Monday 27th April 2015

Chevrolet launches Corvette Z06 C7.R Edition

For those days when a plain old 650hp Corvette just isn't up to task

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Sometimes it's easy to forget just how successful racing Corvettes are. In the old American Le Mans Series they won 90 races across 10 seasons and in last year's inaugural Tudor Sportscar Championship there were four victories for the Corvette C7.R in the GTLM class.

Winningest, or something

Therefore, Chevrolet's willingness to cash in on the racing success is understandable. Welcome the Corvette Z06 C7.R Edition, described as a 'road-going, track capable homage to the racecars'.

Given the standard Z06 is already a phenomenal car by all accounts, the Edition doesn't take the car much further forward. This is not an RS or Speciale, more a plunder of the options list to make a Z06 a little more desirable to Corvette fanboys and girls. Marking it out from a regular Z06 is new Corvette Racing Yellow Tintcoat paint (black is available if you wish), more yellow on the brake calipers, seats and wheels, a 'C7.R Edition graphics package', Corvette Racing sill plates, a build number plaque and a 'special indoor car cover with C7.R graphics'. Woo-hoo!

The most interesting addition for the C7.R Edition is the Z07 Performance Package. It adds uprated, adjustable aero, carbon-ceramic brakes and Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2s. Might be quite quick round a lap, that one. Chevrolet hasn't yet announced a price for the C7.R Edition; for point of reference (and to make you incredibly sad), a standard Z06 is $78,000 in the US, or £51,600.

[StefanVXR8]

Yes please, but in black!

Stef

[xRIEx]

article said:

for point of reference (and to make you incredibly sad), a standard Z06 is $78,000 in the US, or £51,600.

And to make you even sadder, a standard (non-Z06) Corvette starts at £69,810 on the Chevy UK website.

[SturdyHSV]

See I want to like this car, if only it had a higher specific output

[xRIEx]

SturdyHSV said:

See I want to like this car, if only it had a higher specific output

It is a bit poor - about 105bhp/l from a supercharged engine? That's almost as bad as Jaguar's R models!

[GroundEffect]

xRIEx said:

article said:

for point of reference (and to make you incredibly sad), a standard Z06 is $78,000 in the US, or £51,600.

And to make you even sadder, a standard (non-Z06) Corvette starts at £69,810 on the Chevy UK website.

The €78k is without tax...

[EK993]

GroundEffect said:

The €78k is without tax...

In some states there is no sales tax - where I live it is 7% so would add another $5,500 to the price.

[xRIEx]

GroundEffect said:

xRIEx said:

article said:

for point of reference (and to make you incredibly sad), a standard Z06 is $78,000 in the US, or £51,600.

And to make you even sadder, a standard (non-Z06) Corvette starts at £69,810 on the Chevy UK website.

The €78k is without tax...

Absolutely, but sales tax is a lot lower in the US - under 3% in some.

A standard Corvette is about $55,000 (£36,232) - that's almost 93% more.

[unsprung]

SturdyHSV said:

See I want to like this car, if only it had a higher specific output

I can't decide which is worse: specific output or those transverse leaf springs.

[redroadster]

If ford can go to the trouble of making mustang rhd corvette should follow, this model would compete with the euro stuff but blow them all out on value for money not sure what difference output or leaf springs make as they seem to be able to beat most cars in races.

[Troubleatmill]

redroadster said:

If ford can go to the trouble of making mustang rhd corvette should follow, this model would compete with the euro stuff but blow them all out on value for money not sure what difference output or leaf springs make as they seem to be able to beat most cars in races.

The C8 will most likely be available in RHD. It will also be mid engined

[Gorbyrev]

That is one extraordinary machine. Even the cooking C7 oozes brilliance. Had a happy few moments in one in Mason Ohio, right beside the Z28 Camaro. These GM guys know what they are doing.

[unsprung]

redroadster said:

...not sure what difference output or leaf springs make as they seem to be able to beat most cars in races...

Oh. It appears that I forget to include a label with my comment.

[/sarcasm]

And there it is now. All nice and clear.

[AdeTuono]

unsprung said:

redroadster said:

...not sure what difference output or leaf springs make as they seem to be able to beat most cars in races...

Oh. It appears that I forget to include a label with my comment.

[/sarcasm]

And there it is now. All nice and clear.

You also forgot to comment on the pushrod engine...

[robm3]

There's a lot of talk at GM about either the Camaro or 'Vette being built in RHD.

Currently the 'Vette cannot be engineered for this however the new platform underdevelopment may just be.

There's two reasons for this, respond to Ford with their global Mustang (that'll be the Camaro)

And potential sales for a halo model (that'll be the 'Vette) in regions such as Japan, Australia, UK etc...

Oh and HSV/Holden is shutting down manufacturing in Aus so we'll be crying out for a high output V8

[tankplanker]

I think its around £90k for the standard UK Z06? And its only available in left hand drive? Not quite sure how they can justify the price hike and I can't see them selling many either.

At around £60k for a Z06 I'd have stood a chance of affording one in a few years but at £90k I've no chance until they get past their best now.

[xRIEx]

tankplanker said:

I think its around £90k for the standard UK Z06? And its only available in left hand drive? Not quite sure how they can justify the price hike and I can't see them selling many either.

It is on the Chevrolet website but I'm not sure of its status as an official UK model (I doubt it is). I would guess the UK operation effectively has to buy them from Chevy US, import them and then sell with a profit. Duty and tax is about 30%, and that is charged on any shipping costs as well, so all those together are probably an easy £16-17k. Obviously, VAT would be calculated at point of sale including the dealer's markup, rather than at import.

[unsprung]

AdeTuono said:

unsprung said:

redroadster said:

...not sure what difference output or leaf springs make as they seem to be able to beat most cars in races...

Oh. It appears that I forget to include a label with my comment.

[/sarcasm]

And there it is now. All nice and clear.

You also forgot to comment on the pushrod engine...

Of course. *face palm*

Those pesky pushrods prevent the Corvette from having large heads fitted. How can they call this engine a "V" when the heads barely rise above the intake manifold? And it's nowhere near as heavy as other high-output mills. So embarrassing.

[aww999]

Plus it makes that terrible gargling noise, I like those European engines where they play the sound through the speakers. Stupid yanks.

[chuntington101]

unsprung said:

SturdyHSV said:

See I want to like this car, if only it had a higher specific output

I can't decide which is worse: specific output or those transverse leaf springs.

Wonder if it will be able to last a full 20min track day session though (US guys are reporting LOTS of overheating issues).....

[Clivey]

swerni said:

Why do PH always do this?
Quite frankly it's fking ridiculous
It's not £51k in the UK and even after 10 years of depreciation probably wont be.
We can all work out a currency conversion, but how's this for a novel concept, why don't you quote what it's likely to be in the Uk?

Having said that, if you can get me one for £51k, I'm in !

Calm down dear and read it again. - The article was saying that the Americans pay the equivalent of £51k for theirs (to make us jealous).

Anyway; love the C7 and the interior now looks great...but the electric parking brake.