Chevy closed the book on its front-engine Corvette legacy in 2019, paving the way for something radical. Mid-engine architecture arrived with the C8, preserving the V-8 heartbeat but shifting its location. Evolution didn’t pause there. In 2024, the E-Ray changed the script again—introducing electrified all-wheel drive. That groundwork now leads to the wildest iteration yet: the 2026 Corvette ZR1X.
Fans turned off by the E-Ray’s hybrid AWD may see this as crossing a line. Yet ZR1X goes far beyond provocation—it’s Chevrolet’s most ferocious street car to date. Under the skin lies the essence of the long-anticipated Corvette Zora. Power comes from combining the ZR1’s LT7 engine with a revamped electric system, together producing a face-flattening 1250 horsepower.
Much of that firepower comes from a twin-turbocharged 5.5-liter V-8 pushing 1064 horsepower to the rear wheels through an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission. Up front, a strengthened electric motor builds upon the E-Ray’s foundation with added punch. While the battery stays at 1.9 kWh, Chevrolet increased usable capacity and voltage. The front motor now cuts out at 160 mph, offering sustained electric boost deeper into the speed range.
Rear-driven ZR1s already impress with relentless traction, pulling over 1.0 g well into triple digits. Adding front-end propulsion gives ZR1X a brutal edge in launches. Zero-to-60 now falls below 2.0 seconds, with the quarter-mile dispatched in under nine—no sticky drag strip required. A clean road and warm rubber are all it needs.
Performance isn’t limited to acceleration figures. Chevy completely reengineered the E-Ray’s eAWD control for sharper dynamics. The result? A system capable of simultaneously sustaining 1.0 g in braking and cornering, according to engineers. Drivers aiming to touch those limits should skip anything heavy for breakfast.
A steering wheel-mounted Charge+ button returns from the E-Ray, joined by a new push-to-pass system. Designed for all-out sprints, it unlocks full hybrid output. To activate, select a Performance Traction mode, press the throttle, and flick the cruise stalk up. What follows is a short but furious burst of everything ZR1X has to give.
Brake development got its own project code: J59. Giant 10-piston front calipers and 16.5-inch rotors headline the new system, with carbon-ceramic discs woven from continuous carbon fiber strands. This setup pulls 1.9 g deceleration from 180 mph to 120 mph. Standard on ZR1X, these brakes are set to roll out to all ZR1s next year.
New for 2026, GM’s PTM Pro mode debuts across every Corvette but was built with ZR1X in mind. Toggling it disables traction and stability systems while keeping advanced aids like torque vectoring, launch logic, and front-drive preloading. Skilled drivers can now edge closer to the car’s limits with fewer electronic restrictions.
Expect configurations to mirror the standard ZR1 lineup closely. Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires strike a balance between grip and road civility. Stepping up to the ZTK package unlocks track-focused changes, including stiffer damping, Cup 2R rubber, and an aero kit with underbody fins, front canards, a lip spoiler, and towering rear wing.
Corvette loyalists will find familiar territory inside. Though the ZR1X packs serious performance, its cabin aligns with the broader 2026 lineup. Gone are the vertical HVAC buttons, replaced by cleaner controls beneath the center screen. Three displays now anchor the dashboard: a 14-inch cluster, a 12.7-inch main touchscreen, and a 6.6-inch unit for performance and HUD settings.
Final pricing remains under wraps, but ZR1X will almost certainly set a new ceiling for Corvette cost—expected to exceed $250,000. That might raise eyebrows among traditionalists, but those chasing top-tier performance at less-than-supercar prices will see it as a value. Deliveries begin before year’s end, and demand will be nothing short of frenzied.
