---
title: "Chevrolet Corvette C8’s ZR1 Variant Will Be a 900-HP Hybrid With AWD: Report"
description: "GM is said to be dipping into hypercar technology to craft the top-shelf mid-engined ‘Vette."
date: "2019-11-23"
modified: "2019-11-23"
authors:
  - name: "Chris Tsui"
    job_title: "Contributor"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/chris-tsui"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/31170/chevrolet-corvette-c8s-zr1-variant-will-be-a-900-hp-hybrid-with-awd-report"
categories:
  - "Car Tech"
  - "Chevrolet News"
  - "Electric Vehicles"
  - "News"
  - "News by Brand"
tags:
  - "Chevrolet"
  - "Corvette"
  - "hybrid"
  - "sports car"
---

# Chevrolet Corvette C8’s ZR1 Variant Will Be a 900-HP Hybrid With AWD: Report

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2019/11/2020-Chevrolet-Corvette-Stingray-Convertible-012-e1574490851514.jpg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com</em>*

The [755-horsepower Chevy Corvette C7 ZR1](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/27363/c7-corvette-zr1s-best-unofficial-nrburgring-time-fell-short-of-its-sub-7-minute-goal>) pretty much represented the apex of what an unassisted V8 could do and was always going to be a hard act to follow. For its upcoming mid-engined C8 version, [Chevy](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/30900/2020-chevrolet-corvette-c8-with-z51-package-does-0-60-in-just-2-9-seconds>) is said to introduce an electrified hybrid powertrain to boost America's sports car to even higher performance levels, if a new report is to be believed.

According to an anonymous "senior official at GM" speaking exclusively to [*Motor Trend*](<https://www.motortrend.com/news/c8-chevrolet-corvette-zr1-hybrid-twin-turbo-dohc-v-8-with-900-hp/>), the next ZR1 will get a hybrid-assisted, twin-turbo V8 making a total of 900 hp, not too far off from double [the regular Stingray's 495 SAE-certified ponies](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/30990/heres-what-happened-with-motor-trends-controversial-2020-chevy-corvette-dyno-test>). The publication claims that the V8 will be of the flat-plane-crank variety also present [in a future Z06](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/31032/could-this-be-the-2020-chevrolet-corvette-c8-z06s-carbon-fiber-steering-wheel>) and have its torque gaps filled by electric motors, just like the LaFerrari, McLaren P1, and Porsche 918 Spyder. While all three of those seven-figure hypercars use electricity to produce even more speed, expect the C8 ZR1 to be more in line with the Porsche since *Motor Trend*'s intel also alleges that the top-shelf 'Vette will be all-wheel drive—this would make it the first Corvette ever to send power to all four wheels.

![message-editor%2F1574498611877-2020-chevrolet-corvette-stingray-035.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content-b/message-editor/1574498611877-2020-chevrolet-corvette-stingray-035.jpg>)
**Chevrolet**

*Motor Trend*'s source also goes on to quash rumors that the Z06, ZR1, and C8.R's V8 would be related to Cadillac's 4.2-liter twin-turbo [Blackwing engine](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/28977/mid-engined-chevrolet-corvette-c8-could-pack-twin-turbo-lt7-motor-in-z06-trim-report>) found in the short-lived, [550-hp CT6-V](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/25119/the-cadillac-ct6-is-dead-ct6-v-to-be-offered-as-final-year-model-for-2019>) sedan. Thanks to GM granting Chevy and Cadillac separate budgets to develop their own V8s a number of years ago, the Blackwing will reportedly remain a Cadillac-only affair.

Other technical details on the mid-engined ZR1 remain a mystery but *MT* predicts the V8 to be somewhere between 4.2 and 5.5 liters. How much weight all those batteries and electric motors add will also be a figure to watch considering the regular C8 already [weighs a hefty 200 pounds more than the equivalent C7.](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/30470/2020-chevrolet-corvette-c8-stingray-nearly-200-pounds-heavier-than-outgoing-c7>)

We've reached out to Chevrolet for comment and will update this story when we hear back.

## Author
Chris Tsui is *The Drive*'s former Reviews Editor and current freelance automotive journalist. He's based in Toronto.

### Author social links  
[Instagram](<https://www.instagram.com/cltsuii/>)