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Chevy quietly raises Corvette ZR1X costs
Chevrolet has nudged the sticker price of its most extreme mid-engine Corvette upward. When the ZR1X first appeared in August 2025, the 1LZ coupe started at $205,400 with a $1,995 destination fee. The automaker has since increased the destination charge to $2,495 and raised the manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) so the entry-level ZR1X now lists at $209,595. Convertible buyers face an even higher baseline: $219,595.
Added fees and the gas-guzzler tax
The configurator also flags a $2,600 gas-guzzler tax, applied regardless of whether you choose the standard aero or the downforce-focused Carbon Fiber Aero Package. Official fuel-economy figures for the ZR1X aren’t published yet, but for context the 1,064-hp ZR1 posts a combined rating of roughly 14 mpg (16.8 L/100 km). With extra weight and increased output, the ZR1X is likely to be even thirstier — hence the tax.
What you get for the money
This isn’t a cosmetic upgrade: the ZR1X blends key elements from the ZR1 and the performance-focused E-Ray to create an all-wheel-drive track weapon. The most notable change is a front-mounted electric motor that produces 186 hp and 145 lb-ft (197 Nm) of torque — more potent than the E-Ray’s unit — combined with strengthened internals and revised energy deployment to boost low-end response and traction at launches.
Both the ZR1X and E-Ray use a compact 1.9-kWh battery pack integrated into the structural center tunnel of the C8 chassis. Where earlier Corvettes hid a transmission tunnel for C7 transaxles, the C8’s layout now accommodates electrical hardware while the dual-clutch transaxle remains bolted to the rear of the engine.
Performance and track potential
Chevrolet claims sub-2.0-second 0-60 mph times for the ZR1X — a benchmark few production cars touch — and promises quarter-mile passes under 9.0 seconds. Those numbers underline the car’s mission: a circuit-capable supercar that aims to outpace many European rivals.
Track data underlines Corvette’s competitiveness. In the hands of Randy Pobst, a rear-drive ZR1 posted a 1:34.941 at Sonoma Raceway — quicker than the Porsche 911 GT3 RS (1:37.286) and the Ford Mustang GTD (1:38.710). With its all-wheel-drive system and added electric drive, the ZR1X should be even more rapid around most circuits.
Market positioning and value
At a $209,595 starting price, the ZR1X works out to roughly $168 per mechanical horsepower based on advertised ZR1 figures — a useful yardstick for buyers weighing performance value. That said, the increased destination fee and the gas-guzzler tax add tangible cost, especially for buyers in jurisdictions where taxes and registration fees scale with MSRP.
- Base MSRP (1LZ coupe): $209,595 (destination $2,495)
- Convertible starting price: $219,595
- Gas-guzzler tax shown in configurator: $2,600
"The ZR1X is intent on challenging Italian and British exotics, offering blistering acceleration and serious downforce for the track."
For buyers chasing ultimate lap times, the ZR1X’s mix of internal-combustion power, electric torque fill, and aerodynamic packages will be the draw. For others, the price increase — and the added tax burden — could make rivals with different value propositions more attractive.
Whether you view the extra charges as frustrating or the cost of buying a world-class track tool, the 2026 Corvette ZR1X remains one of the most compelling performance bargains from Detroit when judged strictly on speed and engineering.
Source: autoevolution
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