If you’re not using a GM device, you’ll have to wait a bit longer to thrill yourself in the 2025 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1. GM has introduced this powerful 1,064-hp supercar a whole year ahead of its release so the development team can finalize the aerodynamics and cooling systems without any camouflage hiding it.

In the meantime, we have something to tide you over until the king of Corvettes arrives at dealers, and maybe even in your garage. The accompanying video showcases just how powerful this car is and the roar of its LT7 flat-plane-crank, twin-turbo 5.5-liter V-8 when the gas pedal is fully pressed down.

This video was recorded in late June, right after we got our first look and detailed information on the new ZR1. I was trying to digest all the information from that briefing when lead development driver Chris Barber got behind the wheel and completely shifted my understanding of the word “fast.”

Chevy claims the base ZR1 can hit a top speed exceeding 215 mph, while versions with the ZTK or Carbon Aero package will sacrifice some top speed for added downforce weighing in at 1,200 pounds. The prototype we drove was fitted with standard Michelin Pilot Sport 4S ZP tires, the front dive planes, and a massive rear wing from the Carbon Aero pack, plus a sticker of Corvette racer Jordan Taylor’s alter ego, Rodney Sandstorm. As the ZR1 development cars have traveled to racetracks like Road Atlanta, Virginia International Raceway, and the Nürburgring, they’ve been adorned with various stickers, like Ricky Bobby’s signature and a picture of a cougar with the word “ME,” reflecting the personal touches from the team that is transforming the Corvette into a top-tier supercar. Barber is among four ZR1 test drivers who have hit 200 mph on the famed front straight of the world’s most challenging racetrack, where the LT7’s immense power turns the front kink into a 1.6-g turn. Today’s high-speed run down a 2.5-mile straight at GM’s Milford Proving Grounds felt mild by comparison.

Instead of a full throttle launch, Barber gradually increases speed from 25 mph, unleashing the twin-turbo 5.5-liter V-8 from 2,500 rpm. Unlike traditional cross-plane-crank V-8s, a flat-plane-crank V-8 may not sound as intense, and turbos can mute some combustion details, but the LT7 still produces a raw, powerful growl.

We reached triple-digit speeds in under four seconds. In just ten seconds, we were already at 150 mph. I kept checking the speedometer, observing Barber’s steady grip on the steering wheel, and looking out at the blurred scenery, trying to reconcile the displays on the high-tech instrument panel with the realization that Barber seemed to be cruising like he was in a Buick on the nearby I-96. The ZR1 maintained its path like a guided missile.

The speedometer was turning faster than I could count. 190. 191. 192. Only when we hit 200 mph, half a minute into our run, did the acceleration noticeably slow down. Barber maintained his speed for another five seconds, showing 206 mph on the speedometer, while Barber noted 205 mph, and the onboard recorder marked 204 mph. Regardless of the exact figure, it was the fastest I had ever traveled in a vehicle, showcasing the incredible power of the ZR1.

Another indicator of the ZR1’s incredible speed is that there was so much track remaining that Barber didn’t even need to brake. He smoothly navigated a banked turn and coasted back to the staging area. Unfortunately, that was all we could do for now—a single high-speed run in the most powerful Corvette ever made—yet this machine is capable of so much more. For now, we’ll just have to be patient.