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Everybody has an opinion on auto-start/stop, that aspect of modern cars that’s become weirdly politicized. I say “weirdly” because it’s largely optional now, and there’s nothing intrinsically political about saving money and making air easier to breathe at the same time. That’s not to say I love the feature, or think it belongs in everything. Because as soon as it announced itself to me in the Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray I’ve been driving for the past few days, I shook my head laughing.

On some level, there is a very practical argument for giving the E-Ray auto-start/stop: 6.2-liter V8s burn a lot of gas, don’t you know, and the E-Ray isn’t like a plug-in hybrid with a big battery that can supply decent all-electric range. It can run for few miles on electrons alone, but you’re spraying fuel into those cylinders pretty much the entire time. As it happens, the E-Ray is one of two C8 models to have the technology, the other being the mighty ZR1X.

The issue with a Corvette having such a feature is that the engine is quite loud, and starting it shakes the car in a way I find satisfying but don’t really need to experience once or twice at every stop light. I very much enjoy the LT2’s rasp emanating inches from my spine, but I also know that the sound of someone’s car is typically welcome only to them. Sitting completely still and hearing the V8 repeatedly fall silent and roar back to life—especially as it gets warmer out, and the motor needs to kick back on to feed cold air into the cabin—is almost a public nuisance. It feels silly.

Auto-start/stop tech has gotten so good that, when it works as intended in a car with good sound insulation, you barely notice it. You want something like that in a comfortable, smooth, and quiet luxury vehicle, like the Land Rover I drove immediately before this. A car that feels like a spaceship, hovering over the road surface on a cloud, where you can go 80 mph and feel like you’re barely moving. The exact opposite sensations that a midship V8 supercar intends to evoke.

And then there’s the other problem with the way GM has implemented the feature in the E-Ray. It’s a little harder to defend auto-start/stop in vehicles that don’t let you turn it off permanently. The E-Ray offers a grand total of six drive modes, but even if you switch off auto-start/stop while in your customizable “My Mode,” it will flip back on the next time you fire up the car.

At least the toggle is very conveniently accessible on the left-side touch control panel, since you may find yourself tapping it before every journey. This will be a dealbreaker for some people, and to them, all I’ll say is you’d be missing out on quite an incredible machine in exchange for one minor inconvenience. Yeah, it shouldn’t work that way, but believe me: Considering everything else the E-Ray gives you, it’s an annoyance I’m willing to accept. Not to say I wouldn’t recommend GM reconsider this decision when the hybrid Vette becomes the even more powerful Grand Sport next year.

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The 2026 New York Auto Show gives automakers a chance to show off the best they have on offer, especially American carmakers. Obviously, it was the perfect opportunity for Chevrolet to show off some futuristic hypercar concepts, the latest Corvette Grand Sport, as well as its fastest car on sale, the Corvette ZR1X. But instead of flaunting a mass-produced version of the ZR1X, Chevy exhibited a limited-edition version thereof, celebrating America’s quarter-millennium birthday.

Chevrolet’s 250-Year Tribute In Person

This Stars & Steel collection treats Chevrolet’s current lineup with a patriotic design pack to celebrate America’s 250th birthday. The treatment spans multiple models, including the Silverado, Colorado, and Corvette, each featuring American flag-inspired decals and “250” markings. GM says it will donate $250 from every Stars & Steel vehicle sold to NPOs that support veterans and their families.

While several examples, like this white Silverado, were present at the 2026 NY Auto Show, the blacked-out Corvette stole all of our attention. Limited to just 250 units across the Corvette range, this particular ZR1X, fitted with the Carbon Fiber Aero Package, shares a similar aesthetic to the $2.6 million example that sold at a Barrett-Jackson in January this year.

The Corvette That Stole Our Attention

The ZR1X displayed at the NY Auto Show had a stealthy look, finished in gloss black with carbon fiber wheels. Contrasting Satin silver striping runs from the trunk to the hood, with some stars, too. Some splashes of red appear on the brake calipers and on the edges of the gargantuan rear wing to commemorate America’s 250th birthday. Inside, the theme follows the red palette, but is much less subtle.

Also on display was the Chevy Corvette ZR1X’s powertrain: a 1,064 hp twin-turbocharged 5.5-liter flat-plane crank V8, dubbed the LT7. With help from an electric motor, the ZR1X has a combined 1,250 hp at its fingertips. In the real world, that allows the all-wheel-drive ZR1X to achieve a 0 to 60 mph time of just 1.68 seconds, making it the quickest production car in the world.

Nearing The End Of The C8 Corvette

A few days ago, GM confirmed the Grand Sport will be the last C8 Corvette model. While limited-run variants that focus on bespoke aesthetic upgrades like this Stars & Steel example will continue to exist, no core models will be added to the Corvette lineup. Knowing this makes witnessing one of the rarest C8 specifications in the flesh just all the more special.

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There just might be a new American king of the Nurburgring.

Multiple videos across the Internet show the Ford Mustang GTD blasting around the Nurburgring on Tuesday in what appears to clearly be a record attempt. A video on StatesideSupercars Youtube channel embedded below claims the updated Mustang GTD ran the ‘Ring in 6:41.74.

6:41.74 FORD MUSTANG GTD (EVO) NÜRBURGRING LAP Record Attempt, Outside footage & Timing!

If true, that would mean the Ford Mustang GTD just absolutely destroyed the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1‘s ‘Ring time of 6:50.763 and the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1X‘s ‘Ring time of 6:49.275. Further, that would make the Mustang GTD quicker around the ‘Ring than the Mercedes-Benz AMG GT Black Series, Porsche 911 GT2 RS MR, and even the Porsche 911 GT2 RS Manthey Performance.

Ford was out for blood, and it might’ve gotten it.

StatesideSupercars notes that the timing of 6:41.74 might be off by a second plus or minus due to the start and finish line being out of sight. Even if the time isn’t 100%, that still makes the Mustang GTD the American ‘Ring king. Further, it puts the Mustang GTD in absolute rarified air.

The Mercedes-Benz AMG One ran the ‘Ring in 6:29.090. The AMG One is basically a street-legal supercar with an F1 race car powertrain. That makes all this bananas.

A Ford spokesperson told The Drive,“Like we said, game on.” Indeed.

For history sake, the Ford Mustang GTD was the first American car to run a sub 7-minute lap around the ‘Ring. Then Ford beat its own record by 5.5 seconds months later. Then Team Chevy came and ruined Ford’s day by beating the Mustang GTD with both the Corvette ZR1 and ZR1X.

Ford CEO Jim Farley took it personally. Farley congratulated Team Chevy and immediately said, “Game on.” He was serious.

Team Ford showed back up to the ‘Ring with a modified Mustang GTD back in October. Clearly the Blue Oval was testing updates for what would later become a record run. That record run, and subsequent new record, seems to possibly have taken place yesterday.

We’ll await final word from Ford. There just might be a new champ in town, and it wasn’t a second or two that Ford shaved off. This time Ford might have shaved off 10.3 seconds, give or take a second. Impressive.

Got a tip about a new record? Send us a note at tips@thedrive.com

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Grand Sport Returns

After months of speculation, Chevrolet has officially confirmed that the C8 Corvette will receive a Grand Sport trim. The announcement, reported by Hagerty, took place during the 12 Hours of Sebring, where the new C8 variant was showcased alongside previous Grand Sport models.

As seen in previous spy shots, the new C8 Corvette Grand Sport features the Admiral Blue paint traditionally associated with the trim, along with the signature dual red hash marks. For the first time, however, those accents have been moved from the front to the rear quarter panel – likely reflecting the Corvette’s shift to a mid-engine layout. Facebook user Steve Boulter shared a photo of the car at the track in the C8 Corvette Owners Facebook group (see photo above). The full details haven’t been disclosed, but the report did confirm that the vehicle is getting a new V8.

A Bigger V8 Could Be Coming

Based on earlier rumors, the new trim could receive a new naturally aspirated small-block V8 bearing the LS6 designation, a name historically associated with high-performance engine variants. The engine could feature a 6.7-liter displacement, making it larger than the base Corvette Stingray’s naturally aspirated 6.2-liter LT2 V8.

Given that the Grand Sport is expected to slot above the Stingray, it will likely produce more than the base model’s 495 horsepower. It is also expected to retain a rear-wheel-drive layout, unlike the all-wheel-drive system used in the Corvette E-Ray.

Speaking of the Corvette E-Ray, reports suggest Chevrolet may rename the hybrid trim the Grand Sport X. The current E-Ray badge appears to cause some confusion, as some buyers assume the “E” means the car is fully electric, which could potentially affect buyer perception. Adopting the Grand Sport name would give the model a more familiar badge.

Expanding the Lineup

The upcoming Corvette Grand Sport could emerge as a volume leader, serving as a “sweet spot” between the base Stingray and the more track-focused Z06. Above it sit more extreme variants like the ZR1 and ZR1X, with the latter featuring an AWD system and a hybrid setup producing a combined 1,250 horsepower.

The 12 Hours of Sebring, where the new Corvette trim was unveiled, is the second race of the 2026 IMSA SportsCar Championship season. The report also noted that Grand Sport models from various generations hit the track for a parade lap before the race began on Saturday.

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The National Hot Rod Association has a straightforward rule for street-legal production cars running at sanctioned drag events without roll cages or competition licenses. Go no quicker than 9.0 seconds in the quarter mile and no faster than 150 mph through the traps. It’s a relatively sensible threshold designed to keep ordinary drivers in non-caged cars from getting themselves into too much trouble. The 2026 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1X, which starts at $212,195 and can be bought at a Chevy dealership, does not care about sensible thresholds.

A Machine Built to Break Records, And Rules

The ZR1X combines the ZR1’s twin-turbocharged 5.5-liter LT7 V8 with an upgraded front electric motor lifted from the Corvette E-Ray platform. The combustion engine contributes 1,064 horsepower while the front electric motor adds another 186 horsepower, bringing the total to 1,250 horsepower in an all-wheel-drive layout that tips the scales at 4,139 pounds. 

On a prepped surface at US 131 Motorsports Park in Michigan, Chevrolet’s own test produced a quarter-mile time of 8.675 seconds at 159.57 mph, with the car reaching 60 mph in just 1.68 seconds while generating a peak of 1.75g of acceleration force. Those are numbers that belong on a purpose-built race car, not something with a factory warranty.

Where the Rulebook Falls Apart

The NHRA’s Street Legal program’s 9.0-second and 150 mph limits exist for a reason. At those speeds, without a roll cage protecting the occupant, a crash becomes extremely difficult to survive. The rules were never written with a car like the ZR1X in mind, because a car like the ZR1X was not supposed to exist at a dealership. Even on road tires on an unprepared track, Car and Driver recorded 9.2 seconds at 155 mph, a pass that still violates speed thresholds, and raises the point of what a prepped track and competition tires will lead to.

The Paradox of a Street Car That Outgrew the Strip

What makes this situation genuinely strange is that the ZR1X is not a stripped-out track weapon. It runs on pump gas, it has a trunk, and it is 50-state street legal. The engineering team even had to modify the front motor’s software cutoff point, raising it from 150 mph to 160 mph, just so the all-wheel-drive system would remain engaged through the entire length of a quarter-mile run.

General Motors did not stumble into this territory accidentally. The ZR1X was designed from the outset to be the fastest production vehicle the company had ever built, and it achieved that goal so thoroughly that the sport which celebrates straight-line speed now has no legal category to put it in. The NHRA will almost certainly adapt its regulations to accommodate a car of this profile. Until then, the quickest Corvette ever built sits in an uncomfortable grey area.

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Chevrolet has ruffled a few feathers with its latest halo car, the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1. While traditional supercars are often scarce and wildly expensive, the ZR1 flips that script. With 1,064 hp from its twin-turbo V8 and a 0 to 60 mph time of 2.2 seconds, plus a starting price around $185,000 in the US, it delivers performance that rivals far pricier machines. Then there’s the even quicker all-wheel-drive ZR1X variant, which zooms from 0 to 60 mph in just 1.68 seconds, making it America’s quickest production car. Early production data suggests buyers have quickly recognized the value proposition, and the numbers now emerging reveal how people are configuring their ultimate C8.

2026 Production Already Passed Four Digits

Many figured GM would keep ZR1 output relatively low to maintain exclusivity. But it seems that’s not the case. According to Corvette production tracking figures shared by Roger Kiel, more than 1,000 ZR1 models have already been built for the 2026 model year, along with 156 examples of the ZR1X. The broader C8 family also continues to grow. Total C8 Corvette production for the 2026 model year currently sits at around 16,793 units. For reference, that’s 6,000 more cars than Lamborghini sold during 2025. And the lineup may expand further soon, as rumors suggest a 2027 Corvette Grand Sport is in development.

Buyers Favor Boring Specs

Usually Corvette owners are finicky about the spec of their car, with nearly every one claiming they have a “1 of 1” car. However, data from C8Tracker shows that ZR1 owners tend to gravitate toward a fairly consistent spec sheet. Despite cool colors like Hysteria Purple Metallic and Roswell Green Metallic existing, Black is the most popular exterior color, chosen by 27.4% of buyers, followed by white and yellow. More distinctive shades appear less frequently, with Riptide Blue Metallic sitting at the bottom, chosen by just 4.8% of buyers. Aero and trim choices show even stronger trends. Around 4 out of 5 ZR1 buyers opt for the carbon fiber aero package instead of the base setup, reinforcing the idea that many owners want the best of the best. When it comes to trim, the upscale 3LZ package dominates the order books, while only 1.8% of buyers stick with the basic 1LZ configuration.

A Mass-Produced Supercar

Mass-produced sports cars will always outnumber exotic hypercars, but the ZR1 still sits in a niche due to its unbeatable value proposition. When we say the ZR1 punches above its weight class, we mean it. Take the new Lamborghini Temerario, for example: it’s slower, makes 100 hp less, and twice as expensiveas a ZR1, too – unless you’re buying one in Europe, that is. The ZR1 occupies a unique space that offers buyers extreme levels of performance at half the price of its competitors. Better yet, it seems there won’t be a lack of supply to meet buyers’ demand.

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