jagamajajaran

During the Saturday afternoon repeat of the 2017 Corvette Overview Session with Harlan Charles and Kirk Bennion, I asked a few questions about the 2017 Z06. The following is a transcript of the Q&A with Harlan Charles.
I feel fairly confident we will see some performance upgrades, at a minimum to the cooling system. We will all find out in June.

Movie Muscle

What, that's all they offered as far as the word on the Z06. I waited for that...some reveal that was. Guess they're still tweaking things. Tune in next month fans.

jagamajajaran

Yes, that was it. The Grand Sport received all of the attention, but the non-disclosure on the 2017 Z06 was definitely intentional.

Movie Muscle

Buggers lol. I came straight to the forums to see what the word was tonight. I cancelled my order this spring. I hear rumors of great things from insiders. So I gave up my allocation when it came up. I hope it was worth it. I might not see a car until spring of 2017 now : (

four0nefive

I think if the changes are good, it'll be worth it in the end

Diesel88

First off thank you again jag for all your love and work with the corvettes.

My opinion, I honestly feel there will definitely be performance upgrades. One of my thoughts is because of the callaway and the Grand sport. Before the Grand sport entered the picture, some people were deciding between a callaway or Z51. For me I loved the aggressive Z06 look over the Z51 but now with the Grand sport you can have that aggressive Z06 look with the Grand Sport and Callaway package. No apparent heat soaked issues, instant acceleration, Z06 wide body look, full warranty and almost the same price tag as the Z06 with the Grand sport callaway package together . So GM has to do something to make the Z06 stand out more.

The part that confuses me and please help me out if I am wrong. For around $15,000 less you get a Grand Sport that has everything the Z06 has BESIDES the supercharger, larger hood and what else? So what will stop people from getting a Grand Sport and adding the Callaway package? So to me GM has to do something to make the Z06 stand out more. Would love to hear your thoughts on this? Thanks

rob62

Some one correct me if I'm wrong but to go Callaway will cost you over 20g's.

MK4sup_isF

GS doesn't have a forged motor or carbon fiber torque tube. Those rods are in borrowed time if you boost.

sTz

Thanks for the update...

0Callaway Chris

Actually, the cost is $17,995, plus any other options one might select. Thanks.

http://www.callawaycars.com/homepage...ild-price-c20/

Redc8z06

Obvious the focus this year is on the GS and my guess is the ink hasn't dried yet on what if any changes are in store for the Z06. For 2017 the GS is going to be the money maker for GM, it's a Stingray offered in a Z06 body so very little R&D money to roll this out and a big savings over the Z06. Technically nothing major for any of the cars, it appears to be a lot more makeup and lipstick to make it more customizable. I predict GS sales will exceed Stingray sales for '17 and less than 10,000 Z06's built.

davepl

Well, the Z06 is only 8.8% shy of the Hellcat's hero number of 707, I wonder if GM has any interest in holding that title, and if so, if the 1.7L is capable of it? I doubt they'll chase that, but you never know...

It's hard to believe they'd go to a rotor change or something similar in only 2 years, but we used to run on 2 year design cycles for entire car lines, so a blower rotor change is hardly unimaginable.

Not that the car needs more horsepower as a first change, but it's a marketing year over year thing. Easy to print and explain.

T-Z06-J

What we learned about the Z06 for 2017 is that you will now be able to buy a Z06 for $66445.

It will come with the N/A LT1 pumping out 460hp.

MSG C5

I had a feeling going in that the new GS would be the focus and Prom Queen of this year's Bash. That's fine, however I'm excited that GM at this point is still withholding information on the 2017 Z06. From a business perspective, it all makes sense. If they announce any type of performance improvements now with production not taking place until September, the existing 2016 inventory on dealer lots will take a huge hit.

I was at a show last weekend where the dealer was offering all in stock Z06s models at invoice pricing. This is smart business as they need to reduce existing inventory before we get too excited over the 2017.

I'm not expecting so much an HP increase as I am perhaps the integration of the A10 transmission and other cooling elements applied to the Camaro ZL1.

As to the Grand Sport, I think the wide body components look nice, however some of the color combinations, stripe packages, etc. on display really look a little over-the-top and IMO ruin the great lines of the C7. I know it's an individual taste and preference thing, however it seems like GM ran out of ideas on how to differentiate the GS beyond the wide body panels so they threw in a lot of decals and color combos.

Big Lebowski

Well, that and the fact that it is ACTUALLY a Z06. I realize there are several camps here: The new Grand Sport is certainly gorgeous (especially in Admiral Blue and Watkins Glen), but I suspect few are going to go at or below invoice (to start) and the true net result between a Z06 and a Grand Sport will be debatable when you consider the added power w/ warranty and Z06 name status.

Stingray23

I think it will definitely get a bump in power. The LT4 is now in the CTS-V and the upcoming Camaro ZL1 making only 10 fewer HP. I dont think that sits well with current owners. We will probably see a hair over 700hp. It could also just be a "performance pack" where it will be an option to bump power. Sort of like Mercedes AMG where they offer an AMG and an AMG S. I'm hoping to see a light weight version.

Mr. Gizmo

75 to 100 horsepower increase and a10. I am glad I waited for the 2017.

PLRX

$2,005 is not a big difference after investing $120K

Is the $17,995 taxable?

Snorman

LMAO at a 75-100 hp increase. When, ever in the last several generations has GM substantially increased the hp rating of an engine mid-cycle? The LS9, LS7, LS6...sure...the ZR-1 LT5 got a 30 hp bump back in '93. But I'm going to go out on a limb and say the regulations for fuel economy and emissions were nowhere near as stringent as they are in 2017.
75 - 100 horsepower bump is a pipe dream.
S.

tail_lights

I tend to agree. And we all know power contributes to heat and I would think the first order of business would be for them to 'cool things off' I also have questions about the A10.... I understand it would keep the engine in its powerband, but on the auto that would keep it higher in the RPMs, so wouldn't that make it run even hotter? I was sure I had read where short shifting was keeping these cars cooler at the track, so keeping the engine at a higher RPM would seem to require additional cooling. Just thoughts running through my head