2023 Corvette Z06 Officially Revealed With Real Track Bred Performance
The 2023 Corvette Z06 offers up serious track performance and race-derived tech in a new package.
Since the day the all-new, mid-engine C8 Corvette was revealed a couple of years ago, fans of the iconic model were already speculating about what performance variants would eventually follow. Most expected to see the Z06 version of the C8 first, perhaps one year after the Stingray, but a variety of events – most notably a global pandemic – ultimately pushed that debut back considerably. Regardless, the 2023 Corvette Z06 is finally here, and it is undoubtedly worth the wait.
The 2023 Corvette Z06 was derived directly from the track-dominating C8.R racer, and as such, features the most powerful naturally aspirated V8 in production today – the brand new 5.5-liter LT6 V8, which utilizes a dual-overhead-cam, flat-plane crank layout to produce 670 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque. The new mill revs all the way to 8,600 rpm, making some of the sweetest sounds to ever emerge from an engine of any kind.
That power flows through an 8-speed dual-clutch gearbox to the rear wheels, which propels the C8 Z06 from 0-60 miles-per-hour in just 2.6 seconds. GM’s Magnetic Ride Control 4.0 and specific suspension tuning help put all that power to the ground more effectively, while larger six-piston front calipers and 14.6-inch rotors, along with 15-inch rear Brembo rotors slow it down in a hurry.
The C8 Z06 is offered in hardtop and convertible configurations and features a host of exterior and interior upgrades over the standard Stingray. On the outside, that includes a stance that’s 3.6 inches wider, with unique front and rear fascias (the front channels air to a center heat exchanger), a unique, standard reconfigurable rear spoiler with adjustable wickerbill elements, standard 20-inch front and 21-inch rear forged aluminum “spider” wheels with five available finishes, and specially-designed Michelin Sport Cup 2 R ZP tires that measure 275/30ZR20 in the front and 345/25ZR21 in the rear.
Inside, the C8 Z06 features a number of hand-wrapped leather interior options, including the all-new, available fully trimmed interior in Adrenaline Red, as well as an available carbon fiber-wrapped steering wheel, shift paddles, and the new carbon-fiber interior trim package level 2. The 2023 Corvette Z06 is available in a whopping 12 different exterior colors with seven available wheel packages, seven interior color options, three seat choices, six seatbelt options, two interior carbon-fiber trim packages, a Stealth Aluminum trim option, and six available brake caliper colors.
For those that want even more performance, the Z07 Performance Package adds a carbon fiber aero package with a larger front splitter, front-corner dive planes, a rear wing and underbody strakes that enhance downforce, a unique FE7 suspension with specific Magnetic Ride Control 4.0 calibrations, Michelin Sport Cup 2 R ZP tires developed specifically for the Z06, available carbon fiber wheels that deliver a 41-pound reduction in unsprung mass, and Brembo carbon-ceramic brakes featuring larger, 15.7-inch-diameter front rotors and 15.4-inch-diameter rear rotors. GM says that the Z07-equipped Z06 will pull an impressive 1.22 g on the skidpad.
The 2023 Corvette Z06 is scheduled to enter production – in both left- and right-hand-drive configurations – next summer.
Photos: Chevrolet
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