Chevrolet unveils most track-capable Corvette Z06 ever

MANILA: Chevrolet has officially unveiled the 2023 Corvette Z06 two years after the arrival of the first production mid-engine Corvette Stingray.

The remarkable appearance, sound, and tactile feel of the Z06 are the culmination of intense focus. The Z06 offers the ultimate supercar experience with its new, broader sculpted front and rear fascia designs that define a confidence stance and unusual proportions, as well as a lavishly furnished interior.

In a statement, Chevrolet Vice President Steve Hill said, “Corvette has always brought a discerning customer to the Chevy family. This new Z06 was designed and engineered to set a higher bar with increased levels of craftsmanship, personalization and performance so customers can truly have their own bespoke performance car.”

Although the Z06 was designed to conquer the track when it was first introduced in 1963, the nameplate has come to represent the perfect blend of track beast and supercar.

“The new Corvette Z06 defines the American supercar. It builds on the distinctive design and groundbreaking dynamics introduced with the mid-engine Corvette and elevates them to deliver refined but uncompromising track capability with world-class performance,” General Motors President Mark Reuss stated.

The Z06 is characterized by its all-new 5.5 LT6 engine, the highest-powered, naturally aspirated V8 to hit the market in any production car ever.

Engine responsiveness and trackability, two hallmarks of naturally aspirated engines, were prioritized in order to provide a compelling driving experience. As a result, it was determined that a completely new normally aspirated engine was required, with the goal of outperforming any naturally aspirated production V8 engine ever made. With the all-new lightweight, flat-plane crank design, the engine can rev to the high rpms needed to generate significant power.

The new flat-plane crankshaft design will definitely entice the driver to push the tachometer to a stratospheric 8,600rpm, producing 670hp. Engineers worked for two years to create a distinctive, deep exhaust tone unlike any other Corvette has ever produced.

The new LT6 is meant to complement all aspects of the Z06’s track-focused performance experience, not just horsepower. This engine emanates a whole new emotional character, from its full racing-style dry-sump oiling system to perfectly tuned induction and exhaust systems.

The Corvette Z06 also comes with an all-new aluminum cylinder block casting with the small block engine family’s signature 4.4-inch bore spacing, an all-new dual-overhead-camshaft cylinder head design with fully CNC-machined combustion chambers and intake ports, dual-coil valve springs, forged aluminum pistons and forged titanium connecting rods, Distinctive Edge Red camshaft covers, all-new active split intake manifold with twin 87mm throttle bodies, all-new six-stage dry-sump oiling system with individual crank bay scavenging, and four-into-two-into-one stainless steel exhaust headers.

The Z06’s LT6 engine is hand-assembled by professional engine builders at the Performance Build Center within the Bowling Green Assembly Plant in Kentucky. To meet Chevrolet’s exact specifications, engine builders use precision tooling and manually fit pieces of the engine. Each engine comes with a plaque on the intake manifold with the signature of the technician who worked on it from start to finish.

Corvette Racing is responsible for the Z06’s sound and look. Since its racing debut in 2020, Corvette Racing’s C8.R has been underpinned by the Z06 chassis. It has been dubbed as “the Z06 hiding in plain sight” because of its identical chassis, same engine layout, and exterior proportions.

“Racing was the reason the Z06 was developed in 1963, and it continues to support development of the road models that make them better on the street and the track. It also means we’ve tested the Z06 on the best tracks around the world, from Circuit of the Americas here in the United States, to the Nürburgring in Germany,” Corvette Racing Executive Chief Engineer Tadge Juechter said.

The Corvette C8.R dominated the IMSA 2020 sports car championship series with six victories and seven pole positions, as well as notching the fastest class race laps in six events. During the 2020 series, Chevrolet took home the GT manufacturers title for the 13^th time since 2001. The GTLM Drivers and Team championship were won by Jordan Taylor and Antonio Garcia with the No. 3 Corvette C8.R crew.

The performance envelope of the Z06, as well as its design language and attention to detail, advances on the foundation built by Stingray. Owners can customize their own bespoke American supercar with expanded material options, additional interior packages, and features unique to the Z06.

The 2023 Corvette Z06 has a broad stance which allows accommodation for massive 345-series rear tires and increased ventilation through side air vents. Its front fascia is deigned to optimize the cooling needs, including channeling air to a center heat exchanger. It also comes with a unique, reconfigurable rear spoiler with adjustable wickerbill elements that improves high-speed stability and cornering capability on a racetrack. Its 20-inch front and 21-inch rear forged aluminum “spider” wheels are the largest wheels a production Corvette has ever had.

Corvette Z06 buyers can opt to equip their car with available lightweight and rigid carbon fiber wheels that reduce unsprung mass by 18.6 kg, resulting in nimbler and more responsive handling.

With stylistic elements that highlight the car’s sense of motion, almost every exterior component specific to the Z06 serves a purpose for aerodynamic, handling, or cooling. For instance, the wider fenders accommodate larger wheels for more grip. Meanwhile, larger vents, including the new front fascia, give extra cooling air to the engine, brakes, and transaxle for improved track capability. A more aggressive aerodynamic package is also developed to improve cornering grip and high-speed stability.

The all-new Z06 also comes with a specific suspension tuning, including Magnetic Ride Control 4.0, and six-piston front brakes, making it the most track-capable Corvette ever. It also gets an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission with a “shorter” 5.56 final drive ratio compared to the Corvette Stingray, which improves acceleration.

Magnetic Selective Ride Control 4.0 comes standard and can be adjusted for touring comfort or optimum track performance via the driver mode selector, which tailors more than a dozen features of the Z06 to adapt to the driver’s environment. Among these features are launch control, active handling (StabiliTrak Electronic Stability Control), traction control, performance traction management, and electronic slip differential.

Chevrolet also offers a Z07 performance package that delivers the greatest track capability, producing 734 pounds of downforce at 186mph. It also includes a carbon fiber high rear wing and ground effects, customized chassis tuning, Magnetic Ride Control calibration, unique Michelin Cup 2 R ZP tires, Brembo carbon ceramic brakes, and optional carbon fiber wheels.

The car is capable of 1.22 g of road-hugging grip when fitted with the Z07 performance package in the track-prepared configuration on a 300-ft diameter circle.

“Virtually every component that distinguishes the Z06 was developed to support or enhance its capability. By leveraging the mid-engine architecture’s inherent advantages, we are able to achieve 6% more downforce than a seventh-gen ZR1 at eight percent lower drag,” Juetcher added.

On the inside, the Corvette Z06 features an elevated cockpit with rich materials and textures, including more carbon fiber trim and new options.

“To match its performance, the Z06 is an elevated execution of the eighth-generation design. From its wide planted stance with sculpted surfaces to its premium and carbon fiber materials, the Z06 instills an aura of raw power and performance with bespoke craftsmanship,” Chevrolet Executive Design Director Phil Zak stated.

A carbon-fiber steering wheel, shift paddles, and a new carbon fiber interior trim package level 2 are available as options. Hand-wrapped leather interior options, including the all-new, fully trimmed interior in Adrenaline Red, are also available.

The Z06 offers the most personalization choices among the Corvette lineup. Customers can choose among 12 available exterior colors; seven available wheel packages, including five finishes on the standard forged aluminum wheels and available carbon fiber wheels; seven interior colors with thousands of possible combinations; three seat choices; six seatbelt options; two interior carbon fiber trim packages, plus Stealth Aluminum trim option; and six available brake caliper colors.

Production is set to begin in summer 2022. It will be built at Bowling Green Assembly in left- and right-hand drive.

To know more about the 2023 Chevrolet Corvette Z06, check out its preliminary specifications on the chart below:

SPECIFICATIONS	Chevrolet Corvette Z06
Overall Length (mm)	4,688
Overall Width (mm)	2,025
Overall Height (mm)	1,235
Wheelbase (mm)	2,722
Track (mm)	Front: 1,685 Rear: 1,678
Dry Weight (kg)	1,561
Cargo Volume (L)	357
Engine Type	LT6 5.5-liter DOHC V-8 Direct Injection
Bore & Stroke (mm)	104.25 x 80
Block Material	A319-T7 Sand-cast Aluminum with Pressed-in Iron Cylinder Liners and Four-bolt Main Bearing Caps
Oiling System	Six Stage Dry Sump (8-qt. capacity); includes oil-spray piston cooling
Oil Type	DexosR Synthetic 5W50
Cylinder Head Material	A356 T6 Cast Aluminum
Combustion Chamber Volume (cc)	58.8
Compression Ratio	12.5:1
Valvetrain	Dual Overhead Camshafts with Mechanical Finger Follower Valvetrain and Dual-coil Valve Springs
Fuel Delivery	Exhaust Side Direct Injection
Firing Order	1-4-3-8-7-6-5-2
Throttle Body	Twin 87-mm Single Bore (Electronic)
ECU	GM E68 (32-bit processing)
Power Output (hp / rpm)	670 / 8,400 (GM tested per SAE J1349)
Torque (Nm / rpm)	623 / 6,300 (GM tested per SAE J1349)
Transmission Type	M1L Eight-speed Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT)
Final Drive Ratio	5.56:1
Suspension	Front: Short/long arm (SLA) Double Wishbone, Forged Aluminum Upper and Cast Aluminum L-shaped Lower Control Arms; Monotube Shock Absorbers Rear: Short/long arm (SLA) Double Wishbone, Forged Aluminum Upper and Cast Aluminum L-shaped Lower Control Arms; Direct-acting Stabilizer Bar; Monotube Shock Absorbers
Brakes	eBoost-assisted Discs with Brembo Six-piston/Two-piece Front Calipers and Four-piston/Monobloc Rear Calipers
Steering Type	Variable-ratio Rack-and-Pinion with Electric Power Assist; includes Active Steer Stops with available Magnetic Ride Control 4.0
Steering Ratio	15.7:1
Tire Type and Size	Michelin Pilot Sport 4S ZP Front: 275/30ZR20 Rear: 345/25ZR21
Head-Up Display	With
Airbags	Frontal and Side-Impact for Driver and Front Passenger; includes Passenger Sensing System
Tire Pressure Monitor System	With Tire Fill Alert
Rear Park Assist	With
HD Rear Vision Camera	With
Side Blind Zone Alert	With
Rear Cross Traffic Alert	With
Rear Camera Mirror	With

 

Photos from Chevrolet

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