Jay Leno’s Garage is a gearhead’s paradise, where the rumble of engines and the shine of chrome spin tales of car history. In the latest episode, Leno rolls out a monster that’s rewriting what American muscle can do: the 2025 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1, the most ferocious Corvette ever, and with GM President Mark Reuss riding shotgun, they take it for its first public spin.
Leno’s cavernous garage, a shrine stuffed with automotive gems, is the perfect stage for the ZR1’s big reveal. This beast prowls in, its sharp lines and mean stance stealing the spotlight, powered by a twin-turbo 5.5-liter V8 that churns out a wild 1,064 horsepower, rocketing to 60 mph in 2.3 seconds and topping out at 233 mph. Those stats might sound like techy noise, but they mean a car that feels like a missile with a steering wheel, ready to smoke nearly anything on the road. Leno, all grins and gusto, nails it: “It’s wonderful. It’s an American car that competes with the best in the world.”
LEGO Technic Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Toy Car - Building Toy Set for Kids, Boys and Girls, Ages 9+ - Model Car Kit for Display - Gift Idea for Birthday - 42205
- MUSCLE CAR MODEL – Let girls and boys race into an exciting building project with the LEGO Technic Chevrolet Corvette Stingray car model kit for boys and girls ages 9 and up
- CORVETTE CAR TOY – This set lets young builders assemble their own Corvette model before playing with the vehicle and exploring its functions
- REALISTIC FEATURES – This Corvette model kit includes moving functions with steering, a moving 8-cylinder engine, differential and opening doors and hood
$59.95
Buy on Amazon
The episode’s charm is how Leno and Reuss make the ZR1’s wizardry click for everyone, not just car nerds. Reuss, a GM lifer, spills the tale of tweaking the exhaust to nail that iconic Corvette snarl—early versions were too tame, lacking the gut-punch growl fans crave, so they rerouted the sound to bring it to life, a detail that hits home even if you think a spark plug’s just a fancy lightbulb.
It’s not all about horsepower and tech specs. Leno and Reuss dig into the Corvette’s storied past, from its scrappy start to its supercar glow-up, spotlighting the ZR1’s split rear window—a throwback to the 1963 ‘Vette that gives it soul. This mix of old-school cool and cutting-edge bite makes the car a storyteller, whether you’re a car geek or just love a good yarn. Reuss shuts down talk of spinning Corvette off as its own brand, saying, “Never,” while Leno cheers GM for keeping it a true Chevy.
When they hit the streets of LA, the episode really pops. Leno pilots the ZR1, its power surging with every gear change, delivering a rollercoaster kick that even a car newbie would feel in their bones—pure, seat-pinning thrill. Leno’s ear-to-ear smile as he weaves through traffic shows off the ZR1’s razor-sharp handling, taming all that brute force.
Reuss drops another nugget: the ZR1 was a passion project, with engineers sweating every detail, from the carbon fiber aero kit to Michelin tires that cling to the pavement like they’re magnetized, turning this beast into a track-slaying legend that’s already smashed five U.S. track records.
