) Porsche step up?

An exclusive from Hagerty:

https://www.hagerty.com/media/news/excl ... d568259d8a

"While in development, the new mid-engine monster flexed its prodigious muscle and remarkable athleticism at four different U.S. tracks, where it claimed five production-car lap records. The C8-generation ZR1 is now King of the Hill at Watkins Glen, Road America, Road Atlanta, and at Virginia International Raceway’s Grand Course as well as its Full Course."

"...let’s put some of these lap times in perspective. The margins by which the ZR1 claimed these records are measured in seconds, not tenths. At VIR, on the Grand Course, the ZR1’s 2:32.3 lap beat that of the McLaren Senna by 2.6 seconds (set in 2019 at Car and Driver’s Lightning Lap event.) On VIR’s Full Course, the ZR1 bested its predecessor, the 755-hp C7-generation ZR1 from 2019, by 3.5 seconds."

"The previous production car record-holder at Road Atlanta was the 991-generation Porsche 911 GT2 RS, which set a time of 1:24.88 in 2019. The ZR1 beat it by two seconds..."

"On to Road America ... the ZR1’s 2:08.6 lap time put the Corvette more than five seconds (!) ahead of the 992-generation Porsche 911 GT3 RS, which set its record in 2023. It was here at Road America, on the front straight, that the ZR1 hit its top speed at all the tracks: 188 mph."

This is incredibly impressive, even more so because the record laps were driven by GM's development drivers - engineers and department managers.

The (very short!) single, record lap videos from Road America, Road Atlanta and VIR are mind blowing. (They are embedded in the article and shared below.) They are staggering actually, especially for those of us who have driven those incredible tracks.

Ok Porsche - let's get to it!!! The challenge has been placed!

[Tom]

Truly incredible!

Rumors are swirling online about dealers asking for $100k - $140k ADM, meaning it would be a $350k proposition right now. Still cheaper than anything that can keep up with it I guess, but I'll be interested to see how long it takes for pricing to come down to earth. At MSRP, it would be quite the bargain...

[blueline]

Truly incredible!

Rumors are swirling online about dealers asking for $100k - $140k ADM, meaning it would be a $350k proposition right now. Still cheaper than anything that can keep up with it I guess, but I'll be interested to see how long it takes for pricing to come down to earth. At MSRP, it would be quite the bargain...

The ADM is absolutely ridiculous. Of course, I say the same about Porsche's (ok, the dealers' - nod nod, wink wink) similarly ridiculous ADM for GT and other halo cars.

The Zora version of the Corvette is in the works but I have no idea how they top the specs on the ZR1.

Beyond all of that, I still am not a fan of the look of the C8 Corvettes. Too extreme - a bit tacky for my tastes. However, I love the C6 & C7 gens and, most especially, the gorgeous C2 gen Corvettes (1963 - 1967). I guess I'm biased since I had several from all three of those gens in times gone by.

[Tom]

GM just picked up their Gauntlet and rubbed it in everyone's face.

https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a6507 ... -revealed/

https://news.gm.com/home.detail.html/Pa ... ercar.html


"Chevrolet is introducing an all-wheel drive Corvette worthy of the storied ZR1 designation: the 2026 Corvette ZR1X. With 1,250 horsepower and electrified all-wheel drive, ZR1X is a true American hypercar and the most advanced Corvette ever. With ZR1 and ZR1X, Chevrolet now has the most powerful American performance car duo of any auto manufacturer.

ZR1X features:

LT7 twin-turbo V8: 1,064 horsepower at 7,000 rpm, 828 lb-ft of torque at 6,000 rpm
Front-axle motor: 186 horsepower and 145 lb-ft of torque
GM-estimated 0-60: Under 2 seconds
GM-estimated ¼ mile: Under 9 seconds, with trap speed over 150 mph"

[RDMcG]

Formidable numbers. Will be interesting to see what the GT2RS looks like. Seems inevitable that a hybrid will show up at some stage .Porsche has bigger problems with its EV strategy and Chinese sales challenges among other things but being habitually a Nürburgring lap record holder has a halo effect on the brand. That halo may be slipping .