Thursday 30th July 2015

Callaway Corvette Z06 announced

650hp Corvette not enough? Can't wait for the ZR1? You need a Callaway Corvette Z06!

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'Why Go Big, When You Can Go Bigger?' asks Callaway in its new Z06 press bumf. Frustrating (and wrong) capitalisation of every word aside, the logic is hard to argue with. Bigger is better, right?

More supercharger, more power!

When making fast cars even faster, most probably yes. Especially where superchargers are concerned. So the Callaway Z06 'GenThree Supercharger' is 32 per cent larger in displacement than the standard car (2,300cc against 1,740cc), which means 767hp at 6,200rpm and 777lb ft (!) at 4,500rpm. Callaway says that's sufficient for 2.8 seconds to 62mph and a 10.5-second quarter mile at 131mph. Fast car.

That much larger supercharger is cooled by a triple element intercooler and a redesigned bonnet that exposes it to ambient air. A new manifold also means charge air temperatures are kept consistent, which turn means more reliable performance in "severe duty driving environments". Whatever they are.

Finally, if the power and the driveability and the, er, power aren't alluring enough, all Callaway Z06s will come with embroidered floor mats, Callaway door sill panels and a new key fob. Swish. Perhaps more relevant is the Callaway warranty, which is three years and 36,000 miles as standard and overlaps the GM warranty too. It can be extended to a five-year, 60,000-mile 'Extended Powertrain Service Contract'.

The price for all this supercharged fury? $17,000, on top of the $80,000 for a standard, brand-new Corvette Z06. So that's a warrantied 767hp for the equivalent of £62,000. America, you've never had it so good.

 

[trippy86]

Wow! So much want!

[Krikkit]

Wibble, that's a fantastic looking thing.

[Baryonyx]

I love Corvettes, and this looks amazing.

[TaylotS2K]

Lovely!

[jamespink]

Lovely looking car and numbers, don't wrap it, i'll take it with me... I can not imagine what 777ft/lb feels like, perhaps slightly chirpy rears?

Edited by jamespink on Thursday 30th July 14:10

[Dr JonboyG]

I spent last week driving the new Z06 and not once did I think to myself, "Self, you know what this car needs? Another 117bhp!"

BTW, Harlan Charles (Corvette's Product Manager) told me that there probably won't be a ZR1 version of this car.

[big_rob_sydney]

I am a bit surprised. Didnt these guys do one called the Sledgehammer with 1,000 bhp? IIRC, that could do 400kph, and was one of the fastest cars around.

This seems like a step backwards.

Or am I missing something.

[kambites]

Am I the only one who looks at that red... thing... and thinks that looks completely vile? To my eyes the standard C07 is pretty horrible compared to the C06 and C05; but this just looks appalling.

Can't argue with the numbers though.

[soad]

big_rob_sydney said:

I am a bit surprised. Didnt these guys do one called the Sledgehammer with 1,000 bhp? IIRC, that could do 400kph, and was one of the fastest cars around.

This seems like a step backwards.

Or am I missing something.

A one off?

1988-Chevrolet-Corvette-Callaway-Sledgehammer:
https://www.mecum.com/lot-detail/FL0114-173940/0/1...

[unpc]

Seen a number of C7s on the roads near me and it's just not doing it for me. I still prefer the C6 Z06. Summat about the C7 looks wrong to my eyes but I can't put my finger on it.

[qube_TA]

Glad the new Z06 is finally getting some decent power, the stock model was a bit pedestrian!

[SturdyHSV]

qube_TA said:

Glad the new Z06 is finally getting some decent power, the stock model was a bit pedestrian!

Well exactly, at least this one won't be utterly overwhelmed by a slight gradient...

[daytona365]

qube_TA said:

Glad the new Z06 is finally getting some decent power, the stock model was a bit pedestrian!

......Is a 10.5 quarter mile quick then ? Doesn't sound all that.

[Troubleatmill]

unpc said:

Seen a number of C7s on the roads near me and it's just not doing it for me. I still prefer the C6 Z06. Summat about the C7 looks wrong to my eyes but I can't put my finger on it.

They designed it to be more "European".

Watch for the C8.... will be mid engined.

[R8VXF]

Troubleatmill said:

unpc said:

Seen a number of C7s on the roads near me and it's just not doing it for me. I still prefer the C6 Z06. Summat about the C7 looks wrong to my eyes but I can't put my finger on it.

They designed it to be more "European".

Watch for the C8.... will be mid engined.

And quite possibly RHD too now the Aus market will have a big V8 sized hole in it...

[DJRC]

The more aggressive the latest Vette gets, the more I keep thinking that TVR want their Sagaris copyright payments!

[pagani1]

So much bang for so little buck. Now all they need is a Pininfarina styling upgrade and RHD to make it near perfect.

[Dr JonboyG]

pagani1 said:

So much bang for so little buck. Now all they need is a Pininfarina styling upgrade and RHD to make it near perfect.

IMO no one makes a better looking front-engined sports car right now. The C7 is better looking than the F12, that's for sure.

[Ali_T]

unpc said:

Seen a number of C7s on the roads near me and it's just not doing it for me. I still prefer the C6 Z06. Summat about the C7 looks wrong to my eyes but I can't put my finger on it.

I agree, and I'm a big 'vette fan. It looks like the 'vette copy in GTA video games. Overstyled and what were they thinking about with those rear lights? 'vettes have had 4 round red lights since 1962, long before even Ferrari used it as a signature. Those Camaro like lights need to go immediately!

Edited by Ali_T on Friday 31st July 08:21

[whythem]

How can the yanks make such a car so cheap? If that had a euro badge, it would be £120K