Refreshing or Revolting: 2019 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1

This month, Chevrolet showed off the long-awaited 2019 Corvette ZR1. Making 755 hp and 715 lb-ft of torque from a 6.2-liter supercharged V-8, the new ultimate Corvette can hit a top speed of 210 mph, according to Chevy. At the moment, there’s no official price, but considering that the C6 ZR1 came with a base price north of $100,000, expect the new one to be even pricier. Speaking of the C6, how does the new ZR1’s design compare to the old one?

Up front, you get a much more aggressive look this time around. The regular C6 was styled much more conservatively than the C7, so that’s to be expected. But Chevrolet also showed a lot more restraint when styling the 2009 ZR1. Compared to the 2019 version’s massive air intakes, sharp creases, and generally angry appearance, the previous car’s design looks downright tame. Still, they both offer a “power dome” hood cutout.

Out back, Chevrolet made an even bolder change to the ZR1. The previous version got a relatively subtle spoiler, but the new car gets a humongous wing. It’s optional, so owners who don’t like the look can still skip it, but the new wing makes it clear that this ZR1 is focused on packing as much on-track performance as it can into a street-legal package. In profile, the aggressive aero package and power dome stand out, but soon, you’ll be able to buy the ZR1 as a convertible, a major change over the 2009 version.

Inside, buyers will be treated to a much nicer interior than before. That’s mostly because the C7 Corvette’s interior is a lot more high-end than it was in the C6. As much as we appreciated the C6 ZR1’s massive power and incredible performance, the interior was pretty much a sea of cheap plastic. Owners will also have the option of equipping their ZR1 with an automatic transmission if they’d like.

Look for the new ZR1 to be on display at the Los Angeles Auto Show later this month before it goes into production part way through next year.

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