GM President sets new internal speed record! 2025 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 is a twin-turbo monster capable of Ferrari, Lamborghini and Porsche troubling top speeds

It’s the answer to the question muscle and sports car enthusiasts have been asking since Chevrolet confirmed the formidable specification of its flagship ZR1 ‘King of the Hill’ Corvette.

With a mid-mounted 5.5-litre twin-turbo ‘LT7’ flat-plane crank V8 pumping out close to 800kW (1000hp+) and in excess of 1100Nm the burning question is how fast will it go?

And now we know the answer courtesy of an instrument-verified top-speed run at the ATP Automotive Testing high-speed oval at Papenburg in North-West Germany, with none other than GM President, Mark Reuss behind the wheel.

The former Holden Managing Director (2008-’09) has history with the Corvette and high-speed track work, having famously nosed the Corvette pace car into a concrete barrier while heading the field at the 2018 Detroit IndyCar Grand Prix.

But there was no such upset this time around with Reuss spooling the new ZR1 up to a stunning maximum velocity of 375km/h.

Chevrolet says that number not only makes it “the fastest car GM has ever produced” but “the fastest (production) car ever built by an American auto manufacturer”.

It's also enough to trouble price comparable Ferraris, Lamborghinis and Porsches.

The Corvette test team set a two-way average on the Papenberg track’s northbound and southbound straights, the car featuring a standard chassis and aero package (including the rear spoiler) as well as standard Michelin Pilot Sport 4S rubber and alloy rims.

2025 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1

During testing an engineer was in the passenger seat to analyse data in real-time, the car hitting v-max at its maximum 8000rpm ceiling at the top of sixth gear.

After the run Mr Reuss said, “Setting the top-speed record in the Corvette ZR1 is a true triumph for Corvette and for Chevrolet, and also an exhilarating, surreal experience for me personally.

“With the current generation’s switch to mid-engine, we knew the outstanding performance and balance made this a real possibility. To go over there and get it done is a testament to the power of ZR1, and to the incredibly talented team that developed and built it.” he said.

The ZR1 is open for order in the USA with deliveries scheduled to start in early 2025 but its potential for Australia remains an open question, a GMSV spokesperson telling CarsGuide, “The Corvette ZR1 is an exciting addition to the Corvette range in North America.

“Locally, Corvette is offered to customers in Australia and New Zealand in three trims; Stingray, Z06 and E-Ray.

“The Corvette ZR1 is not currently planned to join the line-up in Australia and New Zealand, but we will monitor demand and assess further over time.”