Buff book leak gives us an early look at the baddest Chevrolet Corvette yet

By Ronan Glon Published November 17, 2017

Chevrolet planned a big surprise for this weekend. It released a short, dark teaser video announcing the imminent arrival of a new member of the Corvette lineup. The wait is partially over, because a photo showing the cover of Car & Driver’s December issue confirms the upcoming model is the long-awaited ZR1. We expected it would be the baddest Chevrolet Corvette built in the nameplate’s six decade-long history, and the first official photo of the beast from Bowling Green suggests we were spot on.

The ZR1 is the ultimate evolution of the current, seventh-generation Corvette. The sizable bulge on the hood hides a brand-new V8 engine with dual overhead cams that employs a supercharger to generate a massive 750 horsepower. Called LT5 internally, the eight-cylinder is most likely bolted to a 10-speed automatic transmission. We could see a six- or seven-speed manual on the list of options, too, though nothing is official at this point. Rear-wheel drive will be the only configuration offered. It is a Corvette, after all.

Chevrolet Corvette — Image used with permission by copyright holder

The firepower under the hood is complemented by a ZR1-specific body kit that adds a front splitter, side skirts, and a massive wing that wouldn’t look out of place on an LMP1 race car — or as the bottom part of a bench in Central Park. We also notice special alloy wheels, cooling vents chiseled into the front bumper, and four round exhaust tips out back. Autoblog adds the hood and the roof panel are both made out of carbon fiber in order to keep weight in check. The ZR1 makes the Z06 look gentle and subdued.

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Website Corvette Blogger reports the 2019 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 will make its debut at the Dubai Auto Show, which bodes well with the time frame released by Chevrolet. If you can’t make it out to the Middle East on such short notice, you’ll get the chance to check out the ZR1 on American soil in a few short weeks during the annual Los Angeles Auto Show. Pricing information will be released in the coming months, just ahead of the car’s on-sale date.

Heads-up, purists: This could be the ultimate evolution of the Corvette you know and love. Rumors backed up by leaks, spy shots, and even patent applications suggest the next-generation Corvette will go mid-engined for the first time ever. It’s already undergoing shakedown testing around Chevrolet’s headquarters, so we wouldn’t be surprised to see it in the metal in January at next year’s edition of the Detroit Auto Show.

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Former Digital Trends Contributor

Ronan Glon is an American automotive and tech journalist based in southern France. As a long-time contributor to Digital…

Cars

Uber partners with May Mobility to bring thousands of autonomous vehicles to U.S. streets

uber may mobility av rides partnership

The self-driving race is shifting into high gear, and Uber just added more horsepower. In a new multi-year partnership, Uber and autonomous vehicle (AV) company May Mobility will begin rolling out driverless rides in Arlington, Texas by the end of 2025—with thousands more vehicles planned across the U.S. in the coming years.
Uber has already taken serious steps towards making autonomous ride-hailing a mainstream option. The company already works with Waymo, whose robotaxis are live in multiple cities, and now it’s welcoming May Mobility’s hybrid-electric Toyota Sienna vans to its platform. The vehicles will launch with safety drivers at first but are expected to go fully autonomous as deployments mature.
May Mobility isn’t new to this game. Backed by Toyota, BMW, and other major players, it’s been running AV services in geofenced areas since 2021. Its AI-powered Multi-Policy Decision Making (MPDM) tech allows it to react quickly and safely to unpredictable real-world conditions—something that’s helped it earn trust in city partnerships across the U.S. and Japan.
This expansion into ride-hailing is part of a broader industry trend. Waymo, widely seen as the current AV frontrunner, continues scaling its service in cities like Phoenix and Austin. Tesla, meanwhile, is preparing to launch its first robotaxis in Austin this June, with a small fleet of Model Ys powered by its camera-based Full Self-Driving (FSD) system. While Tesla aims for affordability and scale, Waymo and May are focused on safety-first deployments using sensor-rich systems, including lidar—a tech stack regulators have so far favored.
Beyond ride-hailing, the idea of personally owned self-driving cars is also gaining traction. Waymo and Toyota recently announced they’re exploring how to bring full autonomy to private vehicles, a move that could eventually bring robotaxi tech right into your garage.
With big names like Uber, Tesla, Waymo, and now May Mobility in the mix, the ride-hailing industry is evolving fast—and the road ahead looks increasingly driver-optional.

Cars

The Ioniq 5 is once again eligible for the $7,500 tax credit

2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5

After a brief and confusing absence, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 is once again eligible for the full $7,500 federal tax credit — and this time, it's sticking around (at least for now). So, what happened? Let’s unpack the ride.

The Ioniq 5, a sleek and tech-savvy electric crossover, initially made headlines not just for its design, but for being built at Hyundai’s brand-new Metaplant in Georgia. That domestic assembly qualified it for the EV tax credit under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which requires vehicles to be made in North America with batteries sourced from trade-friendly countries. But early in 2025, the Ioniq 5 vanished from the list. Why? Likely due to its battery packs, which were then still being sourced from SK On’s Hungarian facility.

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You Asked: State of smartphone design, Slate Truck breakdown, and soundbars under $600

You Asked

On today’s You Asked: What's to come with the new Slate Truck and its potential availability? Is it worth the hype? Why does it feel like smartphone design and innovation has stalled recently? And why do directors think that ultra wide 21:9 is a good ratio for movies?
Slate Truck breakdown with John McCann
Some of you have been in touch to ask about the availability of the new Slate Truck. I'll go through the preorder process in a moment, but first, let's get everyone up to speed on this newly unveiled EV. What is it? What makes it stand out? And why is it generating so much buzz?
This is being touted as a sub-$20,000 electric truck after government incentives, and you’ll be able to customize it to your heart’s content. It stands out not so much for what it offers, but for what it doesn’t offer as standard. There’s just one trim and one paint color. No touchscreen, no stereo, no Bluetooth, no electric windows.

So, what do you get? There are two seats. There's a five-meter bed, good for payloads up to 1,400 pounds. There's AC, steel wheels, and hand-cranked windows, plus all the standard driver safety assists you’d expect from a modern vehicle. There’s a rear-mounted electric motor, a roomy frunk, and a battery rated for about 150 miles, according to Slate.
That isn’t great in the world of EV range, but a larger battery will be available to push that figure up to a more reasonable 240 miles. That bigger battery is just one of over 100 add-ons Slate is making available. These will be offered not just at the point of purchase but also at any time during your ownership, allowing you to swap and upgrade as your needs evolve.
Want to add a splash of color? Check out the vast range of vinyl wraps you can apply and remove from the truck at will. There’s also an SUV upgrade kit that converts your two-seater truck into a five-seater car. Inside, infotainment is strictly “bring your own device.” There’s no touchscreen, no built-in CarPlay, not even a stereo. Instead, you get a universal phone mount and a few USB ports. You can also add holders for a tablet if you want a bigger display, and a Bluetooth speaker if you want to listen to music while out for a drive.