The 2025 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 has officially become the fastest vehicle ever produced by an American automaker. General Motors president Mark Reuss drove a 2025 Corvette ZR1 to an astonishing 233 mph (375 km/h) on a test track in Germany, setting a top speed record that has not been surpassed by any current production car priced under $1 million.
The Corvette team achieved this average speed in both directions on the north and south straights of the High Speed Track at ATP Automotive Testing Papenburg during recent testing in Papenburg, Germany.
"Setting the final speed record in the Corvette ZR1 is a real victory for Corvette and for Chevrolet, and also an exciting, surreal experience for me personally," said Reuss. "With the current generation's transition to a mid-engine, we knew the outstanding performance and balance made it a real possibility. To go out there and pull it off is a testament to the power of the ZR1 and the incredibly talented team that developed and built it."
The ZR1 features the most powerful V8 engine ever produced by an American automaker. In 2020, Corvette moved to a mid-engine architecture, unleashing unprecedented levels of performance and innovation.
Chevrolet engineers leveraged GM's extensive experience in software, modeling and hardware development to set a new speed milestone for American automakers. The record was achieved with a ZR1 coupe equipped with a standard chassis and aerodynamic package, including a standard short fence spoiler, carbon-fiber seats, Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires and alloy wheels. They developed a Maximum Speed Mode exclusively for use on closed tracks, which tunes the chassis control systems for maximum speed. The ZR1 reached 233 mph with the engine at the rev limit in sixth gear.
During the tests, including Reuss' record-breaking run, an engineer was in the passenger seat analysing data in real time. The 233 mph achievement was not an isolated event; five engineers and the two ZR1 development cars in the field exceeded 230 mph on multiple runs.
Papenburg provided optimal conditions, such as temperature and air density, for high-speed testing. Chevrolet engineers have previously set final speeds for the sixth- and seventh-generation Corvette ZR1s and sixth-generation Camaro ZL1 at this facility.
The ZR1 stands as the fastest car GM has ever produced.
