THE CORVETTE ZORA PROTOTYPE SHOWS US THAT CHEVY STILL HAS A FEW TRICKS UP ITS SLEEVE
UPDATE: 2024/09/13 07:54 EST BY ROBERT MOORE
Chevy C8 Corvette Zora Hybrid Caught On Video At The Nurburgring
Following a rather large batch of pictures that clearly show us a more aggressive C8 Corvette Hybrid, we've finally got our hands on some video of that very C8 putting in some work on the Nurburgring. The yellow picture on the engine hatch is a clear indicator that this is a hybrid, though it looks like a ZR1. The only problem is that the ZR1 is not a hybrid. Add 2+2 together, and it's clear that this is, in fact, the mythical Corvette Zora. There's most likely still at least a year before we see anything major go official for the Zora, but for now, this video is enough to prove that it exists. Check it out at the top of the page for yourself!
The C8 Corvette had a dose of adrenaline pumped into it in the form of the ZR1 recently . But, Chevy hasn’t stopped with it. Now, it is testing a car that’s even wilder and will catapult the C8 ZR1 into supersonic territory; well, not really, but you get the gist. The prototype, that was spotted testing at the Nürburgring wrapped in camouflage, seems to be the highly-anticipated Zora.
The Zora is expected to be a ZR1 with some more physical and mechanical changes, and this test mule is exactly that. The highlight, of course, is the hybrid powertrain, which could add about 150 horses to the ZR1’s output. Here’s what these spy shots indicate.
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Expect Over 1,200 Horses In The Zora
The test mule was spotted testing around the ‘Ring and looks like the ZR1 at first glance, but look closely and you’ll spot some small differences. For starters, there’s a yellow sticker on what looks like the rear split window/windshield; which is a requirement on electrified vehicles in some countries. The 2025 ZR1 features a split-window, something that was spotted for the first time on a Corvette after 60 years, but doesn’t look like a dead giveaway in the camouflaged Zora. Considering the Zora will make more power, we have no reason to doubt that the split-window will be replaced by a windshield here.
The Zora is expected to feature the ZR1’s twin-turbocharged flat-plane crank V-8 engine with the electric motor and battery system from the E-Ray hybrid . This means we’re looking at an all-wheel-drive setup that could churn out about 1,220 horses.
2024 Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray and ZR1 Specs
| Corvette E-Ray | Corvette ZR1 | |
| Engine | 6.2-Liter V-8 Hybrid | 5.5-liter twin-turbocharged V8 |
| Transmission | 8-Speed Dual-Clutch Automatic | 8-Speed Dual-Clutch Automatic |
| Horsepower | 655 HP | 1,064 HP |
| Torque | 595 LB-FT | 828 LB-FT |
| Driveline | AWD | RWD |
| 0-60 MPH | 2.5 Seconds | N/A |
| Top Speed | 183 MPH | 215 MPH |
| Fuel Economy | 19 MPG Combined | N/A |
Moving on to the other changes, the test prototype features stacked coolers that are used to cool the battery and electric motor, similar to the ones found on the E-Ray. This is not something we’ve seen on the Z06 or the ZR1. Seeing the V-8’s arrangement in the center tunnel in the ZR1, there seems to be enough space to fit the E-Ray’s 1.1-kilowatt-hour battery pack. In fact, Chevy could have used it for other purposes, like larger coolant hoses or storage, but it remains empty, which means the hybrid setup and its components could be housed there.
Nothing has been confirmed by Chevy, so all the information mentioned here is speculative, based on news about the Zora that's been floating around for years, and to be taken with a grain of salt.
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The Story Behind Zora
Chevy refreshed the ‘Zora’ moniker with the USPTO back in 2018, four years after filing it for the first time with the USPTO and 22 other intellectual property offices. ‘Zora’ for the uninitiated, is named after the Russian-American engineer, Zachary "Zora" Arkus-Duntov, often regarded as the father of Corvette. He transformed the Corvette into a legendary sports car, introducing stuff like limited-slip differential, disc brakes, and independent rear suspension. He was apparently quite vocal about having a mid-engined Corvette, which never came to fruition in his lifetime. But, paying tribute to him nearly 30 years after his passing by calling the most powerful mid-engine Corvette the ‘Zora’ seems fitting.
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All said, it must be noted that Chevy still hasn’t officially confirmed the Zora, but this test mule changes it; unless GM springs a surprise by not calling it the Zora. If you want to play Sherlock, Corvette chief engineer Tadge Juechter has dropped some strong hints. When discussing the different Corvette trims and their power levels, Juechter mentioned that "we’ve been working on [the ZR1] for six years," but also alluded to future projects. Since Juechter is set to retire after the ZR1’s launch, his comments suggest that he may be referring to the Zora as the next step in the Corvette lineup.
It's no secret that Chevy benchmarks its vehicles against high-performance competitors. In June 2024, the company was spotted testing a Ferrari SF90 Stradale, which was discontinued recently, alongside a group of camouflaged Corvette prototypes. The SF90 is a hybrid supercar powered by a twin-turbo V-8 and three electric motors for all-wheel drive, a setup similar to what the Zora is also expected to have (minus two electric motors for now). The SF90 churns out 986 horses, much fewer than what the Zora could have, but it seems like a more appropriate match for the American hybrid.
2024-09-12T03:25:35Z dg43tfdfdgfd