Chevy just dropped a bombshell. And it’s called the 2026 Corvette ZR1X—the most extreme, most powerful, most bonkers production Corvette ever built. This thing makes the ZR1 look tame, the E-Ray look mild, and the Z06 sound like a warm-up act. Yes, it’s hybrid. Yes, it’s all-wheel drive. Yes, it makes 1250 horsepower. And no, this is not a concept. It’s real, and it’s coming by the end of 2025.
Remember When the Engine Was in the Front?
Let’s rewind. 2019 was the last year you could buy a front-engine Corvette. Since then, it’s been all mid-engine madness. First came the C8 Stingray, then the screaming Z06 with its Ferrari-fighting flat-plane crank V-8. After that, Chevy took the plunge into hybrid territory with the E-Ray—its first-ever AWD Vette. Then came the twin-turbo ZR1, which melted everyone’s expectations with 1064 horsepower.
But the ZR1X? This thing is the final boss.
What Is The ZR1X?
In short: it’s the long-rumored Corvette Zora reborn with a name that sounds like an action movie sequel. The ZR1X starts with the twin-turbocharged 5.5-liter LT7 V-8 from the ZR1, and pairs it with a reworked version of the E-Ray’s hybrid front motor. Total output? 186 HP from the front motor alone. The V-8 still pounds 1064 horses to the rear wheels through an eight-speed dual-clutch.
And yes—it’s still mid-engine. Still very much a Corvette. Just one that can do 0–60 mph in under 2.0 seconds and crush the quarter-mile in less than 9.0 seconds on street tires. Trap speed? 150+ mph. Chevy even says it’ll do this on an unprepped surface. In other words: no race track necessary.
High-Tech Insanity, with AWD Grip
Don’t let the horsepower do all the talking—the ZR1X is a chassis wizard too. It takes the E-Ray’s eAWD system and turns the volume to 11. The battery is the same size as the E-Ray’s (1.9 kWh), but usable energy is up 29%, peak voltage is higher, and the front motor now spins to 17,000 rpm (up from 16,000). It also stays engaged until 160 mph. And when you’re ready to unleash all 1250 horses? Hit the new push-to-pass button on the steering wheel. It’s wired to unleash full power when you’re brave enough to pin the throttle in Performance Traction Mode and flip the cruise switch.
Brakes Built for Warp Speed
When a car hits speeds that sound like aviation stats, you better have brakes to match. The ZR1X does. Chevy cooked up a brand-new brake package called J59, with 10-piston front and 6-piston rear calipers clamping down on 16.5-inch carbon-ceramic rotors. They’re the biggest brakes ever put on a Corvette, capable of generating 1.9 g of deceleration from 180 to 120 mph. These aren’t optional either—they’re standard.
New Modes, New Tech, Same Crazy
Chevy is also launching a new PTM Pro mode across all 2026 Corvettes, but it’s especially spicy in the ZR1X. PTM Pro disables traction and stability control but keeps the good stuff: regen braking torque vectoring, front-axle pre-control, and launch control.
You can spec your ZR1X in two ways:
- Standard version: Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires and a relatively tame ride.
- ZTK Performance Package: Pilot Sport Cup 2Rs, stiffer springs, and all the aero—splitters, dive planes, Gurney flaps, and a wing the size of a snowboard.
Inside: It’s Still a Corvette
You’d think a 1250-hp hyper-hybrid might get a spaceship interior. Nope. The ZR1X has the same updated cabin as every 2026 Corvette. The wall of buttons is gone, replaced by a more streamlined dash. You now get three screens:
- A 14-inch digital cluster
- A 12.7-inch center touchscreen
- A new 6.6-inch screen to the left for HUD and PTM controls
It’s a cleaner, more modern look—but don’t expect the exotic flash you’d find in something Italian.
So, What’s It Cost?
Chevy hasn’t named a price yet, but expect a sticker north of $250,000. That’s more than double the price of a Z06, and it’ll make some people squirm. But here’s the thing: the ZR1X delivers hypercar performance at half the price of an actual hypercar. It’s fast enough to destroy just about anything on the road. And it’s still a Corvette—just one that broke loose from the lab and never looked back.
Bottom line: The ZR1X isn’t just another Corvette. It’s a game-changer. A hybrid, AWD, quarter-mile-eating freak of nature. And it’s coming to dealerships very soon. Buckle up.
