As we get closer to the 4th of July, the Detroit Three are finding more ways to celebrate the nation’s 250th anniversary. Chevrolet put on a spectacular display to honor the country’s birthday. Chevy used the exhaust from a 1250 horsepower Corvette ZR1X to blow out 250 oversized candles at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. A brief video of the event and celebration from the driver's perspective was posted on social media.
"Resilience, pride and work ethic of Americans have driven our nation forward for 250 years. For nearly 115 years, Chevrolet has been engrained in America’s story,” said Scott Bell, vice president of Global Chevrolet. “Corvette has long been a symbol of the American dream, so it is a privilege to celebrate this moment at the Racing Capital of the World by having a Corvette ZR1X blow out 250 candles in a display of power and precision.”
Chevrolet Corvette ZR1X
The Chevrolet Corvette has long been considered America’s sports car. It debuted in 1953 and is Chevrolet’s “Halo” car, often debuting the company’s latest innovations.
Corvette Senior Controls and Software Engineer Cody Bulkley, drove the hypercar to successfully “blow out” 250 birthday candles honoring America’s semi quincentennial.
As I previously reported, the Chevrolet Corvette’s fastest production car ever, was also the pace car for the 110th Indianapolis 500. The Corvette ZR1X delivers 1,250 horsepower across all four wheels, combining a 186 hp electric motor on the front axle with a 5.5L twin-turbo V8 putting 1,064 hp to the rear wheels. The amazing thing is that there is no physical connection between the two power sources.
For Pace Car duty, the ZR1X was equipped with the Carbon Aero package, including dive planes on the front bumper, underbody aero strakes and the rear wing, which creates more than 1,200 pounds of downforce at top speed.
Corvette ZR1X features:
- Electrified all-wheel-drive
- LT7 twin-turbo V8 with 1,064 horsepower and 828 lb.-ft. of torque
- Front-axle motor adds 186 horsepower and 145 lb.-ft. of torque
- GM-estimated 0-60: Under 2 seconds
- GM-estimated ¼ mile: Under 9 seconds
- Not a plug-in: ZR1X charges through regenerative efforts from the front drive unit
America’s 250th Birthday Special Editions
Earlier this year, Chevrolet announced a limited-edition Stars & Steel Collection, a lineup of vehicles designed to display patriotism and American craftsmanship. Chevrolet is one of America’s oldest automobile brands having built cars and trucks for the last 114 years.
Throughout the year, Chevrolet will continue to celebrate the country’s anniversary, revisiting iconic moments in the brand’s history and celebrating Chevy’s importance in the U.S. Corvettes are built at a plant in Bowling Green, Kentucky, where there is also a museum dedicated to its history.
Image by Chevrolet
About the Author
Mary Conway is a professional automotive journalist and has decades of experience specializing in automotive news analysis. She covered the Detroit Three for more than twenty years for the ABC affiliate, in Detroit. Her affection for the Motor City comes naturally. Her father ran a gas station while Mary was growing up, in Wisconsin. Follow Mary at @MaryConwayMedia on X and on Facebook, and send her car news tips for future stories. Mary Conway is an esteemed automotive and business reporter who was inducted into the Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame in 2019. Mary is a member of the Automotive Press Association, Rocky Mountain Automotive Press, Society of Professional Journalists, and NATAS.
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