The 2023 Corvette Z06 is Coming Soon
Since Chevy made the switch to a mid-engine design for the 2020 Corvette Stingray, several new designs for future Corvettes have been leaked, one of which has just been fully revealed to the public. Dubbed a supercar, the 2023 C8 Z06 Corvette has every racing enthusiast and sports car aficionado on the edge of their seats. Already experts are comparing the Z06 to iconic vehicles from Ferrari, Lotus, and Lamborghini due to its incredible engineering and performance… and the signature buzzing whine of a flat-plane-crank race car engine. When will you be able to find one here at your Grove, OK, Chevrolet dealership? Sometime late 2022, although you can pre-order today to reserve your place in line. For now, let’s talk about the record-breaking ‘Vette that’s already making history.
Mid-Engine Design Means Speed
At the heart of every racing machine is the engine, and ever since Chevy made the choice to move the engine behind the seats, the Corvette has seen dramatic improvements. Moving the engine between the front and rear axles increases the acceleration by providing more traction on the rear end. This change in the design is part of the reason so many experts are now comparing the Corvette to high-end sports cars from Ferrari and Lamborghini, as such speed machines are built with a similar approach. Where the Z06 deviates from the Corvette Stingray is that it now boasts the most powerful naturally-aspirated production V8 in the world.
Now powered by the 5.5-liter LT6 V8, the Z06 will produce a mind-bending 670 horsepower and doesn’t hit redline until 8600 RPM, thanks to its flat-plane-crank design. Torque output similarly impresses with 470 lb-ft of twist, and the eight-speed transmission sends power to the rear wheels through a dual-clutch assembly that allows the Z06 to accelerate at speeds previously unknown to the Corvette. With such power, the Z06 can explode from zero to 60 in 2.6 seconds and can take the quarter-mile in 10.6 seconds. Add in the capability afforded by the electronic limited-slip differential, and you have a multitude of technology working in concert with some of the finest engineering Chevy can provide.
More Aerodynamic Body
Building on the 2020 Stingray, designers and engineers went over virtually everything about the body shape to create a ‘Vette that would do more than look good. This had to be a car that would send chills down your spine and take your breath away. Every panel and plane had to be trimmed and shaped for the proper performance, which meant giving the Z06 bigger air intakes for cooling and a rear wing to create more downforce. Front and rear fascia serve to suck air through an upgraded cooling system that directs flow to the radiators and brakes, utilizing enlarged inlets for the increased demand from its improved performance.
The stance of the Z06 is likewise widened by 3.6 inches to accommodate the wider, stickier tires and to increase stability at high speeds, particularly when accelerating. After all, the Z06 features a face-plastering launch control that can only be responsibly used at a track - though that’s part of the point of the Z06. This is a fast car made to straddle both the street and the starting line. As such, Chevy chose to give the Z06 20-inch wheels in front and 21-inch wheels in back for the first time, yet another factor in the capability of the Z06 to carve through the air like a scalpel.
The exhaust system punctuates the Z06 experience with its unique centered tips at the rear, designed to reverberate the sound of the exhaust note back into the cabin so the engine can be heard even with the windows closed. Once you hit the gas, that sound is likely to give you goosebumps. When it comes to ride quality and stopping power, the Z06 comes standard with Magnetic Ride Control 4.0 to dampen the necessary stiffness required for handling, and large six-piston front and four-piston rear brakes have the power to halt the momentum the Z06 can whip up in a hurry.
Interior Style and Technology
It only stands to reason that designing such a beautifully performing vehicle should also incorporate an interior suited to its intentions. As a two-seater sports car, the Z06 truly is built to be a car oriented around the driver. The cockpit of the Z06 is laid out with all the digitized screens facing the driver so features can be utilized with ease, and the square steering wheel recalls the look of race cars that buzz around the track with a sound not unlike the Z06. Chevy adds a long list of features to the Z06, including all the tech you could ever want or need. A Performance Data Recorder lets you use video to record your driving for later review, or you can toggle it into Tour Mode for video of the passing scenery on pleasure cruises.
Heavily bolstered seats speak volumes about the expectation for the need to remain belted into place, and there are several colors and textures to accompany the style you want to exude, with microsuede, carbon fiber, and Adrenaline Red as just a few of the options available. Expect the Bose sound system to provide premium quality for listening to music, and the convenience of heated and ventilated seats can take the edge off the weather. Of course, the Z06 also has all the modern amenities for smartphone connectivity with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as a WiFi hotspot and an eight-inch infotainment screen.
Z07 Performance Package
If the introduction of the Z06 wasn’t enough, Chevy takes performance even farther with the Z07. Once upon a time, the Z06 was Chevy’s code for next-level extremes in the Corvette’s lineup, but now the Z07 will shred the pavement for those dedicated to the track. Building on the already powerful dynamics of the Z06, the Z07 harnesses carbon fiber elements to lighten the load for more quickness and agility. That means carbon fiber wheels, an enlarged rear wing and front splitter, and carbon fiber interior trimmings like the steering wheel. The package also includes carbon fiber dive planes and an underbody strake made of carbon fiber for enhanced aerodynamics.
Lightening the body has the consequence of greater speed, thus the Z07 requires even bigger brakes. Carbon ceramic front and rear rotors take the brunt of the force of friction, and then to once again dampen the extreme stiffness of the suspension, Z07-optimized magnetic dampers cushion the body and reduce jolts that would also reduce speed. Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R tires help stick the Z07 to the pavement, and riders should expect to be pleasantly surprised by the G-forces that will probably set you to giggling with glee.
Availability for the 2023 Z06
With the release of Chevy’s news about the Z06, sports car enthusiasts are probably aching for a chance to order their own. For the moment, potential buyers will have to settle for creating your dream ‘Vette in the configurator, where you can build to your heart’s content. When the Z06 goes into production, buyers will be able to choose either a coupe with a removable hardtop or a convertible that retracts the hardtop automatically. Production is slated to begin in the summer of 2022 at the GM Bowling Green Assembly plant and should go on sale as a 2023 model if all goes to plan.
Keep in mind that the Z06 is only the first of many future supercars planned by Chevy. Once the Z06 is released, the rumors are that it will be followed by a revitalized ZR1 based on a supercharged version of the Z06 engine, which will allegedly make 850 hp. Following that, a hybrid Corvette is said to be next in line as the Corvette E-Ray. Finally, the pièce de résistance will be the Corvette Zora - a true “hypercar” that marries the E-Ray hybrid powertrain and the ZR1 engine, possibly producing over 1,000 horsepower. Chevy has indeed put the world on notice with its new series of supercars up and coming. Are you ready?