en.Wedoany.com Reported - Chevrolet's 2026 Corvette ZR1X set a new class record for hybrid production cars at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, with the twin-turbocharged, all-wheel-drive, hybrid electric model delivering 1,250 horsepower.

Veteran IndyCar driver JR Hildebrand, who piloted the car, clocked a time of 9 minutes 30.104 seconds, not only becoming the official record for hybrid production cars but also improving the overall production car record by 23 seconds.

The ZR1X navigated the 156 turns of Pikes Peak, climbing nearly 5,000 feet in elevation to reach the 14,115-foot summit. The car combines a mid-mounted twin-turbocharged LT7 V8 engine with a front-axle electric motor, using forced induction to adapt to the thin air at high altitudes and leveraging electric torque for acceleration out of low-speed corners on the course.

"This car was on a tear from start to finish, and I'm thrilled with how the entire project progressed," Hildebrand said. "Our goal here was to set the hybrid production car record with this vehicle and become the fastest production car ever to go up the mountain. The Corvette ZR1X is an incredible platform, a true weapon for this event, and it fully met all our expectations."

Those expectations were evident early in the weekend, as the ZR1X became the fastest qualifier in the Time Attack 1 class.

The ZR1X achieved this feat while retaining an EPA-compliant factory exhaust system (rather than the unrestricted racing exhaust allowed by class rules), and Hildebrand used factory-standard Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2R tires instead of pure racing slicks.

"Over the past year, we've taken the Corvette ZR1 family on a tour, showcasing their incredible capabilities on some of the most challenging tracks both domestically and internationally," said Tony Roma, Executive Chief Engineer of Global Corvette and Performance Vehicles. "When JR proposed the idea of a project at Pikes Peak, we immediately saw the potential to highlight the ZR1X's strengths," Roma recalled. "The combination of a 1,064-horsepower turbocharged engine, a 186-horsepower electric front axle, and all-wheel drive gives it a clear advantage on mountain roads. On Sunday, JR proved that in record-breaking fashion."

The Corvette ZR1X previously completed a quarter-mile run in 8.675 seconds and set the fastest official lap record for an American manufacturer production car at the Nürburgring.

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