This is the new Corvette ZR1: a 1,064bhp twin-turbo speed machine

“Take ZR1 to the next level,” was Chevy’s mission statement. It appears its engineers have taken it to another galaxy, because this isn’t just the most powerful Corvette ever built, it’s a car with the most powerful American production V8 in history.

Sorry Dodge Demon, your 1,025bhp crown has been blown away in a haze of twin-turbo fury by this: the 1,064bhp Corvette ZR1. Though it takes the same ‘Small Block Gemini’ engine architecture as the Z06’s LT6, it’s not just that plus turbo.

Now called ‘LT7’, the 5.5-litre V8 with a flat-plane crank features new head castings, unique ports, a bigger combustion chamber for bigger bangs, optimised valve timing and a new intake system, and of course, a pair of 76mm mono-scroll blowers built into the exhaust.

This, says Chevy, reduces the distance the angry air must travel, so it very quickly gets into the chambers and reacts… angrily. Naturally, everything’s been strengthened across the board in order to deal with “the dramatic increase in power”. And hoo boy, does it have power.

There’s the headline, four-figure output, achieved at 7,000rpm, along with 828lb ft of torque, delivered through an eight-speed dual-clutch gearbox to the rear wheels. And hoo boy, do those rear wheels go. Chevy’s already clocked a sub-10 second quarter mile. And 200mph flat out at the Nürburgring. And claimed a 215mph top speed.

Of course, this being a ZR1 means it’s built for corners, too. And another number comes swinging in: it offers a claimed 1,200lbs of downforce at that 215mph top speed. There are various offerings to the gods of aero, like a new front grille, carbon fibre air ducts on the side and up top, new splitters, rockers, underwing and, very obviously, a rear wing.

There’s the option of the ‘ZTK’ track pack, which adds a properly angry “high-downforce rear wing”, dive planes, a Gurney lip on the bonnet and underbody strakes. The springs are stiffer with this pack, too, while the 20/21in alloys get special Michelin PS Cup 2-R tyres.

It’ll stop fairly angrily too, says Chevy. The 400mm front/390mm rear discs are the biggest ever fitted to a ‘Vette, are made from carbon ceramic, and in a strange metric, help the ZR1 perform 80-200-80mph in 24.5s. That’s 22 per cent quicker than the C7 ZR1. Whaddya mean you knew that already?

Still, nothing strange about the return of the ‘split window’. Or the carbon fibre roof. Or ZR1 badging on the inside. Or the new boost gauge. And there’s absolutely nothing strange about the way it sounds.

“As we worked to develop this car, we continued to leap past expectations, and we knew we had a special Corvette on our hands,” said the ‘Vette’s chief engineer, Tadge Juechter. It’ll land at some point in 2025… in this galaxy, at least to begin with.