Tuesday 14th January 2014

C7 Corvette Z06 confirmed

'The Big Nasty' in all its 625hp supercharged V8 glory

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We'll have a UK drive of the new Corvette Stingray later this week, so the official launch of the C7 Z06 is now a car of even greater interest.

Wings are 80mm wider for huge tyres

The good news is that the leaked stats from last week were mostly accurate; Chevrolet has today confirmed the Z06 will have in excess of 625hp and 635lb ft from an LT4 supercharged 6.2-litre V8. It uses the same direct injection and cylinder deactivation tech of the Stingray, and is just 25mm taller than the atmospheric engine despite the addition of the Eaton 'charger. To facilitate the higher outputs and fairly high 10.0:1 compression ratio, the LT4 gets the sort of fancy internals we love to read about: aluminium (or aloominum) heads, titanium intake valves and conrods as well as forged aluminium pistons. The engine is dry-sumped too.

Moreover it will be offered with two transmission options. The manual is the seven-speed rev-matching unit from the standard Stingray, the auto a conventional torque converter with eight speeds. The '8L90' an entirely new GM-designed unit with a fastest shift speed of 'eight-hundredths of a second quicker than those of the dual-clutch transmission in the Porsche 911'.

Subtle it ain't. Fast it surely will be

Pitched as the most circuit capable Corvette ever, the Z06 apparently comes with 'world class' braking, grip and downforce. The Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres shown in the teaser image will be a part of a Z07 Performance Pack that includes Brembo carbon ceramics (394mm at the front, 388mm at the rear) as well. Regardless of the compound, the tyres are a massive 285/30ZR19 at the front and 335/25ZR20s at the back. The fenders (sorry, wings) are swollen by 56mm at the front and 80mm at the rear to accommodate that gigantic rubber. They also give the Z06 a properly menacing stance.

Then there are the aero tweaks. As standard, the Z06 gets a unique front splitter, spats around the front wheelarches and the rear wing from a Stingray Z51 package. The aforementioned Z07 pack (still with us?) adds winglets to the front splitter plus an adjustable rear spoiler. See also the revised intakes for the brakes and engine.

Pilot Super Sports standard, Sport Cups optional

Unsurprisingly given that power figure and the associated upgrades, Chevrolet already claims the Big Nasty is faster round its Milford Road test track than the C6 ZR1. One can only imagine the levels of absurdity that car's replacement will reach.

Inside the Z06, it can be identified over the standard C7 by the flat-bottomed and 'unique colour schemes'. Further choices for the options list include a magnesium-framed 'Competition Seat', Napa [sic] leather and carbon fiber [sic] trim...

On the standard equipment list are the Stingray's magnetic dampers, Driver Mode Selector and the electronic LSD found in the Z51 pack. On the spec and looks, the Z06 just screams hi-po thrills with some real track prowess too. We want one. This makes it all the more disappointing that nobody will drive one for quite a while; production doesn't start until late 2014.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Dischordant]

Love it! Hope it has the HUD inside! (and wish I could fit one to my TVR!)

[Stig]

Want. That is all.

[British Beef]

Absolutely Stunning!!!!! My favorite looking and sepcification of any car at the show so far I think.

and for those that dont want to change gear manually..... a gearbox option to match the best of the European rivals (on paper at least).

[elephantstone]

This is the first "modern" corvette i REALLY want. Styling is bang on and the interior is up there now, sure it would excite my pork sword.

[Anubis]

It's such a goodlooking car at a really decent price.

Just why won't American manufacturers make their sports cars RHD as well; they'd sell so many of them. Its the only thing that puts me off, otherwise perfect.

[Dr G]

An entirely new design of gearbox that has a remarkably similar model number to ZF's own 8 speed with the appropriate torque rating.

[Krikkit]

Anubis said:

It's such a goodlooking car at a really decent price.

Just why won't American manufacturers make their sports cars RHD as well; they'd sell so many of them. Its the only thing that puts me off, otherwise perfect.

RHD Corvettes have been confirmed, although they're not ready yet. The new Mustang will also be RHD.

Dr G said:

An entirely new design of gearbox that has a remarkably similar model number to ZF's own 8 speed with the appropriate torque rating.

Hardly an inventive naming scheme though, is it? 8HP90 being ZF's name for an 8 speed box that can handle 900Nm of petrol torque...

Edited by Krikkit on Tuesday 14th January 16:25

[longbow]

OMG..... must go update my fantasy garage......

[Dave Hedgehog]

Stig said:

Want. That is all.

im first !!

[virgilio]

Isn't this more a C7 ZR1 rather than Z06? The Z06 was more about lightness and purity, a bit like a Porsche GT3, and the ZR1 was the sledgehammer, a bit like a Turbo...

After seeing this, I think the C6 Z06 will go down as one of the greatest Corvettes ever, a future classic. And that's the one I want now...

[Fidgits]

silly numbers... love it!

[boobles]

[CBR JGWRR]

virgilio said:

Isn't this more a C7 ZR1 rather than Z06? The Z06 was more about lightness and purity, a bit like a Porsche GT3, and the ZR1 was the sledgehammer, a bit like a Turbo...

After seeing this, I think the C6 Z06 will go down as one of the greatest Corvettes ever, a future classic. And that's the one I want now...

Yeah, but if this IS the Z06, then what the hell will the ZR1 be like...

[AudiWurst]

virgilio said:

Isn't this more a C7 ZR1 rather than Z06? The Z06 was more about lightness and purity, a bit like a Porsche GT3, and the ZR1 was the sledgehammer, a bit like a Turbo...

After seeing this, I think the C6 Z06 will go down as one of the greatest Corvettes ever, a future classic. And that's the one I want now...

Indeed. I thought the Z06 was supposed to be the "Clubsport" of Corvettes, and historically has been manual transmission only.

Some Yanks are getting their knickers in a twist over GM diluting the hardcore kudos of the Z06.

http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2014/01/editorial...

[RKi]

I think pretty much all American cars are a crock of st but that looks incredible!

[Mavican]

Any idea which Stingray your getting? Auto or Manual? Mattt Farah took russian roulette when they asked Chevy for one in the states for Harris, hence the Auto. Will be interesting to read what its like over here on our roads though.

[Shoshi]

Dr G said:

An entirely new design of gearbox that has a remarkably similar model number to ZF's own 8 speed with the appropriate torque rating.

What are you alluding to with this? The name fits in with the naming scheme of earlier GM units. The 6L80/6L90 for six speeds. The 4L80-E/4L85 for 4 speeds.

[CelicaGT]

This looks badass, I have to agree a bit with the editorial in the link a few posts up though.

LOL at all of the "corrections" to American English.

[Shoshi]

RKi said:

I think pretty much all American cars are a crock of st but that looks incredible!

And why is this? Other than the fact you know next to nothing and are just basing this on what you may think/hear/read/imagined...

[David87]

I really like the standard C7 Stingray and this just moves things even further in the right direction. A vert nice car indeed!