2026 Corvette ZR1 Production Surges Past Expectations as Output Clears 1,000 Units

The assumption was simple: Chevrolet would keep the 2026 Corvette ZR1 rare. A 1,064-horsepower halo car usually isn’t something you flood the market with. Yet early production data suggest that exclusivity might not be the main objective this time.

Figures shared by Roger Kiel indicate that more than 1,000 ZR1 models have already been built for the 2026 model year. On top of that, 156 examples of the even quicker ZR1X have rolled off the line. Zooming out to the broader C8 family, you will find out that production for 2026 currently stands roughly at 16,973 units, which is around 6,000 more than Lamborghini produced last year. And that isn’t a trickle if you put it in a different perspective.

The Corvette ZR1 itself produces 1,064 horsepower from a twin-turbo V8 and reaches 60 mph in 2.2 seconds; the ZR1X, on the other hand, reaches 100 km/h in just 1,8 seconds and is known as America`s fastest production car.

Some expected GM to cap production to preserve the mystique. That doesn’t appear to be happening. If anything, the company seems comfortable letting the car exist in meaningful volume. And the lineup may not be done growing either, as rumors point to a 2027 Corvette Grand Sport in development.

What stands out almost as much as the production totals is how buyers are configuring their cars. According to data from C8Tracker, despite more expressive colors being available, most customers are playing it safe. Black is the most popular exterior finish, accounting for 27.4% of orders, followed by white and yellow. At the opposite end, Riptide Blue Metallic trails at just 4.8%.

The same pattern repeats with options. Approximately every four ZR1 consumers purchase the aero package of carbon fiber rather than the base package. The luxurious 3LZ prevails in the order sheets on the trim side with a mere 1.8 percent ordering the low-end 1LZ package.

Sports cars in bulk tend to sell better than exotic hypercars, whereas the ZR1 is in a somewhat peculiar niche. It comes in at more than 1,000 horsepower and costs approximately $185,000 and it is equally fast as some of the more expensive cars. And according to the present production, even supply may not be as limited as many had initially assumed.