{"id":28152,"date":"2021-10-28T16:59:25","date_gmt":"2021-10-28T20:59:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/?p=28152"},"modified":"2021-10-28T16:59:25","modified_gmt":"2021-10-28T20:59:25","slug":"ferocious-corvette-z06-gets-670-hp-c8-r-race-engine-aero-upgrades","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/2021\/10\/ferocious-corvette-z06-gets-670-hp-c8-r-race-engine-aero-upgrades","title":{"rendered":"Ferocious Corvette Z06 gets 670-hp C8.R race engine, aero upgrades"},"content":{"rendered":"

Warren<\/em>\u00a0\u2014 Chevrolet on Tuesday\u00a0unveiled the track-focused model of its mid-engine Corvette supercar, the Z06. They might have called it the Z-OMG.<\/p>\n

Sporting the most powerful, normally-aspirated engine ever made, the Z06\u2019s bespoke, 5.5-liter, dual-overhead-cam V-8 (General Motors code name: LT6) boasts a colossal 670 horsepower \u2014 175 more than the standard, mid-engine Corvette Stingray, and 20 more than the last-gen Z06 and its supercharged V-8 LT4 engine.<\/p>\n

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The Z06 achieves its outrageous output using a free-spinning, flat-plane crank and 8,600-rpm redline \u2014 technology usually associated with Ferrari supercars costing three times as much. The spine-tingling shriek of the Z06 will be familiar to race car fans who have heard the engine propel the Corvette C8.R to seven wins and an IMSA sportscar championship since its introduction in 2020.<\/p>\n

“It’s been hiding in plain sight. (We were) developing the heart of the beast,” smiled Corvette Executive Chief Engineer Tadge Juechter\u00a0as we circled a menacing, pumpkin-colored Z06 under GM\u2019s Warren design center dome a week before Halloween.<\/p>\n

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To realize the full potential of the ferocious LT6 engine, Juechter and his elves had to make significant upgrades to the nimble Corvette C8, which \u2014 at $62,195 \u2014 has sold like hotcakes with 495 horsepower and European-supercar good looks. Stingrays are trading at some dealerships at $30,000-plus above sticker price.<\/p>\n

Though pricing for the 2023 Z06\u00a0won\u2019t be announced until closer to its summer 2022 release, expect it to start around $85,000.\u00a0The Detroit News was first to report\u00a0<\/a>on the LT6-powered Z06 variant (along with forthcoming ZR1 and Zora performance models) in April\u00a02020.<\/p>\n

Equipped with the must-have Z07 handling package, the orange Z06 looks like a four-wheeled, alien insectoid that just invaded earth.<\/p>\n

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A huge, carbon-fiber rear wing juts from the rear chassis like a scorpion\u2019s tale. Fang-like dive planes pepper the face below the \u2018Vette\u2019s familiar, brooding headlights. Contrary to past Z06 upgrades, the \u201823 model shares only hood, hatchback, doors, and roof with the base Stingray.<\/p>\n

Two features instantly distinguish the Z06 from the standard model. The first: larger side intakes shaped \u2014 appropriately \u2014 like a stingray\u2019s tale.<\/p>\n

\u201cPerformance aspirations force the car to look different,\u201d said Juechter. \u201c(It\u2019s) enabled by the tires. That width drives the rear quarter panel out and makes the duct opening bigger, and the engine needs that.\u201d<\/p>\n

To harness the power of the LT6 mill, Michelin PS4 tires have been widened 1.3 inches over the already fat, 12-inch standard tire. Gummier Michelin Cup 2s are also available. The big rubber forced a 3-inch widening of the rear bodywork.<\/p>\n

The second signature feature is the center-mounted\u00a0quad tailpipes out back (the base V-8 splits its quad pipes into pairs on either corner of the rear diffuser). Juechter said the change was necessary in part to better channel the high-revving V-8’s sound \u2014 not just for exterior presence \u2014 but also for the enjoyment of the driver riding in the forward cabin.<\/p>\n

The new, bigger fascia leers like a jack o\u2019 lantern. Its more pronounced lantern jaw holds three heat exchangers (the standard Stingray has two) to cool the beast within.<\/p>\n

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\u201cWe start with the Stingray, then amp everything up. This is the first time we\u2019ve done a full perimeter\u201d on a Z06, said Juechter, referring to the exterior bodywork. \u201cThis enables us to do a better job on aerodynamics, package more coolers. We wanted this to be extremely capable on track.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Capability is its mission.<\/p>\n

Juechter said Chevy\u2019s new track weapon significantly outruns the previous-gen Z06 \u2014 and can go wheel-to-wheel with the winged, $122k, 755-horse ZR1 C7 uber-‘Vette. With the Z07 package, the Z06 makes 734 pounds of downforce at 186 mph, the most of any Corvette ever. On the skid pad, Juechter says the Z06 will pull a neck-straining 1.22 g-loads compared to ZR1\u2019s 1.2. At 186 mph, it boasts 6% more downforce, 8% less drag.<\/p>\n

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The standard Stingray\u2019s high-tech interior already shames most European exotics, and the Z06 doesn\u2019t fiddle with the formula. The instrument displays are digital, configurable. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard so you can find the nearest racetrack. The square steering wheel is festooned with useful buttons, including Z-mode so you can instantly transform the car from\u00a0interstate comfort to nuclear weapon should any muscle-car peer dare to challenge.<\/p>\n

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Purists disappointed that the Stingray didn\u2019t option a manual shifter will still be left wanting \u2014\u00a0only a quick-shifting 10-speed, dual-clutch automatic is offered. They may be reassured that the Z06 is returning to its roots with a normally-aspirated powerplant after the last-gen car\u2019s detour to supercharging.<\/p>\n

In keeping with its expected $20k premium over the standard car, Z06 has turned up the volume on materials.<\/p>\n

The steering wheel can be trimmed in carbon fiber \u2014 as can the entire center console.<\/p>\n

All this performance is still available in both coupe and removable hard-top convertible configurations, and trunk and frunk (front trunk) storage are uncompromised. The coupe version allow you to gaze into the engine chamber at the 5.5-liter engine.<\/p>\n

Not only does its high-pitched note sound like a Ferrari, its output is well north of\u00a0the $300k Ferrari 458 Speciale V-8’s 597 horsepower.\u00a0More mind-blowing comparisons? The\u00a0production LT6 engine has\u00a0170 more horsepower than the C8.R\u00a0race engine due to Balance of Performance restraints placed on the race car to keep it from running away from class competitors.<\/p>\n

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\u201cWe have a lot more power than the race car,\u201d laughed Juechter, who also points to the sophisticated, standard, magnetic dampers on the Z06 \u2014 also prohibited in racing.<\/p>\n

The race car and production Corvette C8 were developed in parallel, ensuring a direct technology transfer from track to street. The C8.R shined in its first year of IMSA sports car competition, capturing six victories and winning the GT manufacturers title.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe new Corvette Z06 defines the American supercar,\u201d said GM President Mark Reuss, himself a race-licensed driver. \u201cIt builds on the groundbreaking dynamics introduced with the mid-engine Corvette and elevates them too.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Chevrolet<\/p>\n
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It will be built in Bowling Green, Kentucky, in left-and-right-hand drive configurations \u2014 the latter for overseas markets.<\/p>\n

\u201cEx-Corvette racer Oliver Gavin has been doing development work at the N\u00fcrburgring,\u201d said Juechter, referring to Germany\u2019s epic 140-mile racetrack. \u201c(We want) to make sure the car is competent on track and on the Autobahn, which is why we go there. We want to sell this car in Europe.\u201d<\/p>\n

Henry Payne is auto critic for The Detroit News. Find him at hpayne@detroitnews.com or Twitter @HenryEPayne.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Warren\u00a0\u2014 Chevrolet on Tuesday\u00a0unveiled the track-focused model of its mid-engine Corvette supercar, the Z06. They might have called it the Z-OMG. Sporting the most powerful, normally-aspirated engine ever made, the Z06\u2019s bespoke, 5.5-liter, dual-overhead-cam V-8 (General Motors code name: LT6) boasts a colossal 670 horsepower \u2014 175 more than the standard, mid-engine Corvette Stingray, and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28152"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=28152"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28152\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":28153,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28152\/revisions\/28153"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=28152"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=28152"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=28152"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}