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Updated 06/03/25
For its new 1,250-horsepower hypercar, the 2026 Corvette ZR1X, Chevrolet has tapped brake specialist Alcon to supply the powerful front and rear calipers for the J59 braking package. This all-new brake package features a clean-sheet design created specifically for the ZR1X to provide superior heat resistance and is essential for controlling a car capable of accelerating from 0-60 mph in under two seconds.
Key Highlights
- Caliper Supplier: Alcon supplies the powerful 10-piston front and 6-piston rear calipers.
- Massive Calipers: The system features 10-piston front and 6-piston rear monobloc calipers.
- Advanced Rotors: Braking force is applied to 16.5-inch front and rear carbon ceramic rotors, the largest diameter ever offered on a Corvette.
- Measured Performance: During testing, GM engineers recorded 1.9G of deceleration from 180 to 120 mph with the J59 system.
- System Availability: The package comes standard on the Corvette ZR1X and is available as an option on the ZR1.
J59 Package Technical Specifications
At the heart of the all-new J59 braking package are calipers supplied by Alcon. The system’s architecture is built around powerful 10-piston front and 6-piston rear monobloc calipers, providing a massive contact patch for the pads.
These calipers clamp down on enormous 16.5-inch carbon ceramic rotors at both the front and rear axles. A key feature of these rotors is their construction from continuously woven carbon fiber threads, a design intended to deliver exceptional thermal management and durability under the high-stress conditions of track use. The sheer size of the rotors, the largest ever fitted to a Corvette, ensures maximum leverage and heat dissipation.
Unprecedented Performance and Durability
General Motors has described the J59 package as “the most resilient production car braking system we’ve tested within GM.” This claim is supported by performance data, with J59-equipped Corvettes achieving a remarkable 1.9G of deceleration in high-speed testing.
The system’s ability to consistently manage the energy generated by the ZR1X’s 1,250 horsepower LT7 twin-turbo V8 and eAWD powertrain is critical to the car’s performance envelope. The design focuses on preventing brake fade during extended lapping sessions, ensuring the driver has reliable and consistent stopping power on both the road and the racetrack.
The new brake system also integrates with the car’s advanced vehicle dynamics. The PTM Pro (Performance Traction Management) system includes features like Regen Brake Torque Vectoring, which recovers energy without sacrificing agility, and Front Axle Pre-Control, which actively manages front brake pressure to maximize traction when exiting a corner. This level of integration highlights how the Alcon-supplied calipers are a core component of the ZR1X’s overall dynamic performance.
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