The supercars of Europe are seeing a true American rival in the new Chevrolet Corvette Z06. Chevy put the engine in the rear, changing the entire game.
Where does that more come from? As you would expect, the main feature of this new C8 Z06 model is an incredible engine that delivers more power to the rear wheels. This is a car that European brands must take seriously, knowing it can easily be an American supercar that could best some of their top offerings.
Here are some of the reasons we love this new version of the Corvette.
Everything About the Style Spells Out Power
From the tip of the nose to the exhaust ports, everything you see in this new Corvette spells out power and performance for some serious fun on the track. While some of these new Z06 models will spend time on the road, this is a car that can rip off some fast laps, thanks to the low profile, extreme aerodynamics, and massive rear wing. This car is the most aerodynamic Corvette ever to come off the Chevy assembly line, making it an amazing car to behold.
You’ll Never Forget That This is a Supercar
The interior of the new Chevrolet Corvette Z06 is trimmed out with carbon fiber items to give this amazing car a special appearance. This trim reminds you this is a car that has the supercar qualities that make it special on any road or track. The carbon fiber is found on the steering wheel, paddle shifters, and around the instrument panel. This feature makes the cabin of this supercar look amazing.
How Fast is this Corvette Z06?
Whenever you see the Z06 name at the end of the Corvette, you expect this car to be incredibly fast and powerful. This new supercar has the most powerful engine ever put into a Corvette while maintaining the goal of using a naturally-aspirated engine. This setup gives you a 5.5-liter V8 engine that makes 670 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque to give this amazing performance machine a sprint time of 2.6 seconds to reach 60 mph. That puts the Corvette in line with supercars from both Ferrari and Lamborghini; no wonder the Corvette has Europeans shaking in their proverbial boots.
The Exhaust is a Symphony that Gearheads Love to Hear
The perfect exhaust note is only found in the Chevrolet Corvette Z06. The engineers at Chevy worked for days to get the right sounds and offer the pipes that could produce the exact symphony desired. With this car, you’ll never hear the turbocharger whine because there isn’t one. Everything is pure American V8 grunt, making this car one of the best-sounding cars in the market today.
Chevy Found Other Places for Some Carbon Fiber
Similar to many European supercars, the Corvette Z06 includes a ton of carbon fiber. This product isn’t only used as trim in the cabin but in other ways to make this car lighter and quicker. The exterior uses a lot of carbon fiber, making this supercar lighter. The rear wing is made of this material, and you’ll find a full set of carbon fiber wheels that allow the car to lose 40 pounds compared to the regular Corvette. Even the brakes are Brembo carbon-ceramic models.
Compared to Rivals, the Corvette Z06 is Affordable
A car that offers the performance goodies to challenge two of the top and most expensive European brands is expected to be priced similarly to those cars. The Chevrolet Corvette Z06 remains relatively affordable. Even with all of its carbon fiber goodies and performance upgrades, this car is priced at $106,395. While this isn’t a price for every driver, it isn’t the exorbitant price we see coming out of Ferrari and Lamborghini for cars that can be lapped by the Corvette Z06.
The Lift-Off Roof Is Part of this Performance Monster
Even though the Z06 version of the C8 Corvette is a different animal from the standard version, there are some features shared between them. One of the most significant is the lift-off roof panel. This allows any driver to turn their supercar into an open-air Spider version with the roof off for some driving fun when the weather is right. Much of the time spent behind the wheel of this car will be on regular roads, so why not make this time more enjoyable?
You Might Not See the Same Z06 Twice
In a similar fashion to some European brands, Chevy gives potential owners tons of amazing choices for the Corvette Z06. This car can be had in coupe or convertible body styles, with the upgraded Z07 package, or with other small changes that make this car an individual performer for you. The Z07 package brings carbon-ceramic brakes, carbon-fiber wheels, and much more. Some owners can choose the hand-wrapped leather features that give the cabin a different style, making this car even more special than it already is.
That LT6 Engine is Amazing
Often, the engine found in the top performance cars becomes the engine used in various other products from a brand. In a world where hybrid and electric powertrains are becoming the norm, GM chose to give the new Chevrolet Corvette Z06 a special naturally-aspirated V8 for its power. The new LT6 engine is a 5.5-liter flat-plane crank V8 that produces incredible power. This engine doesn’t share any parts with other Chevy engines, making it the next level of engine development for this brand.
Amazing Handling Found in the Corvette Z06
This new version of the Corvette has a track-focused suspension and chassis setup that matches the engine perfectly. You’ll also find new springs, tons of support, and the helper spring, which allows the wheels to rebound faster and grip the tarmac much better than before. It will be interesting to see if this amazing car can show off during a fast lap time around Nürburgring, but it already has many European supercar names feeling nervous about what it delivers.
Does the new Chevrolet Corvette Z06 sound like the car you want to drive? If so, you’ll love what you see in the video below:
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