2012 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 Review - Kelley Blue Book

The standard Chevrolet Corvette delivers a hearty performance wallop but that doesn't mean there isn't room for improvement. Add a supercharger, lightweight carbon fiber panels and a specially tuned suspension to the basic Corvette and you get a ZR1, the pinnacle of the Corvette lineup. KBB's Micah Muzio recently had a chance to drive one and his experience was captured in this video.
FOR PRICING & SPECS ON THIS CAR VISIT:
www.kbb.com/chevrolet/corvette...
Kelley Blue Book is your source for car reviews, road tests, new car launches & auto show videos. Subscribe to catch all the latest Kelley Blue Book video reviews.
kzbin.info_c...
To follow Micah on Twitter, please visit: / micahmuzio

[@JesseEnclave]

Loved the review. But I do have one gripe...Saying the ZR1 "hangs with" the Audi R8 V10 and SLS AMG? I believe words like "Slaughters" or "Rapes" or "Totally and utterly annihilates" would be better terms. Hell, a Z06 "hangs with" the SLS and R8 V10. A ZR1 will eat them alive, anytime, anywhere. But any points the review loses for that, it makes up when it brings up the GT-R, makes a fair and valid point about it technically being a better value, then talks about the ZR1's intangibles.

[@zguy-cz8zi]

Zr1 beats the 458 and a Gallardo

[@Fatal_Inertia]

No body who reviews this car adjusts the side bolsters to fit them. If you ADJUST the seats they're actually wonderful

[@ConnorFlynnNo1]

And the fact the man weighs like 120 pounds, needs some meat to hold him down!

[@fredeb67]

You didn't expect me to floor it!!!

[@Began2011]

That was real cool to have your mother in the review. Mine would of told me to slow down.

[@swissmrkc]

i knew when seeing the title of the video Micah would drive the hell out of this. i am a fan

[@sdijnfpo0jaisf]

KBB, you're great at car reviews. superb job as always!

[@matthewjamal]

seems like a really legit show. surprised you guys don't have more subs!

[@ChowderedRust]

Corvette kills all these cars mentioned. Not just "Hangs" with them

[@joelarvell9895]

The Mom scene was my favorite... (She really did scare you)🤣😎😎

[@gentle285]

very nice review!

[@mitchellhuey5612]

This actually is not a 2012 ZR1 as the title states. Jetstream Blue was only available from 2009-2011 model years ZR1. In the 2012 model year ZR1 it was replaced with Supersonic Blue. You can also tell that it wasn't a 2012 by the steering wheel. The steering wheel shown was used from 2009 to 2011. In 2012-2013 they added chrome trim pieces to dress it up a bit.

[@masonkim7]

very nice review

[@boulespuantes]

this was actually a great review by kbb

[@abdullahhakan1]

Corvette's 5 various auto traction system is amazing. I have never seen such diverse driving experience in any other car.

[@fatboy19831]

Great Review!

[@vinnysvip]

this guy make car reviews more fun too watch he should do more!! thumbs up soo KBB can see

[@Johny40Se7en]

Very good video, I love the blue devil.

[@brownthug2b]

micah needs a raise!!

[@ramtough07]

Micah, dude, awesome job yet again. Up there with the Audi R8 reviews.

[@themullah]

great review, great reviewer. love the mum section and the scared bug, light touches ftw

[@Karto86]

great video, good job:)

[@lukehelpmetakethisdangmaskoff]

Sons reaction to moms reaction when son drives: 🤣 Sons reaction to mom driving: 🤯

[@dundermiflin892]

that was an awesome video!!!!

[@bwxmoto]

that blue mixed with the chrome rims is so sweet

[@ragnarok67]

every time i watch one of these types of vids.. it makes me want to go out and have fun in my trans am so badly...

[@coureurdebois]

to get something that will actually keep up with the ZR1 on the track you would need the GTR black which will run you around 120,000$ for a computer on wheels that is none livable as a everyday driver and only has 8.8 feet for trunk space VS 22 cubic feet on the vette. or get a ZR1 which runs just under a 100K around 90K or a 2013 for 112,000.

[@binyamj]

Thank you for being so HONEST! That's one of the reasons why I love Top Gear (UK not the shitty US version), because they tell it like it is, not just the good things that what people want to hear.

[@BasswipeNC]

I don't think the seats are that bad. The first person who rode in mine actually commented that he thought the seats were great.

[@ShermanMR2]

So, what was your lap time around the Streets? Love that old track!!! And yes I use my knees for bolstering too, especially on that track.

[@flipinwash]

i think this guy is the best car reviewer outside of the Top Gear UK 3-some. IMO

[@sweeeptheleg]

this guy is good and the production quality is great also.

[@mak450]

@binyamj Well you referenced Top Gear US of which there's only a TV show and not a dedicated online magazine, so I assumed you were talking about the TV show for TGUK only, my mistake.

[@luvculturegurl26]

and nice review :D

[@GeoScum]

I loved the bug at 7:15!!!

[@jchang2014]

This guy and Riswick FTW. They need to collab.

[@Jahwarrior91]

"Dressed up like the Stig's younger kid sister" LMAO...thats a good one. plus I knew you had to watch Top gear UK, thats why your reviews are so awesome

[@05front]

@Marshmallowrex B16 or K20?

[@RossZ32]

lol at the scared bug! :D

[@305pride]

the zr1 makes my heart pound. oh, and ZR1 is KING

[@brandonp4]

That car crash shirt with Ctrl Z under it is hillarious!

[@MrGTR1988]

cool car !

[@JM7Blocks]

my favorite car ever

[@artfctsinmotion]

ZR1 IS KING

[@BlakeBergy]

Micah Muzio should host American Top Gear!

[@JesseEnclave]

I have read your comments. All of them. Why do you think I said dumb comments were par for the course? So, the Nurburging Nordschleife is just a 13mile straight line, right? Someone better tell that to Porsche, BMW and Nissan, since they also test their performance cars there. Also, the circle was most likely a skidpad/road-holding test. It's designed to find the limits of the car's ability to remain planted during cornering, and to find out how controllable it is when it does break loose.

[@weedmastersr]

@Vanuatoo me neither ! :))

[@matthewjamal]

@marcz4100 i was just thinking that 1080p really does this car justice.

[@Jahwarrior91]

That was awesome how he made his mom drive

[@arion45]

I would like to see a meter showing how much it costs to drift in those sport cup tires.

[@Speeedymo]

did anyone notice the "scared bug" at 7:15 ? just wondering

[@andreshates]

awesome review and you sir have a cool mom lol

[@bob808]

Great review! Do you (Americans) want a laugh? The ZR1 is sold here in limited quantities (grey import) at a cost of $250,000.

[@AutoYoung]

If u buy a C6 your first mod should b a set of Corbeaus or Recaros. Heck, a set of the new C7 seats would b great but they'd probably cost an arm and a leg.

[@marshknute]

I hate this car because it epitomizes the old fashioned (pre-bailout) style of American performance car: Huge engine, difficult to drive on the limit, "only-in-America" styling and 1990's Hyundai interior. It is such a fantastic supercar, but GM needs to release the C7 already and give it a more modern engine, suspension and interior (they want it to sell in Europe, remember?). As for you KBB: utterly fantastic review. Keep it up, and get Micah on either Top Gear America or The Car Show.

[@akloshi1171]

cool

[@TornTech]

Same price as the GTR. Which is better though?

[@obhatti]

I don't like the Corvette in general, as it's not my cup of tea. But it's really hard to argue with that level of performance, because it is flat out impressive. In my brain the whole time I was thinking "it's faster than a 458 Italia or the MP4-12C?!?!?!?!" Pretty awesome. And that colour is amazing. I agree with the cheap interior (Cobalt steering wheel anyone??) kind of ruining the other good elements of this car. But a fantastic video review by KBB!!!

[@binyamj]

@mak450 I meant that they're honest about what's wrong with cars. I know that their are some aspects that are just for entertainment, but overall they tell how they really feel. On the website they are very informative and factual, and not for entertainment on the reviews. I used to watch fifth gear, but they don't show it in the US anymore. Also, what's wrong with Clarkson changing his opinion about cars? I've thought cars were fun to drive for a short time, then found them boring later.

[@ztinny1990]

very very nice car.......

[@05front]

@Marshmallowrex Hondas are nice if your on a budget. Mine is about to be paid off.

[@yel75]

The interior is from the Geo Metro

[@TheCarArchives96]

the 2005-present Chevrolet Corvette is assembled in Bowling Green, Kentucky, United States

[@sbinnala]

Except thats a 2011 as that specific seat design is 2011 only.

[@jayfreshour]

After market seats and there you go!!!

im in!

[@msbae]

Bad seats? I'll bet those seats are still better than the ones in my 2001 Chevy S-10...

[@tufmandan]

3:41 Look at the tires!!! and then at 3:43 for the engine trying to escape!

[@rapandrnb]

ROFLMAOOO !!! "you dident expect me to floor it" ROFLMAOOO epic funny !

[@mak450]

@binyamj My problem is they aren't honest about how they feel about the cars. They say things explicitly for shock value, case n' point the GTR. Clarkson claimed on the show it felt like it wanted to kill him then said it was boring. Cars are his job, he gets ample time to thoroughly test them in all kinds of environments, not just short time. So he can form a thorough analysis and be honest about them, except since they love to lie for shock value who knows which opinion is honest or not?

[@MicahMuzio]

@andreshates Indeed, my mom is super cool.

[@MrCondoriano]

can' stop laughing of the scared bug XD

[@Luizhenrique-ps7eb]

quem será quem ganha Corvette ZR1 ou Opala Diplomata

[@05front]

Can you say new host for Top Gear USA?

[@JaisenJames]

Thumbs WAYYYY Up!

[@rmf09024]

3:25 is the best

[@BeefDelivery]

so you can see the top of the inter-cooler for some reason... :P

[@chevyv8350]

watch the bug at 7:15 hahahaha i corvette is awsome

[@imserious2187]

Vette is king

[@rockkyman]

7:16 im also scared just like that bug if im near or even driving the car...

[@xcrosr]

who needs american top gear when you've got him?

[@vengancetastesgood]

A stoplight is my drag strip.

[@SimonFanProductions]

His mom is cool!

[@JesseEnclave]

Considering that drifting is just about the slowest way to take a corner, no, Corvettes are not made for drifting(though power oversteer on-tap makes them pretty good at it). But they are NOT made purely for straight-line performance, either. To say that they are is out and out ridiculous. That's like saying a Porsche 911 Turbo is a drag racer. Just because it's scarily fast in a straight line doesn't mean that's all it can do. That is the point I'm trying to make.

[@DarkFlarePrince]

lol at 3:52 the camera falls over

[@kamenwaticlients]

I'd much rather watch this then Top Gear USA

[@coureurdebois]

Porsche 911 Turbo is actually better on the drag strip then the corvette OR about the same but on the track the corvette is 100 times better placing 11th on the nubrogining. the Porsche 911 Turbo S placed 28th best time vs 11th.

[@HaHaEntertainmentR]

Yea, just the seats...and the stuff surrounding it.

[@keith8880]

If had a 100 grand id buy a base corvette and mod the hell out of it

[@AutoYoung]

@n9athan they've been pony cars, since they were first built. The mustang, Camaro, and challenger are all pony cars. What r u talking about?

[@KpopNiDontStop]

ya if I had 100,000 id be takin one home

[@JesseEnclave]

Seriously, this isn't the 70's anymore. Even American sedans can handle pretty well, and our muscle cars are just as at-home on a road course as they are on a drag strip(with the exception of the Challenger). And speaking of muscle cars, I've got to say I love it when foreigners think they understand the term better than the people who invented it. It's especially funny on Top Gear, where even a Chrysler 300 is considered a "muscle car".

[@mak450]

@binyamj ROFL. Top Gear UK is many things, but honest? Not so much. Remember the episode where Hammond dyno'd a GT500 and claimed the horsepower at the wheels was the actual engine output at the crank? Or when Clarkson claimed the GTR was super exciting, and then weeks later on a DVD said it was really boring? There're quite a few more examples but you get the point. They lie to be entertaining on a fairly regular basis. If facts are what's important to you you want 5th gear.

[@gip1279]

I would love to see what it does against the cheaper 2012 Nissan GTR.

[@joeatl17]

see through hood cover to see intercooler?? doesnt look like an intercooler, more like an engine cover

[@rockachocolate]

That car is sexy

[@05front]

@Marshmallowrex Im sorry if my car payment is as much as your cars value. My car. I am talking about my car. a 2005 BMW 330 Ci performance, and M sport pack.

[@PL3690]

Dude is awesome, great review. The seats of the ZR1 are u n a c c e p t a b l e My dad's vw cc has better seats than the ZR1.. Awesome car though.

[@YAGO323]

If i had disposable income....hell yeah i would pick one up.

[@EpicMOCS]

you know if the corvette has bad seats and you had a a nuff money to buys a vette like the zo6 buys some other good seats!

[@jetninjamonkey]

Dear Santa...