Here’s Why The C4 Corvette ZR-1 Is Called ‘The King Of The Hill’
The new C8 Corvette ZR1 doesn’t fall short when it comes to performance, laying it on thick with more than 1,000 horsepower from the twin-turbocharged 5.5L V8 LT7 gasoline engine. As well it should, given the history of the nameplate. In fact, shortly after the C4-generation ZR-1 was unveiled (the C4-gen ZR-1 nameplate included a hyphen), it would adopt the nickname “King of the Hill.” Here’s why.
The origin behind the nickname starts with the engineers who built the thing in the first place. For readers who may be unaware, GM acquired the U.K.-based engineering and performance firm Group Lotus in 1986, after which the group was handed the task of developing the world’s fastest production car, with the C4 Corvette serving as the platform to do it. To that end, Lotus designed a new engine suitable for such lofty aspirations, namely the aluminum-block, naturally aspirated 5.7L V8 LT5, rated at 375 horsepower and 370 pound-feet of torque, later upgraded to 405 horsepower and 385 pound-feet of torque.
During development, engineers nicknamed the C4 ZR-1 the “King of the Hill,” likely a reference to its intended goals and high-performance capabilities. However, GM was hesitant to embrace the King of the Hill nickname when the C4 ZR-1 was first unveiled, possibly because it didn’t sound exotic enough to the ears of GM’s executives. Nevertheless, GM eventually relented, and the nickname began to appear in official marketing materials.
Some of the earliest public references to the C4 Corvette ZR-1 as the “King of the Hill” can be found in automotive publications like Car and Driver and Road & Track, which labeled the sports car as such in 1989 when the C4 ZR-1 was first introduced.
“After all, is this not the Corvette from hell? The King of the Hill? The Ferrari-fighting world-class two-seater from Motor City? A legend-to-be?” wrote Car and Driver. “Yes, it is that and more.”
“You may know the ZR-1 as the King of the Hill, which is what this Super Vette was commonly called when the program was barely more than a rumor,” wrote Road & Track.
Despite GM’s resistance, the name stuck, and now, the C8 Corvette ZR1 looks to continue to nameplate’s monarchical heritage into a new, mid-engined era.
The origin behind the nickname starts with the engineers who built the thing in the first place. For readers who may be unaware, GM acquired the U.K.-based engineering and performance firm Group Lotus in 1986, after which the group was handed the task of developing the world’s fastest production car, with the C4 Corvette serving as the platform to do it. To that end, Lotus designed a new engine suitable for such lofty aspirations, namely the aluminum-block, naturally aspirated 5.7L V8 LT5, rated at 375 horsepower and 370 pound-feet of torque, later upgraded to 405 horsepower and 385 pound-feet of torque.
During development, engineers nicknamed the C4 ZR-1 the “King of the Hill,” likely a reference to its intended goals and high-performance capabilities. However, GM was hesitant to embrace the King of the Hill nickname when the C4 ZR-1 was first unveiled, possibly because it didn’t sound exotic enough to the ears of GM’s executives. Nevertheless, GM eventually relented, and the nickname began to appear in official marketing materials.
Some of the earliest public references to the C4 Corvette ZR-1 as the “King of the Hill” can be found in automotive publications like Car and Driver and Road & Track, which labeled the sports car as such in 1989 when the C4 ZR-1 was first introduced.“After all, is this not the Corvette from hell? The King of the Hill? The Ferrari-fighting world-class two-seater from Motor City? A legend-to-be?” wrote Car and Driver. “Yes, it is that and more.”
“You may know the ZR-1 as the King of the Hill, which is what this Super Vette was commonly called when the program was barely more than a rumor,” wrote Road & Track.
Despite GM’s resistance, the name stuck, and now, the C8 Corvette ZR1 looks to continue to nameplate’s monarchical heritage into a new, mid-engined era.