2023 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Brings the Track to the Street

by Tim Healey

Published: October 26th, 2021

2023 chevrolet corvette z06 brings the track to the street

The 2023 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 is here.

And on paper, it appears to be bad-ass in ways worthy of the Z06 designation.

The track-focused Z06 starts with wider front and rear fascias and a front splitter. The car shares its chassis with Corvette Racing’s C8.R, and the Z06 has a 3.6-inch wider stance than the Corvette Stingray. This allows for the use of 345mm rear tires. Additional side vents increase airflow.

The front fascia channels intake air to a central heat exchanger, which is one of five such units. Standard is a reconfigurable rear spoiler with an adjustable wickerbill.

Standard wheels are 20 inches in front and 21 in the rear, with carbon-fiber wheels available. The brakes are bigger than Stingray’s and get six-piston front calipers, and the suspension is specifically tuned. That includes the magnetic ride control.

Power gets to ground via an eight-speed, dual-clutch automatic transmission and the final-drive ratio is 5.56. A Z07 Performance Package is optional and includes a carbon-fiber rear wing, ground effects, specific chassis tuning, specific magnetic ride control tuning, Brembo carbon-ceramic brakes, available carbon-fiber wheels, and Michelin Cup 2 R ZP tires. Chevy claims this package can give the car up to 734 pounds of downforce at 186 mph.

By now you’re likely screaming at me to tell you about the engine, so I shall oblige. The LT6 5.5-liter dual-overhead-cam V8 is naturally aspirated, has a flat-plane crank and an 8,600-rpm redline, a dry-sump oil system, short strokes, aluminum cylinder block, aluminum pistons, forged titanium connecting rods, active split intake manifold with twin 87mm throttle bodies, four-to-two-to-one stainless steel exhaust headers, and a power output of 670 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque.

An available carbon-fiber aero package adds a larger front splitter and underbody aero strakes, as well as a pedestal-based rear wing and front-corner dive planes.

Modern track-focused cars include electronic aids, and the Z06 is no exception, featuring launch control, an electronically limited-slip differential, and performance traction management.

Production is set to begin next summer in Bowling Green, Kentucky, and this ‘Vette is going global, as both left-hand and right-hand drive versions will be built.

Chevrolet didn’t list a price in the press release, but we’d wager that it will be close to, if not over, six figures to start.

[Images: Chevrolet]

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Tim Healey

Tim Healey grew up around the auto-parts business and has always had a love for cars — his parents joke his first word was “‘Vette”. Despite this, he wanted to pursue a career in sports writing but he ended up falling semi-accidentally into the automotive-journalism industry, first at Consumer Guide Automotive and later at Web2Carz.com. He also worked as an industry analyst at Mintel Group and freelanced for About.com, CarFax, Vehix.com, High Gear Media, Torque News, FutureCar.com, Cars.com, among others, and of course Vertical Scope sites such as AutoGuide.com, Off-Road.com, and HybridCars.com. He’s an urbanite and as such, doesn’t need a daily driver, but if he had one, it would be compact, sporty, and have a manual transmission.

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8 of 65 comments

Ol Shel on Oct 27, 2021

I still think that Corvette is supposed to be a sports car/muscle car hybrid, and that mid engine doesn't allow that. Very few people ever drive a Corvette hard through corners. I know that The magazines insist on comparing it to the 911 and Cayman, but it never really needed to compete with those cars. It could have remained the ornery, tire-smoking -and still fun in the twisties- American classic it was. Now it's a legit competitor with the best the world has to offer. How many extra sales will it get around the globe? Not enough to justify the expense and change. And an auto transmission?! Is recoding TikToks during your commute really that important?

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- Mcs on Oct 27, 2021
  
  "I still think that Corvette is supposed to be a sports car/muscle car hybrid, and that mid engine doesn’t allow that. " I don't know anyone that has thought that. I don't even understand what your definition of a muscle car is? Does it have to have bad handling to qualify? "And an auto transmission?! Is recoding TikToks during your commute really that important?" Nothing to do with tiktoks or commuting. Modern performance cars are so quick that humans can't shift fast enough. Most people I've seen are really terrible at it anyway. I think a vintage British sports car or Miata where you have lower power and human skills can improve the performance are great. But, a manual seriously handicaps some modern cars. It's just absurd in a car that can accelerate 0-60 in 2 to 3 seconds. "Now it’s a legit competitor with the best the world has to offer." Not yet. It really needs all-wheel drive to claim that status. But, the good news is that it's coming and will be a legitimate modern supercar at that point at the Ferrari/Lamborghini/Porsche tier. As far as the best, it still might have a ways to go to run with Evija's, Valkyries, Koeniggseggs, and Bugatti-Rimacs. Then again, you never know. I do like it. I'd buy it over a two-wheel drive Ferrari or Lamborghini. Although, if I was going to go with a 2 wheel drive midengine, I might look at an Emira. Lighter weight and far better looks. You can also get a manual if you want. It's slower, but probably more fun on twisty roads.
  
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- Ajla on Oct 28, 2021
  
  @mcs "sports car/muscle car hybrid" I think he means something like "grand touring" car but one on the sporty side of the class. The Corvette has been around for 68 years and over that time it has gone through many permutations. Do you want your Corvette to lean towards the Portofino or the f8 Tributo? Personally, although I do respect what GM has accomplished with the C8, it just isn't my thing. And, I doubt an AWD E-Ray Hypercar version will end up more appealing. If I was spending Stingray money I'd get a higher-end Mustang or RCF, if I was spending Z06 money I'd get an AMG or LC500 and if I had ridiculous money to spend I'd get a Wraith. Obviously YMMV.
  
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- Ajla on Oct 28, 2021
  
  @ajla Like if the C8 Z06 was a $90K version of this, would it be so bad? youtube.com/watch?v=MWfJIJ213pQ&t
  
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- W126 on Oct 28, 2021
  
  @ajla There aren't any rear drive AMGs that can do 0-60 in 2.6 (closest would be AMG GT Black series) and handle like a Z06. Plus Mercedes suspended sales of all V8s except S class and Maybach for 2022. LC500 is a very classy, nice car, but not in the same category as a Z06.
  
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- Ajla on Oct 28, 2021
  
  @W126 I don't need to go 0-60 in 2.6 seconds or have IMSA-level handling for the trip to Dairy Queen. A Portofino doesn't have the performance level of a mid-engine Ferrari either but I know which one I'd personally buy. What I want from my sports car: 0. Is fun to drive 1. Looks amazing (granted this is a matter of preference) 2. Sounds amazing 3. Isn't slower or dynamically inferior to a Mustang GT PP.
  
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- W126 on Oct 29, 2021
  
  @ajla I think you would enjoy a Ferrari Roma.
  
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Jeff S on Oct 28, 2021

Not interested in this so I will not praise it or criticize it. Appears to be more than capable for those who are desiring a car along the lines of a Lambo or Ferrari but at a more affordable price.

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