There are moments in the modern supercar world that still feel faintly improbable. The arrival of the new Corvette ZR1 in Europe is one of them. Not because America cannot build a world-class supercar, that debate was settled long ago, but because this particular car feels so pointed, so unapologetically focused, that it lands on European soil with the air of a challenge rather than a gesture.
The first of the new ZR1s to reach the UK have done so quietly, without fanfare or factory roadshows. Two cars, both very different in character, but equally assertive in intent. One finished in Competition Yellow, its carbon fibre aero package making no attempt to hide what it is built for. The other black, marked out by twin red racing stripes and already destined for a private garage. Between them, they represent a small slice of an even smaller production run. Fewer than 200 examples were built globally for the initial 2025 run, making these among the rarest new supercars currently available in Europe.
Rarity alone does not define a ZR1, though. This has always been the Corvette that pushes furthest, the version that ignores restraint. Under the skin sits a 5.5 litre twin-turbocharged V8 producing 1,064 bhp, a number that still looks faintly absurd when written down. Performance figures follow accordingly. Zero to 60 mph in 2.3 seconds and a top speed of 233 mph place it firmly in territory usually reserved for European hypercars with much loftier price tags and far longer waiting lists.
Yet numbers only tell part of the story. What makes the ZR1 interesting is how deliberately it has been honed. Last year’s Nürburgring lap time of 6:50.76 was not set to impress a spreadsheet, but to underline intent. This is a car engineered to run flat out for lap after lap, to combine brute force with discipline. Adaptive suspension and active aerodynamics work quietly in the background, allowing the ZR1 to feel planted whether it is threading a fast B-road or stretching its legs on circuit.
There is a particular satisfaction in the way the ZR1 carries itself. It does not chase European elegance, nor does it apologise for its American roots. The engine note is deep and unmistakable, a reminder that displacement still matters. The styling is functional rather than flamboyant, shaped by airflow and cooling rather than fashion cycles. It feels honest in a way that many modern supercars do not.
Inside, the approach is similarly pragmatic. The cabin is focused around the driver, with supportive sports seats and clear sightlines. Materials feel premium without being showy, and the technology serves the experience rather than dominating it. This is a car that understands it may be driven hard one day and used normally the next, a balance that has become increasingly rare at this level.
What perhaps makes these first European ZR1s notable is the way they have arrived. Imported and homologated independently, they bypass the usual corporate machinery. The process, from sourcing through to registration, has been handled end to end, allowing UK buyers access to a car that would otherwise remain a distant promise. It is telling that two of the first three cars were spoken for almost immediately.
There is also an economic reality underpinning the ZR1’s appeal. In the United States, demand has pushed prices as much as $100,000 over list. By comparison, bringing a ZR1 into the UK through established import routes remains surprisingly rational, even once duty, VAT and homologation are accounted for. Depending on specification, prices sit between £365,000 and £425,000, a figure that looks almost conservative when set against the performance on offer.
The final detail is choice. Coupe or convertible, both equipped with an eight-speed dual clutch gearbox, both equally capable of channelling that vast power output. For now, one Competition Yellow example remains available, a car that will place its owner among a very small group of European drivers.
The ZR1 does not ask to be liked. It simply turns up, fully formed, and gets on with the job. In a market increasingly defined by branding exercises and controlled scarcity, that directness feels refreshing. It is a reminder that the supercar, at its best, is still about ambition, engineering and the quiet confidence to do things differently.
The Corvette ZR1 featured in this story is available in the UK through Clive Sutton.
