Once again, General Motors has made history. The 2025 Chevy Corvette ZR1 recently became the fastest car ever built by a U.S. auto manufacturer—and the driver was none other than GM President Mark Reuss.
The GM team traveled to Germany's High-Speed Oval Track at ATP Automotive Testing facility in Papenburg and reached a two-way average speed of 233 mph—they clock you going both ways and take the average to account for wind. Papenburg provides ideal conditions for a high-speed test, like temperature and air density.
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The ZR1 is now the fastest current production car priced under $1 million and the fastest factory-stock Corvette on earth, according to the company. The 2025 ZR1 is expected to start around $180,000 and go up to $205,000, according to Car and Driver.
In 2020, Corvette moved to a mid-engine architecture, and the ZR1 has the most powerful V8 engine ever produced by a domestic manufacturer.
The ZR1 set the record with a standard chassis and aero package, as well as a standard spoiler, carbon fiber ground effects, Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires and aluminum wheels. However, a Top Speed Mode was exclusively developed for closed course use; the setting adjusts chassis control systems for max speed. Throughout the development process, Chevy's engineers heavily relied on GM's software, modeling, and hardware expertise.
During Reuss's record-setting run, an engineer was in the passenger seat analyzing data in real time. The ZR1 reached 233 mph with the engine at the redline in sixth gear.
And the achievement didn't just happen once. According to GM, five engineers, using both ZR1 development cars onsite, topped 230 mph—that's an incredible day at the office.
Corvette ZR1 lead development engineer Chris Barber said, "This car actually overachieved." He added, " We actually didn't think 233 was in the cards."
When development started on the C8-generation Corvette, the goal was 220 mph. In testing, the car exceeded expectations, so the team pushed the top-speed objective to 230 mph.
Once again, this is the most powerful factory-built V8 engine from an auto manufacturer in the U.S. The ZR1 has a 5.5-liter, twin-turbocharged V8 that can generate 1,064 horsepower at 7,000 rpm and 828 lb-ft of torque at 6,000 rpm. GM says the ZR1 has an estimated sub-10-second quarter mile time.
Reuss called the record-breaking attempt "an exhilarating, surreal experience."
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X-TIMESTAMP-MAP=LOCAL:00:00:00.000,MPEGTS:0
00:00.119 --> 00:03.430
Once again, General Motors has made history.
00:03.849 --> 00:10.670
The 2025 Chevy Corvette ZR One recently became
the fastest car ever built by a US
00:10.680 --> 00:15.829
auto manufacturer and the driver was none other
than GM.
00:15.840 --> 00:17.909
President Mark Royce.
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The GM team traveled to Germany's high speed
oval track at a TP automotive testing facility
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in Papenburg and reached a two way average
speed of 233 MPH.
00:31.819 --> 00:34.599
They clock you both ways and take an average to
account for the wind.
00:35.099 --> 00:41.360
PBG provides ideal conditions for a high speed
test like temperature and air density.
00:41.889 --> 00:47.880
The ZR One is now the fastest current
production car priced under $1 million and the
00:47.889 --> 00:52.419
fastest factory stock Corvette on Earth.
According to the company,
00:52.729 --> 00:59.490
the 2025 ZR One is expected to start around
$180,000 and go up to $205,000.
00:59.500 --> 01:05.690
According to car and driver in 2020 Corvette
moved to a mid engine architecture and the ZR
01:05.699 --> 01:10.739
One has the most powerful V eight engine ever
produced by a domestic manufacturer.
01:11.059 --> 01:15.160
The ZR One set the record with a standard
chassis and aero package as well.
01:15.169 --> 01:20.660
As a standard spoiler, carbon fiber, ground
effects, Michelin pilot sport four S tires and
01:20.669 --> 01:24.540
aluminum wheels.
However, a top speed mode was exclusively
01:24.550 --> 01:30.139
developed for closed course use the setting
adjusts chassis control systems for max speed.
01:30.650 --> 01:35.199
During the development process, Chevy's
engineers relied heavily on GM software
01:35.209 --> 01:39.720
modeling and hardware expertise during Royce's
record setting run,
01:39.730 --> 01:43.940
an engineer was actually in the passenger seat
analyzing data in real time.
01:44.169 --> 01:50.800
The ZR One reached 233 MPH with the engine at
the red line in sixth gear.
01:51.139 --> 01:57.529
And the achievement didn't just happen once.
According to GM five engineers using both ZR
01:57.540 --> 02:01.489
One development cars on site topped 230 MPH.
02:01.750 --> 02:06.440
It was just an incredible day at the office,
Corvette ZR One lead development engineer,
02:06.449 --> 02:10.399
Chris Barber said, quote, this car actually
over achieved.
02:10.449 --> 02:17.210
He added, we actually didn't think 233 MPH was
in the cards when development started on the C
02:17.220 --> 02:22.440
eight generation Corvette, the goal was 220 MPH
in testing.
02:22.460 --> 02:27.009
The car exceeded expectations.
So the team pushed the top speed objective to
02:27.020 --> 02:31.339
230 MPH.
Once again, this is the most powerful factory
02:31.350 --> 02:34.434
built V eight engine from an auto manufacturer
in the United States.
02:34.485 --> 02:41.365
The ZR One has a 5.5 L twin turbocharged V
eight that can generate 1064 horsepower at
02:41.375 --> 02:46.524
7000 R PM and 828 ft pounds of torque at 6000 R
PM.
02:46.714 --> 02:51.455
GM says the ZR One has an estimated sub 12th
quarter mile time.
02:51.835 --> 02:58.324
Royce called the record breaking attempt.
Quotes an exhilarating surreal experience.
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I'm David Manti.
This is manufacturing now.
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Holy crap.
That's fast.