Preproduction 2022 C8 Z06 Widebody Corvettes Reportedly Being Built This Week
These 2022 C8 Z06 prototypes will be used to perfect the production process and test the car in the real world.
Over the last several months, many rumors have swirled regarding the forthcoming 2022 C8 Z06 Corvette. But General Motors has been tight-lipped about the existence of the track-focused version of the already-quick Stingray, including information about when it might actually be revealed or go on sale. Regardless, the folks at Mid Engine Corvette Forum recently discovered an enticing piece of information regarding the 2022 C8 Z06 – preproduction units will reportedly begin rolling off the assembly line this week.
The post, which YouTuber Brink of Speed breaks down in the video below, states that N50 prototype Corvettes will begin being built at the Bowling Green Assembly Plant this week alongside 2021 Stingrays. The “N” signifies the 2022 model year, while “50” is GM speak for prototype. The purpose of these vehicles is to not only test the assembly process but also to produce actual driving vehicles that can then be driven by engineers to iron out any potential issues before full-scale production begins.
These preproduction 2022 C8 Z06 models are far closer to production-ready than the many mules we’ve seen out testing recently, of course, and signal that we’re not terribly far out from an unveiling, perhaps as early as this summer. Regardless, the post also points out one key difference the Z06 will sport when lined up next to a regular Stingray, and that’s its wider bodywork.
The Z06’s side scoops are rumored to be around 5/8″ wider than the Stingray’s, and the total width is said to be 1 1/4″ broader than the base Corvette. Regardless, we’re guaranteed to see at least one of these prototypes spied on film soon, as GM will reportedly build a host of them each week for the next several weeks.
As we’ve previously reported, the C8 Z06 will be powered by a brand new, naturally-aspirated, flat-plane crank, 5.5-liter V8 that will reportedly produce somewhere between 615 and 625 horsepower and 480 pound-feet of torque, with a 9,000 rpm redline. Other rumored goodies for the track-focused C8 include carbon-fiber wheels, carbon-ceramic brakes, lots of aero, magnetic ride control, and Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires, all at a starting MSRP of around $80,000.
The good news is, it doesn’t seem like we’ll have to wait much longer to actually see the C8 Z06 in the flesh, which is when we’ll finally learn all the juicy details about this hotly-anticipated model.
Photos: Corvette Forum
Join the Corvette Forums now!
