Top-speed runs are usually reserved for the most expensive and exclusive vehicles around, but an American brand’s latest attempt shows that extreme speed isn’t reserved for the most elite among us. General Motors president Mark Reuss recently took a new Chevy Corvette ZR1 to a record top speed for cars under $1 million, placing it in the ranks of vehicles costing several times more.
Reuss hit 233 mph in the 2025 Corvette ZR1. He made the run on the High-Speed Oval Track at ATP Automotive Testing Papenburg in Germany and set the time with a two-way speed average. Speaking about the drive, Reuss said, “Setting the top-speed record in the Corvette ZR1 is a true triumph for Corvette and Chevrolet, and also an exhilarating, surreal experience for me personally. With the current generation’s switch to mid-engine, we knew the outstanding performance and balance made this a real possibility. To go over there and get it done is a testament to the power of ZR1, and to the incredibly talented team that developed and built it.”
Chevy engineers developed a Top Speed Mode for the test, which adjusts vehicle systems to attempt the extreme speeds. Even with those improvements, the car pinged its redline in six gear hitting the speeds. GM said five other engineers were able to exceed 230 mph on subsequent runs, proving that the car isn’t a one-trick pony.
[Images: General Motors]
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