Is The New Corvette ZR1 The Old Z06?

Front end

2018 Corvette ZR1 mule. Front end looks to have bigger hood bulge, and added air intakes left and right of center inlet. Not much to see aft of A-pillar. Pics courtesy MotorAuthority

 

Of all the pics we’ve seen of the upcoming 2018 Corvette ZR1, the latest from Motor Authority are the most detailed to date. Lets put a fine tooth comb to these images and ponder what a C7 ZR1 Corvette might have in store for us.

First up, what’s up with the spoilers?

Left: This wing is big enough to set table and have a tea party. Right: more subdued, but check out sensors poking out of fascia. Both are acquired tastes on the street, yet functional at speed on track. Pics courtesy MotorAuthority

Ranging from mild to wild, we can’t help but wonder what the benefit of revealing these distinctive body mods on city streets during camo’d real world testing is.

Are these decoys, tacked on to detract from other aspects of the mules? Certainly they can’t be tested on publics streets at speeds great enough to discern their effectiveness. Maybe a little smoke and mirrors might be employed here?

GM be like, “Hey, we need to be as inconspicuous as possible when testing our secret Corvettes. Lets add huge wings to the test cars to avoid detection…”  You smell what we’re cooking here?  


Or maybe they are slated for production and that takes us down a whole ‘nother rabbit hole. Will GM offer two aero packages on the new “Super C7?” The latest ‘Vette was the recipient of all of Corvette Racing’s air flow management intelligence, gleaned from years of winning races and we shouldn’t underestimate these Bowtie guys. All the functioning ductwork on the C7 was a surprise when it debuted in 2014 so maybe Tadge Juechter and his gang have more air flow tricks up their sleeve.

Or maybe a completely different model is waiting in the wings. Remember, Corvette had a bit of a shake up when the supercharged C7 Z06 debuted in 2015 because it took the name of the mid-level, all motor, previous model. We’ve always assumed that a C7 ZR1 would slot on top of the range as a big kahuna model.

2010 SEMA concept car, Z06X.  ZR1’s older, influential brother?  Picture courtesy GM

But what if this mule is a version of the 2010 SEMA show car that was Corvette Program Manager Harlan Charles’s pet project, the 2011 Corvette Z06X Track Car Concept?

Or a Corvette modeled in the the image of the old fifth-gen Camaro Z/28?  We’ve heard the ZR1 prototype and no whine was discerned.

Screen Shot 2016-10-25 at 8.52.24 AM

Hmmmm, looks familiar. Pics courtesy MotorAuthority

Certainly,the Z06 and ZR1 swapping places in the hierarchy would be a twist. Even more ironic if the motor was an LT version of the “old” 427 cubic inch LS7.

Last but not least, check out the up close images of the front end with it’s revised fascia and a very detailed, (and stationary) look at the wheels and brakes on this stealthy tester. Nothing to see around back as the body from the A-pillars rearward is mostly a carryover.

Is the new ZR1 the old Z06?

What do you think? Let us know in the comments below.

Bumper cover

Wheel detail up close here. Pic courtesy of MotorAuthority

About the author

Dave Cruikshank

Dave Cruikshank is a lifelong car enthusiast and an editor at Power Automedia. He digs all flavors of automobiles, from classic cars to modern EVs. Dave loves music, design, tech, current events, and fitness.
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