The ZR1 name has been around for years and revered in the Corvette community. The first production ZR-1s (hyphenated) were produced from 1970-1972, long before the legendary ZR1 of the 1990s that everyone is familiar with. The ZR1 has built a reputation as the flagship Corvette, featuring better performance exceeding even the Z06. Well, rumor has it we are in for a treat.
On May 16, 2016, General Motors applied for the three character trademark “ZR1” with the U.S. Patent and Trademark office. The office is currently receiving and processing the name for “ZR1” as “a motor land vehicle,” and we should see the reprise of the nameplate shortly. The ZR-1 trademarks are still alive but ZR1 trademarks were canceled after the C6. It’s interesting as early ZR-1’s, up to the last one of the 1990s, were hyphened. From 2009 and up, ZR1 was no longer hyphenated; similar to how Sting Ray Corvettes in the past had a space in the name, where as now it is all one word.
It is hard to believe that we might be getting a new ZR1 with the current Z06 seemingly unstoppable. So what can we expect from the new ZR1? Many are expecting a new mid-engine layout, Ford GT destroyer. This should not affect sales of Z06s as they will be two separate markets, which is great news. There has been no official announcement for the Corvette ZR1, but with GM applying for the trademark, we feel it is coming, and coming fast. We cannot wait to see the new “Super Corvette” and are hoping it means a new badass LT powerplant.