It’s been a couple days now from the big reveal of the 2019 Corvette ZR1. Chevrolet has allowed various journalists and automotive outlets to film some walkarounds of the car while it was set up for the private reveal party in Dubai City. This, in turn, has given us multiple views of the new 755-horsepower Corvette and there are a few design points on the car we wanted to share.
1. The Rear Wing is Contoured to the Shape of the Rear Hatch
We wondered how access to the rear cargo area would be impacted by the placement of the high wing on the Corvette’s rear end cap. The rear hatch is fully functional and as the hatch is raised, you see that the high wing mirrors the shape of the rear hatch. When opening the hatch there looks to be only a quarter-inch to half an inch of clearance between the wing and hatch. The high wing does appear to block access though so you’ll be loading your track day cargo from the sides of the car.
2. Orange Brake Calipers
This is a first for Corvette to be offered with the choice of Orange brake calipers. The Orange Caliper is exclusively available by ordering the ZR1 with the Sebring Orange Design Package. The checkbox package also includes Orange interior stitching, Orange seatbelts, and a special bronze-aluminum replaces the regular aluminum trim on the center console, seats and door panels.
3. ZR1 Floor Mats
The 2019 Corvette ZR1 has special floor mats showing a sideways ZR1 logo against the honeycomb design from the ZR1’s front grille. I wouldn’t be surprised if Chevy offered them as color coordinated with the exterior like it does with Grand Sport floor mats.
4. The Most Power Engine Chevrolet Ever Made Is One You’ll Never See
The Corvette ZR1’s LT5 V8 is nearly 3 inches taller than its LT4 counterpart and to keep the hood height down, Chevrolet covers it in beautiful carbon fiber cover that stays in place as the halo hood is opened. So you’ll almost never see the throwback font on the top of the LT5 supercharger cover. One question we have for the Corvette Team is if the LT5 will be built in the Corvette factory’s Performance Build Center.
5. The ZR1’s Rocker Panels Feature a Painted Edge
As part of the Sebring Orange Design Package, the edge and bottom of the Corvette ZR1’s side rocker panels are painted in Sebring Orange, while the top remains the visible Carbon Fiber. It really integrates the side rockers into the design while still showcasing the carbon fiber weave. I think that’s something I would like to see offered in multiple colors!
There are a few items we’d like to take a closer look at. The bronze aluminum trim in the interior is interesting and I still haven’t seen a good picture of the interior ZR1 console badge yet. Have you spotted some features or a particular design cue from the 2019 Corvette ZR1 that we should take a closer look at? Let us know in the comments below!