C8 Corvette ZR1 Prototype Sightings Preview Its Wild Styling and Unique Sound

Several C8 Corvette ZR1 prototypes have been spotted ahead of its summer debut, and all of them look and sound equally amazing. 

The existence of the C8 Corvette ZR1 has been one of the worst-kept secrets in the automotive world for years now, though we’ve also been waiting a pretty long time to see the new range-topping model as well. Regardless, it’s only been a few short days since GM gave us its latest teaser of the new ZR1, showing off just a touch of its wild styling and mysterious powerplant, which is expected to be the most powerful the automaker has ever installed in a Corvette of any kind. Now, we’re getting an even better look (and listen) at the C8 Corvette ZR1, courtesy of a pair of prototype sightings.

The first C8 Corvette ZR1 sighting comes to us from YouTuber Rick Conti, who had a viewer send in some photos of these cars when they were up in Ohio testing. Along with several potential mules testing out next-gen or just refresh updates, we get a look at a C8 Corvette ZR1 prototype, as well as a pair of famous names – the soon to be retiredTadge Juechter and Harlan Charles, plus a Ferrari SF90 being benchmarked, which could signal that one of those cars is packing the long-rumored electrified Zora powertrain.

In a second video recently posted by the YouTube channel Carsual, we get a look at yet another C8 Corvette ZR1 prototype, which just so happened to pass by the owner’s Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170 – a car that cranks out over 1,000 horsepower. Aside from its heavy camo, that prototype isn’t wearing the gigantic rear wing that we’ve seen on other models, but it has a quad-tip center-exit exhaust and the same sort of turbocharged sounds we’ve heard previously.

Indeed, the engine that powers the C8 Corvette ZR1 has long been a point of contention, with some believing that it will utilize a twin-turbocharged version of either the LT2 present in the base Stingray, a boosted LT6 (called the LT7, perhaps) from the Z06, or even something with electric assist, like the E-Ray.

However, as CorvetteForum previously reported, the recent teaser seems to indicate that the new ZR1 will indeed mate the Z06’s “Gemini” 5.5-liter V8 with a pair of turbos – the question is, will it utilize a flat-plane crank setup like the Z06, or a cross-plane crank like every other Corvette? Either way, we’ll know soon enough, as the C8 Corvette ZR1 is set to debut this summer.

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