American-made 2026 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1X breaks record, achieving top speed at prestigious Nurburgring track among domestic vehicles.
In a thrilling display of power and speed, the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1X and ZR1 have set new records at the Nürburgring Nordschleife, one of the world's most challenging race tracks.
Mary Conway, a renowned automotive journalist with over two decades of experience covering the Detroit Three for the ABC affiliate in Detroit, reported on these impressive feats. Conway, who shares a fondness for the Motor City as her father once ran a gas station in Wisconsin, has been following the progress of these Corvette supercars closely.
The Chevrolet Corvette ZR1X, the most advanced Corvette ever, boasts a twin-turbo V8 engine with an astounding 1,064 horsepower and a compact electric motor on the front axle with 186 horsepower, totalling an impressive 1,250 horsepower. This powerhouse vehicle managed a lap time of 6:49.275, making it the fastest U.S.-built production car to complete the Nordschleife.
The Chevrolet Corvette ZR1, though slightly behind its X counterpart, still impressed with a lap time of 6:50.763. Both times were achieved by Chevrolet engineers rather than professional racers, demonstrating the vehicles' raw potential.
For context, the Corvette Z06, with its 670-horsepower naturally aspirated V8 engine, set a lap of 7:11.826 at the Nurburgring track. This time positions Chevrolet’s lineup very competitively on this demanding track, outperforming other notable cars like the BMW M4 CSL (7:18.137).
The BMW M3 CS Touring holds the record for the fastest production wagon with a 7:29.490 lap. Meanwhile, the Porsche 911 GT2 RS Manthey Performance and the Porsche 911 GT2 RS MR have lap times of 06:43.300 and 06:44.749 respectively at the Nürburgring.
However, it's the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1X that holds the record for the fastest American car at Nurburgring with its impressive lap time of 6:49.275.
As the race for speed and performance continues, Ford CEO Jim Farley has expressed interest in competing against the Chevrolet Corvettes at the Nürburgring. The Ford Mustang GTD has a lap time of 06:52.072 at the Nürburgring, providing a tantalising glimpse of what could be.
General Motors President Mark Reuss has already set a top speed record, driving a 2025 Corvette ZR1 to 233 mph, beating any current production car priced under $1 million.
For those interested in car news, Mary Conway can be followed on Twitter at @MaryConwayMedia. Chevrolet also created a documentary called "Homegrown Speed: A Corvette Story", tracking the progress of the Corvette supercars. The future of high-performance vehicles is undoubtedly exciting, and we can't wait to see what the next lap holds.
[1] BMW M3 CS Touring: https://www.motortrend.com/cars/bmw/m3-cs-touring/2022/ [2] Chevrolet Corvette ZR1X and ZR1: https://www.motortrend.com/news/chevrolet-corvette-zr1x-nurburgring-record-video/ [3] Chevrolet Corvette Z06: https://www.motortrend.com/news/chevrolet-corvette-z06-nurburgring-lap-time/ [4] BMW M4 CSL: https://www.motortrend.com/news/bmw-m4-csl-nurburgring-record-video/
- The Chevrolet Corvette ZR1X's record-breaking lap time of 6:49.275 at the Nürburgring Nordschleife has put it in the spotlight as the fastest American car at the renowned race track.
- Mary Conway, an acclaimed automotive journalist with extensive experience, has been providing thorough coverage of the progress made by the Corvette supercars in the industry.
- Amid the competition in the automotive segment, Ford CEO Jim Farley has expressed his intention to challenge Chevrolet's Corvette at the Nürburgring, hinting at potential high-speed encounters in the future.
