Chevrolet C8 Corvette ZR1X Beats Pikes Peak Record by 23 Seconds
The Chevrolet C8 Corvette ZR1X continues to widen the gap between it and the rest of the field of American-made sports cars.
The range-topping version of the eighth-generation ‘Vette demolished the production car record at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb this past weekend. The mark further solidifies the hybrid’s position as the closest thing any of the Big Three makes to a genuine hypercar.
The record was set on Saturday during the 104th running of the famous hill climb. IndyCar veteran J.R. Hildebrand was behind the wheel of the ZR1X and was able to guide it up the 12.42-mile course and its 156 turns in just 9:30.104 minutes, according to Road & Track. That beats the previous Pikes Peak-certified record, which was set by a 992.1-generation Porsche 911 Turbo S in 2021 during a non-race run, by more than 23 seconds.
The Pikes Peak International Hill Climb’s has been held since 1916 and is considered a particularly challenging course because its finish line is located at 14,115 feet, or 2.67 miles, above sea level. At that level, air density has dropped by close to 40 percent, which wreaks havoc on an internal combustion engine, which needs oxygen to operate efficiently.
What almost certainly helped the most potent C8 conquer the hill climb is that it’s powered by more than just a traditional gas-powered engine. The $212,195 vehicle’s powertrain consists of a 5.5-liter twin-turbocharged V-8 and a front-mounted e-motor. Not only does this setup produce 1,250 hp and give the car all-wheel-drive, but, as Road & Track points out, the turbochargers and e-motor, via Chevy’s push-to-pass e-boost function, were able to pick up the slack for the engine as the car rocketed towards the finish line. Just more proof that the car’s powertrain, which helped it become the fastest American-made production car in Nürburgring history last summer, is pretty special.
The Chevrolet C8 Corvette ZR1X during the 104th Pikes Peak International Hill Climb
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The C8 Corvette ZR1X may have set Pikes Peaks production car record on Saturday, but it wasn’t the weekend’s fastest car. That title belongs to the Ford Super Mustang Mach-E which made it up the course in 8:18.202. Of course, that car, and the course’s overall record holder, a Volkswagen ID.R prototype from 2018, are non-production EVs. That means Chevy still has plenty to brag about.
