Central Valley Corvettes of Fresno Magazine - June 2016

‘In the Garage’ with Charlie Fosnaugh
General Motors Files "ZR1" Trademark,
Range-Topping Corvette Could Be On The Way
It’s been seven years since Chevrolet used the “ZR1” name to denote the topof‐the‐line
Chevrolet Corvette. But with the seventh‐generation Vette due for
replacing, it looks like General Motors is planning to bring back the badge
before the Corvette C7 gives way to the next‐generation model. According to
Autoblog, GM has filed a trademark application for the name “ZR1” with the
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
Apparently, GM wants to use the name for “motor land vehicles, namely,
automobiles,” a telling sign that the long‐rumored return of the Corvette ZR1
is inching closer and closer to becoming a reality. No specifics were given on
what GM plans to do with the “ZR1” name, but if history is any indication, it
could be used on a range‐topping Corvette that would sit above the Corvette
Z06. Such a car has been talked about before, most recently when news broke
that Chevrolet is planning to turn the Corvette into a mid‐engine sports car
that can compete against its European counterparts. It’s unclear if the ZR1
name will be used on the eighth‐gen C8 model or on a send‐off model for the
current‐generation C7. Either way, the return of the ZR1 could only mean great
things for Chevrolet.