diff --git a/compiler/src/dotty/tools/dotc/Compiler.scala b/compiler/src/dotty/tools/dotc/Compiler.scala
index b087f313c33e..56e71c29110b 100644
--- a/compiler/src/dotty/tools/dotc/Compiler.scala
+++ b/compiler/src/dotty/tools/dotc/Compiler.scala
@@ -92,6 +92,7 @@ class Compiler {
     List(new Erasure) ::             // Rewrite types to JVM model, erasing all type parameters, abstract types and refinements.
     List(new ElimErasedValueType,    // Expand erased value types to their underlying implmementation types
          new VCElideAllocations,     // Peep-hole optimization to eliminate unnecessary value class allocations
+         new ArrayApply,             // Optimize `scala.Array.apply([....])` and `scala.Array.apply(..., [....])` into `[...]`
          new ElimPolyFunction,       // Rewrite PolyFunction subclasses to FunctionN subclasses
          new TailRec,                // Rewrite tail recursion to loops
          new Mixin,                  // Expand trait fields and trait initializers
diff --git a/compiler/src/dotty/tools/dotc/core/Definitions.scala b/compiler/src/dotty/tools/dotc/core/Definitions.scala
index 31804f36b9cb..c76c3cf75da6 100644
--- a/compiler/src/dotty/tools/dotc/core/Definitions.scala
+++ b/compiler/src/dotty/tools/dotc/core/Definitions.scala
@@ -755,6 +755,8 @@ class Definitions {
   @threadUnsafe lazy val ClassTagType: TypeRef = ctx.requiredClassRef("scala.reflect.ClassTag")
   def ClassTagClass(implicit ctx: Context): ClassSymbol = ClassTagType.symbol.asClass
   def ClassTagModule(implicit ctx: Context): Symbol = ClassTagClass.companionModule
+    @threadUnsafe lazy val ClassTagModule_applyR: TermRef = ClassTagModule.requiredMethodRef(nme.apply)
+    def ClassTagModule_apply(implicit ctx: Context): Symbol = ClassTagModule_applyR.symbol
 
   @threadUnsafe lazy val QuotedExprType: TypeRef = ctx.requiredClassRef("scala.quoted.Expr")
   def QuotedExprClass(implicit ctx: Context): ClassSymbol = QuotedExprType.symbol.asClass
diff --git a/compiler/src/dotty/tools/dotc/transform/ArrayApply.scala b/compiler/src/dotty/tools/dotc/transform/ArrayApply.scala
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..39260a98850b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/compiler/src/dotty/tools/dotc/transform/ArrayApply.scala
@@ -0,0 +1,69 @@
+package dotty.tools.dotc
+package transform
+
+import core._
+import MegaPhase._
+import Contexts.Context
+import Symbols._
+import Types._
+import StdNames._
+import ast.Trees._
+import dotty.tools.dotc.ast.tpd
+
+import scala.reflect.ClassTag
+
+
+/** This phase rewrites calls to `Array.apply` to a direct instantiation of the array in the bytecode.
+ *
+ *  Transforms `scala.Array.apply([....])` and `scala.Array.apply(..., [....])` into `[...]`
+ */
+class ArrayApply extends MiniPhase {
+  import tpd._
+
+  override def phaseName: String = "arrayApply"
+
+  override def transformApply(tree: tpd.Apply)(implicit ctx: Context): tpd.Tree = {
+    if (tree.symbol.name == nme.apply && tree.symbol.owner == defn.ArrayModule) { // Is `Array.apply`
+      tree.args match {
+        case StripAscription(Apply(wrapRefArrayMeth, (seqLit: tpd.JavaSeqLiteral) :: Nil)) :: ct :: Nil
+            if defn.WrapArrayMethods().contains(wrapRefArrayMeth.symbol) && elideClassTag(ct) =>
+          seqLit
+
+        case elem0 :: StripAscription(Apply(wrapRefArrayMeth, (seqLit: tpd.JavaSeqLiteral) :: Nil)) :: Nil
+            if defn.WrapArrayMethods().contains(wrapRefArrayMeth.symbol) =>
+          tpd.JavaSeqLiteral(elem0 :: seqLit.elems, seqLit.elemtpt)
+
+        case _ =>
+          tree
+      }
+
+    } else tree
+  }
+
+  /** Only optimize when classtag if it is one of
+   *  - `ClassTag.apply(classOf[XYZ])`
+   *  - `ClassTag.apply(java.lang.XYZ.Type)` for boxed primitives `XYZ``
+   *  - `ClassTag.XYZ` for primitive types
+   */
+  private def elideClassTag(ct: Tree)(implicit ctx: Context): Boolean = ct match {
+    case Apply(_, rc :: Nil) if ct.symbol == defn.ClassTagModule_apply =>
+      rc match {
+        case _: Literal => true // ClassTag.apply(classOf[XYZ])
+        case rc: RefTree if rc.name == nme.TYPE_ =>
+          // ClassTag.apply(java.lang.XYZ.Type)
+          defn.ScalaBoxedClasses().contains(rc.symbol.maybeOwner.companionClass)
+        case _ => false
+      }
+    case Apply(ctm: RefTree, _) if ctm.symbol.maybeOwner.companionModule == defn.ClassTagModule =>
+      // ClassTag.XYZ
+      nme.ScalaValueNames.contains(ctm.name)
+    case _ => false
+  }
+
+  object StripAscription {
+    def unapply(tree: Tree)(implicit ctx: Context): Some[Tree] = tree match {
+      case Typed(expr, _) => unapply(expr)
+      case _ => Some(tree)
+    }
+  }
+}
diff --git a/compiler/test/dotty/tools/backend/jvm/ArrayApplyOptTest.scala b/compiler/test/dotty/tools/backend/jvm/ArrayApplyOptTest.scala
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..1089abf331a8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/compiler/test/dotty/tools/backend/jvm/ArrayApplyOptTest.scala
@@ -0,0 +1,109 @@
+package dotty.tools.backend.jvm
+
+import org.junit.Test
+import org.junit.Assert._
+
+import scala.tools.asm.Opcodes._
+
+class ArrayApplyOptTest extends DottyBytecodeTest {
+  import ASMConverters._
+
+  @Test def testArrayEmptyGenericApply= {
+    test("Array[String]()", List(Op(ICONST_0), TypeOp(ANEWARRAY, "java/lang/String"), Op(POP), Op(RETURN)))
+    test("Array[Unit]()", List(Op(ICONST_0), TypeOp(ANEWARRAY, "scala/runtime/BoxedUnit"), Op(POP), Op(RETURN)))
+    test("Array[Object]()", List(Op(ICONST_0), TypeOp(ANEWARRAY, "java/lang/Object"), Op(POP), Op(RETURN)))
+    test("Array[Boolean]()", newArray0Opcodes(T_BOOLEAN))
+    test("Array[Byte]()", newArray0Opcodes(T_BYTE))
+    test("Array[Short]()", newArray0Opcodes(T_SHORT))
+    test("Array[Int]()", newArray0Opcodes(T_INT))
+    test("Array[Long]()", newArray0Opcodes(T_LONG))
+    test("Array[Float]()", newArray0Opcodes(T_FLOAT))
+    test("Array[Double]()", newArray0Opcodes(T_DOUBLE))
+    test("Array[Char]()", newArray0Opcodes(T_CHAR))
+    test("Array[T]()", newArray0Opcodes(T_INT))
+  }
+
+  @Test def testArrayGenericApply= {
+    def opCodes(tpe: String) =
+      List(Op(ICONST_2), TypeOp(ANEWARRAY, tpe), Op(DUP), Op(ICONST_0), Ldc(LDC, "a"), Op(AASTORE), Op(DUP), Op(ICONST_1), Ldc(LDC, "b"), Op(AASTORE), Op(POP), Op(RETURN))
+    test("""Array("a", "b")""", opCodes("java/lang/String"))
+    test("""Array[Object]("a", "b")""", opCodes("java/lang/Object"))
+  }
+
+  @Test def testArrayApplyBoolean =
+    test("Array(true, false)", newArray2Opcodes(T_BOOLEAN, List(Op(DUP), Op(ICONST_0), Op(ICONST_1), Op(BASTORE), Op(DUP), Op(ICONST_1), Op(ICONST_0), Op(BASTORE))))
+
+  @Test def testArrayApplyByte =
+    test("Array[Byte](1, 2)", newArray2Opcodes(T_BYTE, List(Op(DUP), Op(ICONST_0), Op(ICONST_1), Op(BASTORE), Op(DUP), Op(ICONST_1), Op(ICONST_2), Op(BASTORE))))
+
+  @Test def testArrayApplyShort =
+    test("Array[Short](1, 2)", newArray2Opcodes(T_SHORT, List(Op(DUP), Op(ICONST_0), Op(ICONST_1), Op(SASTORE), Op(DUP), Op(ICONST_1), Op(ICONST_2), Op(SASTORE))))
+
+  @Test def testArrayApplyInt = {
+    test("Array(1, 2)", newArray2Opcodes(T_INT, List(Op(DUP), Op(ICONST_0), Op(ICONST_1), Op(IASTORE), Op(DUP), Op(ICONST_1), Op(ICONST_2), Op(IASTORE))))
+    test("""Array[T](t, t)""", newArray2Opcodes(T_INT, List(Op(DUP), Op(ICONST_0), Field(GETSTATIC, "Foo$", "MODULE$", "LFoo$;"), Invoke(INVOKEVIRTUAL, "Foo$", "t", "()I", false), Op(IASTORE), Op(DUP), Op(ICONST_1), Field(GETSTATIC, "Foo$", "MODULE$", "LFoo$;"), Invoke(INVOKEVIRTUAL, "Foo$", "t", "()I", false), Op(IASTORE))))
+  }
+
+  @Test def testArrayApplyLong =
+    test("Array(2L, 3L)", newArray2Opcodes(T_LONG, List(Op(DUP), Op(ICONST_0), Ldc(LDC, 2), Op(LASTORE), Op(DUP), Op(ICONST_1), Ldc(LDC, 3), Op(LASTORE))))
+
+  @Test def testArrayApplyFloat =
+    test("Array(2.1f, 3.1f)", newArray2Opcodes(T_FLOAT, List(Op(DUP), Op(ICONST_0), Ldc(LDC, 2.1f), Op(FASTORE), Op(DUP), Op(ICONST_1), Ldc(LDC, 3.1f), Op(FASTORE))))
+
+  @Test def testArrayApplyDouble =
+    test("Array(2.2d, 3.2d)", newArray2Opcodes(T_DOUBLE, List(Op(DUP), Op(ICONST_0), Ldc(LDC, 2.2d), Op(DASTORE), Op(DUP), Op(ICONST_1), Ldc(LDC, 3.2d), Op(DASTORE))))
+
+  @Test def testArrayApplyChar =
+    test("Array('x', 'y')", newArray2Opcodes(T_CHAR, List(Op(DUP), Op(ICONST_0), IntOp(BIPUSH, 120), Op(CASTORE), Op(DUP), Op(ICONST_1), IntOp(BIPUSH, 121), Op(CASTORE))))
+
+  @Test def testArrayApplyUnit =
+    test("Array[Unit]((), ())", List(Op(ICONST_2), TypeOp(ANEWARRAY, "scala/runtime/BoxedUnit"), Op(DUP),
+        Op(ICONST_0), Field(GETSTATIC, "scala/runtime/BoxedUnit", "UNIT", "Lscala/runtime/BoxedUnit;"), Op(AASTORE), Op(DUP),
+        Op(ICONST_1), Field(GETSTATIC, "scala/runtime/BoxedUnit", "UNIT", "Lscala/runtime/BoxedUnit;"), Op(AASTORE), Op(POP), Op(RETURN)))
+
+  @Test def testArrayInlined = test(
+    """{
+      |  inline def array(xs: =>Int*): Array[Int] = Array(xs: _*)
+      |  array(1, 2)
+      |}""".stripMargin,
+    newArray2Opcodes(T_INT, List(Op(DUP), Op(ICONST_0), Op(ICONST_1), Op(IASTORE), Op(DUP), Op(ICONST_1), Op(ICONST_2), Op(IASTORE), TypeOp(CHECKCAST, "[I")))
+  )
+
+  @Test def testArrayInlined2 = test(
+    """{
+      |  inline def array(x: =>Int, xs: =>Int*): Array[Int] = Array(x, xs: _*)
+      |  array(1, 2)
+      |}""".stripMargin,
+    newArray2Opcodes(T_INT, List(Op(DUP), Op(ICONST_0), Op(ICONST_1), Op(IASTORE), Op(DUP), Op(ICONST_1), Op(ICONST_2), Op(IASTORE)))
+  )
+
+  private def newArray0Opcodes(tpe: Int, init: List[Any] = Nil): List[Any] =
+    Op(ICONST_0) :: IntOp(NEWARRAY, tpe) :: init ::: Op(POP) :: Op(RETURN) :: Nil
+
+  private def newArray2Opcodes(tpe: Int, init: List[Any] = Nil): List[Any] =
+    Op(ICONST_2) :: IntOp(NEWARRAY, tpe) :: init ::: Op(POP) :: Op(RETURN) :: Nil
+
+  private def test(code: String, expectedInstructions: List[Any])= {
+    val source =
+      s"""class Foo {
+         | import Foo._
+         | def test: Unit = $code
+         |}
+         |object Foo {
+         | opaque type T = Int
+         | def t: T = 1
+         |}
+       """.stripMargin
+
+    checkBCode(source) { dir =>
+      val clsIn   = dir.lookupName("Foo.class", directory = false).input
+      val clsNode = loadClassNode(clsIn)
+      val meth   = getMethod(clsNode, "test")
+
+      val instructions = instructionsFromMethod(meth)
+
+      assertEquals(expectedInstructions, instructions)
+    }
+  }
+
+}
diff --git a/tests/run/i502.check b/tests/run/i502.check
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..1bd58020669f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/run/i502.check
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+Ok
+foo
+bar
diff --git a/tests/run/i502.scala b/tests/run/i502.scala
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..c56825c134b0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/run/i502.scala
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+import scala.reflect.ClassTag
+
+object Test extends App {
+  Array[Int](1, 2)
+
+  try {
+    Array[Int](1, 2)(null)
+    ???
+  } catch {
+    case _: NullPointerException => println("Ok")
+  }
+
+  Array[Int](1, 2)({println("foo"); the[ClassTag[Int]]})
+
+  Array[Int](1, 2)(ClassTag.apply({ println("bar"); classOf[Int]}))
+}
diff --git a/tests/run/t6611b.scala b/tests/run/t6611b.scala
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..1c3cdf8d9742
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/run/t6611b.scala
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+object Test extends App {
+  val a = Array("1")
+  val a2 = Array(a: _*)
+  a2(0) = "2"
+  assert(a(0) == "1")
+}