10 Memorable Chevrolet Sports Cars From The 21st Century

Chevrolet sports cars have been brightening up the roads for decades now, most notably since the 1950s, when the first Corvette first rocked up on the scene. Since then, there has been no shortage of big-capacity, rear-wheel-drive sports cars by the brand – but which examples stand out in your mind as the most memorable?

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Chevrolet

Founded in 1903, Chevrolet is one of America's oldest remaining legacy automakers. Acquired by General Motors in 1918, Chevrolet is the core GM brand responsible for the bulk of GM's US sales. As a mass-market manufacturer, Chevrolet competes in multiple key segments, primarily the SUV and truck segments, but also sports cars and mainstream sedans and hatchbacks (until recently). Core models for the brand include the Silverado, Colorado, Suburban, Camaro, and Corvette.

Founded November 3, 1911

Founder Louis Chevrolet, Arthur Chevrolet, William C. Durant

Headquarters Detroit, Michigan, United States of America

Owned By General Motors

Current CEO Mary Barra

While we're all fairly familiar with the classic icons, we feel some of the latter attempts by Chevy are just as notable. Below are 10 21st century examples from Chevrolet's back-catalog that we think are more memorable than the rest, and well worth celebrating.

This article shines a spotlight on not necessarily the fastest or most advanced Chevy sports cars of the 21st century, but simply some of the most memorable models. To qualify, each model had to have arrived on the scene no earlier than 2001, and to show the natural progression, we've ordered this list from oldest to newest.

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2002 Chevrolet Corvette Z06

2002 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 front 1/4

Key Engine & Performance Specs
Engine	5.7-liter V8
Power	405 horsepower
Torque	400 lb-ft
0 to 60 mph	3.9 seconds

When the C5 Corvette arrived, it was leaps and bounds ahead of the preceding model, but Chevrolet still had more grunt to bring. The first upgrade came in the way of Chevy's Z06 grade, which saw the 5.7-liter V8's output swell from 350 to 405 horsepower, in addition to packing an extra 40 lb-ft of torque. Finally, the Corvette had enough grunt to take on some of Europe's leading sports cars, and thanks to upgraded brakes and suspension, the Z06 could take them on through the corners, too.

We sweated every detail to make Z06 the quickest, most agile Corvette ever. With horsepower pumped up to 405, zero-to-60 times are under four seconds. The Active Handling System senses and responds to the way each individual drives. Tire tread configurations maximize cornering. A titanium exhaust reduces mass. Z06 is, in every way, one intense Corvette.

- Chevrolet (2002)

2006 Chevrolet Cobalt SS Supercharged

2006 Chevrolet Cobalt SS Supercharged front 1/4

Key Engine & Performance Specs
Engine	2.0-liter supercharged inline-four
Power	205 horsepower
Torque	200 lb-ft
0 to 60 mph	6.1 seconds

While less advanced iterations of the Cobalt are much less memorable, this Supercharged SS version is certainly one of the more interesting Chevy sports cars from over the last two and a half decades – Corvettes and Camaros aside. The humble exterior was 'hotted-up' with the addition of aggressive bumpers and a huge rear spoiler, and, to ensure the Cobalt packed a bite worthy of its bark, a supercharger was fitted under the hood.

Output seems modest by today's standards, but at the time, 205 horsepower was more than playful enough in a compact car like this. It might not be one of the more obvious Chevy sports car models out there, but it definitely makes for an exciting daily driver.

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2009 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1

2009 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 front 1/4

Key Engine & Performance Specs
Engine	6.2-liter supercharged V8
Power	638 horsepower
Torque	604 lb-ft
0 to 60 mph	3.4 seconds

The 2009 Corvette ZR1 was arguably the first time a Chevrolet sports car stood a serious chance at taking on full-fat supercars. Steering away from natural aspiration, the ZR1 sported a supercharged 6.2-liter V8, which was not only capable of kicking out almost 640 horsepower, but it provided the necessary grunt for this Corvette to crack the 200-mph barrier. Many Chevy sports cars came before it, but none could boast quite such jaw-dropping performance, which is why the C6 ZR1 stands out to many as one of the greats.

2014 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28

2014 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 front

Key Engine & Performance Specs
Engine	7.0-liter V8
Power	505 horsepower
Torque	481 lb-ft
0 to 60 mph	4.4 seconds

Few nameplates from the Chevrolet sports car history books carry quite so much weight as Z/28 – a moniker originally designed to adorn high-performance Camaros developed in the late '60s, destined for success in the SCCA Trans-Am race series. This 2014 example might not have as interesting a backstory as those original Z/28 models, but it does sport some seriously impressive tech, designed to make it perform like a true track-tailored performance car.

Notable upgrades include the carbon-ceramic brakes up front, the widest front tires ever equipped to a production car at the time, and a howling, naturally aspirated V8 engine which pushes out just north of 500 horsepower. Aero upgrades unique to the Z/28 model helped to keep things in check too, and provided the tarmac-terrorizing Camaro with a mean and focused stance.

2014 Chevrolet SS

2014 Chevrolet SS front

Key Engine & Performance Specs
Engine	6.2-liter V8
Power	415 horsepower
Torque	415 lb-ft
0 to 60 mph	4.5 seconds

Most sporty Chevy cars are two-door coupes or convertibles, and either wear Camaro or Corvette badges – but it would be wrong to exclude this hot four-door sedan from our memorable Chevrolet sports car list. Sharing much in common with the earlier Pontiac G8 GXP, Chevy's only rear-driven sedan at the time was the mighty SS. It took motivation from a gargantuan 6.2-liter V8 engine, and could crack 60 mph from a standstill in just 4.5 seconds – putting it in tight competition with both the BMW M3 and C63 AMG of the period.

A sporty yet well-equipped and comfortable interior meant the SS was one of Chevrolet's more usable sports cars, and allowed fans of the brand to experience the power of a Corvette or Camaro without having to compromise on practicality or comfort.

2017 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Convertible

2017 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Convertible overhead

Key Engine & Performance Specs
Engine	6.2-liter supercharged V8
Power	650 horsepower
Torque	650 lb-ft
0 to 60 mph	3.5 seconds

Powerful Camaro models are always a big hit with muscle car fans, and the 2017 ZL1 was no exception – especially in drop-top guise. As if a 650-horsepower supercharged Camaro wasn't exciting enough, Chevrolet offered buyers the choice of a convertible model, which would surely provide a memorable drive, for all the right reasons.

The top speed of this topless Camaro is often disputed; while official sources say it runs out of puff at 198 mph, some enthusiasts say it's possible to crack the 200-mph barrier in one. Not only is it supercar-fast, but the Camaro ZL1 Convertible also sports unique bodywork, with bumpers sharp enough to take your hand clean off when polishing – probably. It's impossible to miss and impossible to forget, which is why it makes our list of the most memorable Chevy sports cars.

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2018 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE

2018 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE front 1/4

Key Engine & Performance Specs
Engine	6.2-liter supercharged V8
Power	650 horsepower
Torque	650 lb-ft
0 to 60 mph	3.5 seconds

Equipping a Chevrolet Camaro with 650 horsepower and 650 lb-ft of torque is going to result in a pretty lairy drive. In the muscle car world, that's not exactly a bad thing, as trying to tame an over-powered coupe is half the fun sometimes. However, if you actually wish to drive such a car fast, then improvements need to be made throughout the rest of the car, in order for the power to be thrown down efficiently.

That's where the ZL1 1LE differs from the standard ZL1. Stiffened-up suspension and powerful brakes help to keep things under control, while aggressive aerodynamics produce real downforce, and grippy tires work hard to inspire confidence through the corners. Initially, the ZL1 1LE was available exclusively with a six-speed manual transmission, although the 10-speed auto was introduced as an option later on in production.

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2023 Chevrolet Corvette Z06

2023 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 front 1/4

Key Engine & Performance Specs
Engine	5.5-liter V8
Power	670 horsepower
Torque	460 lb-ft
0 to 60 mph	2.6 seconds

Z06 models have always packed more performance into the Corvette's body than base models, and this current eighth-gen model is no exception. A flat-plane crank V8 engine manages to extract 670 horsepower without the help of forced induction, so there are no turbo or superchargers to be found here. Laying the power down cleanly through the rear wheels no doubt requires a certain amount of experience, but once the art is mastered, this bold mid-engine 'Vette can dart from 0 to 60 mph in a scarcely believable 2.6 seconds.

2024 Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray

Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray - 3/4 front view

Key Engine & Performance Specs
Engine	6.2-liter V8 plus a single electric motor
Power	655 horsepower
Torque	595 lb-ft
0 to 60 mph	2.5 seconds

Controversial it might be, but the Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray is more than just an electrified Corvette – it's the most affordable 600-horsepower sports car in America right now too. Furthermore, it boasts all-wheel drive as standard, and can be ordered as both a coupe or a convertible, making it impressively versatile as well. All of that for just north of $100,000 can surely help die-hard Corvette fans overlook the placement of the engine and hybridization?

Stomping hard on the loud pedal will enable the E-Ray to crack 60 mph from a standstill in just 2.5 seconds, while driving gently in Stealth Mode will allow owners to cover up to five miles on electric power exclusively – ideally for keeping the neighbors happy.

2025 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1

2025 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 front 3/4

Key Engine & Performance Specs
Engine	5.5-liter twin-turbocharged V8
Power	1,064 horsepower
Torque	828 lb-ft
0 to 60 mph	2.3 seconds

The latest ZR1 is nothing short of insane; the ultimate iteration of America's ultimate sports car. Taking a quick look at the specs will reveal why the 2025 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 will go down in the history books as one of the most memorable Chevy sports cars ever created – 1,064 horsepower is on offer, courtesy of a monstrous twin-turbocharged V8 engine. That's enough to propel the ZR1 from 0 to 60 mph in just 2.3 seconds, and it'll carry on all the way to 233 mph if you find a straight long enough.

This car is all about the numbers, and it stands as a bold reminder to the rest of the world's automakers that Chevy still knows how to screw together a world-beater.