Corvette C8 ZR1 Becomes the Quickest RWD Car Ever Tested
According to Car And Driver, the 2025 Chevrolet Corvette C8 ZR1 is now the quickest rear-wheel-drive car they’ve ever tested, reaching 60 mph in just 2.2 seconds. That’s one-tenth quicker than the McLaren 750S and two-tenths faster than the Ferrari 296GTB.
The Corvette C8 ZR1 continues to outpace its rivals at higher speeds, hitting 150 mph a full second ahead of the McLaren, which costs over $200,000 more as tested. Car and Driver has been conducting instrumented testing since 1956, providing objective data to back up their driving impressions.
Record-Breaking Performance
The ZR1 boasts a twin-turbocharged 5.5-liter V8 that cranks out an astonishing 1064 horsepower, helping it edge out the McLaren 750S—a car that previously dethroned the Ferrari 296GTB as the fastest rear-wheel-drive machine. The 750S features a twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 with 740 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque, while the Ferrari combines a turbocharged V6 with an electric motor for hybrid power.
Despite weighing 3831 pounds—625 pounds more than the McLaren and 299 pounds more than the Ferrari—the Corvette C8 ZR1 still posts the best power-to-weight ratio, with each horsepower pushing just 3.6 pounds. The McLaren and Ferrari each manage 4.3 pounds per horsepower. A major factor in the ZR1’s performance is its rubber: Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2R ZP tires with a 275-millimeter section width up front and a massive 345-millimeter section width at the rear. The McLaren runs on Pirelli P Zero Trofeo tires with narrower widths of 245 mm front and 305 mm rear.
Quarter-Mile Dominance
While the ZR1’s lead over the 750S at 60 mph is just one-tenth of a second, the Corvette pulls away even more at higher speeds. It hits 100 mph in 4.5 seconds—three-tenths faster than the McLaren—and 130 mph in 7.1 seconds, six-tenths faster. The Ferrari 296GTB reaches 100 mph in 4.7 seconds and 130 mph in 7.3 seconds.
In the quarter-mile, the Corvette C8 ZR1 dominates with a 9.50-second run at 149 mph. The McLaren follows with a 9.80-second time at 145 mph, while the Ferrari posts a 9.70-second run at 150 mph. The Corvette ZR1 also reaches 150 mph in 9.70 seconds—one second faster than the 750S, though the Ferrari manages to match that time.
An American Supercar Bargain
The McLaren 750S previously claimed the title of the quickest rear-wheel-drive car in Car and Driver’s tests, although it only won in the dash to 60 mph, losing ground to the Ferrari at higher speeds. The new Corvette ZR1 is now king of the hill, besting both competitors across nearly every performance metric.
What’s most remarkable is that the Corvette C8 ZR1 achieves this performance with a base price of $205,265, compared to $449,790 for the McLaren and $538,399 for the Ferrari. With unmatched performance for the price, the Corvette ZR1 is set to rewrite the record books in the supercar world.
