Z06 - Final Hurrah To Natural Aspiration

You've done your homework. The only other word we should probably insert is 'production'. Oh, and the one we should definitely add is 'EVER'. Because there has never been a road car with a more powerful naturally aspirated V8 than this. Not even from Ferrari.

The headlines are as follows: 670bhp at 8,400rpm and 460lb ft at 6,300rpm. And yep, that makes it more potent than the fabled 6.1-litre V12 that underpinned the McLaren F1. The 5.5-litre dry-sumped, flat plane crank LT6 has nothing in common with the 6.2-litre V8 in the back of the regular C8 Corvette - in fact it's derived from the engine in the C8.R GTLM racer. It's exotic in a way we're not used to from American brands: it boasts titanium intake valves and conrods, sodium filled exhaust valves, revs to 8,600rpm - it's the single most impressive facet of the new Corvette Z06.

2023 marks 60 years of the Z06 badge - it's reserved for the hardcore version of the iconic American sports car. So besides the engine, a load of other changes have been made, the most immediately obvious of which is the fact it's 90mm wider overall. That means new wing panels front and rear to cover wider tyres, and new suspension geometry. Bigger wheels and brakes are fitted, the usually optional e-diff and magnetorheological dampers are standard here, the springs are stiffer and there's a new transaxle with a shorter final drive in the eight-speed dual clutch gearbox for better sprinting. The rear tyres are gargantuan 345-width road rollers, the brakes are from Brembo and there's 165kg of downforce at 186mph (and if you're thinking that isn't actually very much, you're right).

It's actually a little heavier: 1,561kg plays 1,530kg. Those are both dry kerbweights though, so reckon on about 1,700kg with fluids. And that's for the coupe. The convertible version will be heavier. Ask yourself if you need it though, seeing as all Corvette coupes have a lift out roof panel. The convertible (the car you see in these pictures) does have the benefit of being able to keep the roof up and drop the rear window to better hear the screaming V8.

And the figures that underpin it are equally impressive. 0-60mph takes 2.7 seconds, top speed stands at 195mph. Once you get used to the force and the noise and start to think about other aspects of the engine, what really surprises is how well-mannered it is. All the same, this is a smooth and very compliant engine. It burbles about town without any issue whatsoever. The gearbox is silky and shuffles between ratios quietly and competently, you can quite happily forget that you're driving an engine with real racing pedigree.

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Source: Ollie Marriage - Frist Drive

Posted 4/21/23