Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 Goes Topless in Los Angeles

TopSpeed

By Ciprian Florea

Published Nov 29, 2017

It's the first convertible ZR1 since 1970!

It's been only two weeks since Chevrolet unveiled the new Corvette ZR1, and the Detroit-based company already launched the convertible version at the 2017 Los Angeles Auto Show. Wow, that was fast! I can't say I didn't expect it to happen at some point, but boy, I really didn't see the ZR1 Convertible coming before 2018. The bigger news here is that the this is the first drop-top version of the ZR1 since the nameplate was first used back in 1970.

As with any topless version of an existing coupe, the ZR1 Convertible shares almost everything with its hardtop counterpart. The soft-top, which gives the driver and passenger access to infinite headroom, doesn't do much to change the car's appearance when it's not folded in the trunk. What's more, it adds less than 60 pounds to the overall weight, and it doesn't significantly alter the ZR1's aerodynamics, so both the low and high wing packages are offered. The soft-top is power operated and can be folded remotely while the car is stopped or driving at speeds of up to 30 mph.

“The ZR1 convertible is a no-compromise supercar,” said Corvette Executive Chief Engineer Tadge Juechter. “Thanks to the strong structure, the suspension tuning between coupe and convertible models is identical, meaning the ZR1 convertible offers the same benchmark performance, including a top speed of over 200 mph.” Performance figures aren't yet available, but the coupe needs less than three seconds to hit 60 mph, to go with a top speed of 212 mph.

Chevrolet also announced pricing for the Corvette ZR1. While the coupe retails from $119,995, the convertible costs $123,995 before options, including destination, but excluding tax, title, and dealer fees. The ZTK Performance Package, which includes the High Wing, costs $2,995.