The 2025 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 is undeniably a powerhouse. Equipped with a twin-turbocharged 5.5-liter flat-plane-crank V-8, this American supercar delivers an astonishing 1,064 horsepower and was previously estimated to reach a top speed of 215 miles per hour. However, Chevrolet has recently surpassed that figure during an official speed run.
During testing at the High-Speed Oval Track at ATP Automotive Testing in Papenburg, Germany, GM President Mark Reuss, accompanied by an engineer, broke Chevrolet’s own claimed top speed in the ZR1.
Reaching an impressive 233 mph while in sixth gear at redline, the ZR1 has set a new benchmark for any mainstream American automaker and for vehicles priced under $1 million. This achievement wasn’t a fluke; Chevy reports that five engineers recorded speeds of 230 mph or more during the same test session.
“The car feels stable so that it doesn’t present as that big of an event,” commented Chris Barber, the lead development engineer for the Corvette ZR1. “It just feels like you’re going pretty fast on the highway. Which is crazy to say, but that’s how good the car was.”
The ZR1 that achieved this record did not utilize any specialized equipment for the run. It was fitted with the standard chassis and aero package, including a conventional spoiler, carbon fiber ground effects, Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires, and aluminum wheels. Chevrolet operated the vehicle in Top Speed mode, optimizing the chassis control system for maximum velocity.
The testing took place on a 7.6-mile High-Speed Oval, which is banked at nearly 50 degrees. For perspective, Talladega is banked at just 33 degrees. At speeds of 150 mph on this track, it feels as if you’re driving straight, according to GM.
“Entering the banking was the most intense part,” Barber shared, recalling his experience on the oval. “That feeling is unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. It just pushes you so hard into the ground. Even NASCAR tracks don’t come close to 50-degree banking.
Almost nobody gets to experience something like that.” With this new record-breaking top speed, the Corvette ZR1 has earned the title of the fastest car ever produced by General Motors.