Ford threw the first punch with its Mustang Mach-E NASCAR, and now Chevy is hitting back with the Blazer EV.R. The electric motorsport war has officially begun.
Chevrolet has officially entered the world of electric NASCAR prototypes, and it did so in the loudest, most unsubtle way possible—by cramming 1,300 horsepower into a Blazer EV.R that looks like it just escaped from a cyberpunk fever dream. Revealed just ahead of the Daytona 500, the Blazer EV.R is Chevy’s answer to Ford’s Mustang Mach-E NASCAR Prototype, and it’s clear the electric racing arms race has begun.
Let’s get one thing straight—this is not your standard grocery-hauling Blazer EV. Sure, it borrows the name and some styling cues, but under the skin, this thing is a full-blown NASCAR race car. It’s built on NASCAR’s Next Gen chassis, meaning it shares suspension, brakes, and core aerodynamics with the gas-powered stock cars currently tearing up oval tracks. But instead of a screaming V8, this beast packs a tri-motor electric drivetrain, with one motor up front and two in the rear, powered by a 78 kWh liquid-cooled battery. The result? A monstrous 1,300 horsepower and a programmable all-wheel-drive system—because apparently, rear-wheel drive just wasn’t crazy enough.
To keep all that power in check, Chevy’s engineers went full race mode on the aerodynamics. Up front, there’s a more aggressive splitter to keep it from taking flight at high speeds. Out back, there’s a massive wing and a diffuser big enough to double as a park bench, all working together to generate as much downforce as possible. And because it’s a proper race car, it has center-lock wheels wrapped in Goodyear Racing Eagle tires, and—just for extra intimidation points—no side windows.
If all of this sounds familiar, it’s because Ford did nearly the exact same thing with the Mustang Mach-E NASCAR Prototype a few weeks ago. Both cars use the same NASCAR EV platform, so the real difference comes down to styling and brand loyalty. The Blazer EV.R has Chevy’s unique nose, hood, and rear-end treatment, plus some clever decal-based lighting to maintain the illusion that this is, in fact, a Blazer and not a full-blown racing Frankenstein.
But don’t worry, Chevy hasn’t forgotten about the fans who just want a fast electric SUV for the streets. While the Blazer EV.R won’t be hitting showrooms anytime soon (or ever), the road-going Blazer EV SS is gearing up for launch. It’s got a 615-hp powertrain, a 3.4-second 0-60 time, and a 303-mile range, making it the most exciting version of the Blazer to date. It’ll even serve as the official pace car for the Daytona 500, rolling out alongside the Corvette Stingray and Silverado RST.
For now, the EV.R remains a one-off concept, a glimpse into what an all-electric NASCAR future could look like. When will we see these EV monsters actually race each other? Nobody knows. But with Ford and Chevy both bringing out their biggest electric guns, it’s only a matter of time before these silent speed demons start battling it out on the track. And when they do, expect it to be very fast, very ridiculous, and—ironically—completely silent.
Gallery: Chevrolet Blazer EV.R
