The Peterson Museum unveiled on October 26, 2021; the next chapter of the mid-engine Corvette journey begins today, with the launch of the Chevrolet Corvette Z06 in 2023, a new American supercar that has attracted worldwide attention. Two years after the first mass-produced mid-engine Corvette Stingray debuted and attracted a global audience, the Z06 was designed and manufactured to serve as a precision tool for the racetrack.
Z06's eye-catching appearance, sound and touch are the result of high concentration. Z06 adopts a new, wider engraved front and rear panel design, which defines a confident posture and exotic proportions as well as luxurious interiors. It is the ultimate super sports car experience.
"Corvette has always brought a discerning customer to the Chevrolet family," said Chevrolet vice president Steve Hill. "This brand new Z06 aims to set higher standards through a higher level of craftsmanship, personalization and performance, so customers can truly have their own customized performance cars."
Although the Z06 was designed to dominate the track when it debuted in 1963, the Z06 nameplate also symbolizes the perfect combination of track beasts and supercars.
"The new Corvette Z06 defines American supercars," said General Motors President Mark Royce. "It builds on the unique design and breakthrough power introduced by the mid-engine Corvette, and upgrades them to provide refined but uncompromising track capabilities with world-class performance."
The Z06 is distinguished by its beating heart-the new 5.5-liter LT6 is the highest horsepower naturally aspirated V-8 ever launched in any production car.
The new flat crankshaft design attracts the driver to push the tachometer up to 8,600 rpm, producing 670 horsepower. It took the engineers two years to create a distinctive, rich exhaust tone, which is different from what Corvette has heard and heard.
The sound and appearance of the Z06 with racing cars as its core borrowed from Corvette Racing. The direct knowledge transfer from the track to the street has never been so obvious. Since the start of competition in 2020, the Z06 chassis has been the basis of Corvette Racing's C8.R. Due to the shared chassis, similar engine architecture and external proportions, C8.R is internally known as the Z06 hidden in sight.
"The racing car was the reason for the development of the Z06 in 1963. It continues to support the development of road models to make them perform better on the streets and on the track," said Tadge Juechter, Corvette's executive chief engineer. "This also means that we have tested the Z06 on the best circuits around the world, from the Americas circuit here in the United States to the Nürburgring circuit in Germany."
Corvette C8.R shined in the IMSA 2020 Sports Car Championship series, achieving six victories and seven pole positions, and created the fastest number of laps in six events. In the 2020 series, Chevrolet won the GT manufacturer championship-this is the 13th time since 2001. Jordan Taylor and Antonio Garcia and the third-ranked Corvette C8.R team won the GTLM driver and constructors championship.
The performance range of Z06 is built on the foundation laid by Stingray, as is the design language and attention to detail of Z06. More materials, new interiors, and features unique to the Z06 allow car owners to build their own customized American supercars.
Other highlights of the 2023 Corvette Z06 include:
"Almost all components that differentiate Z06 are developed to support or enhance its capabilities," Juechter said. "By taking advantage of the inherent advantages of the mid-engine architecture, we were able to achieve 6% more downforce than the seventh-generation ZR1 while reducing drag by 8%."
The new LT6 2023 Corvette Z06 debuted with a new 5.5-liter DOHC V-8 engine, which marked a natural desire to return to a performance model with track functions.
Engine responsiveness and traceability are two characteristics of naturally aspirated engines, and are the primary task of providing an engaging driving experience for purists. Therefore, it was determined that a clean naturally aspirated power plant was needed, the goal of which was to exceed the power of any naturally aspirated production V-8 engine. The lightweight flat crank design allows the engine to reach the high speeds required to generate significant power.
More than just horsepower, the new LT6 aims to complement all aspects of the Z06's track-centric performance experience. From its 8,600 rpm red line and complete racing-style dry sump refueling system to carefully tuned intake and exhaust systems, this engine exudes new emotional characteristics.
The key to the performance of LT6 is a lightweight, low-inertia rotating component, which is rooted in a brand new flat crankshaft, and a relatively short stroke (the distance that each piston/connecting rod assembly moves with each rotation of the crankshaft) ), allow the engine speed to reach the maximum range.
Since 2019, a version of LT6 has been powering the C8.R racing car. The harsh test of endurance road racing has helped engineers improve the performance and durability of the engine.
The LT6 was manually assembled by a master engine manufacturer at the Performance Construction Center in the Bowling Green Assembly Plant in Kentucky. Manufacturers use precision tools and hand-assembled parts of the engine to meet Chevrolet's exact specifications. Each engine’s intake manifold has a nameplate engraved with the signature of the technician who made it from beginning to end.
Designed to express almost all external details unique to the Z06 are used for aerodynamics, handling or cooling, with styling cues that highlight the car's sense of movement.
For example, wider fenders can accommodate larger and wider wheels and tires for better grip. Larger air vents-including a new front panel, just like the C8.R race car, draw clean air into the central heat exchanger-to provide more cooling air for the engine, brakes and transaxle to improve racing Tao ability. In addition, the more aggressive aerodynamic kit is designed to enhance cornering grip and high-speed stability.
Wider wheels and tires include 20 x 10 inches (50.8 x 25.4 cm) front wheels wrapped with 275/30ZR20 tires and 21 x 13 inches (53.3 x 33 cm) rear wheels used with 345/25ZR21 tires. Michelin® Pilot Sport 4S ZP tires are standard, and Sport Cup 2 R ZP tires are included in the available Z07 package.
The designer pulled out the front and rear fenders to cover a wider tire tread, which is 30 mm wider at the front and 40 mm at the rear than the Corvette Stingray. These extensions provide the Corvette Z06 with a wider, lower appearance, which is further emphasized by the unique rear panel, which also has a centered floating exhaust baffle. This floating design is the key to precise adjustment of the exhaust note. The wider rear fender also allows for the larger air intakes required for car cooling.
In addition, the new Z06 will provide three increasing levels of aerodynamic support:
Track-proven performance technology 2023 Corvette Z06 utilizes technology introduced on the mid-engine Corvette Stingray, including the strategic use of lightweight materials and advanced driver technology, as well as unique features and calibrations tailored to its capabilities.
The new Z06 retains the Corvette Stingray's SLA-type front and rear suspension design, but is uniquely calibrated for its higher performance. Magnetic Selective Ride Control 4.0 is a standard configuration, which can be adjusted through the standard driver mode selector to obtain travel comfort or maximum track performance.
Like Stingray, the Driver Mode Selector has customized more than ten functions of the Z06 to suit the driver's environment, including:
Compared with Stingray, Z06's better track performance is matched with greater braking capacity. The front and rear wheels have larger Brembo® rotors with diameters of 14.6 inches (370 mm) and 15 inches (380 mm), respectively. Compared to the four-piston calipers on Stingray, the Z06 has a six-piston front caliper.
Even larger carbon ceramic rotors can be used and are included in the Z07 kit, which maximizes the performance of the Corvette Z06.
The additional features of the Z07 performance package include:
When equipped with the track-ready Z07 performance kit on a circle with a diameter of 300 feet, the car can provide 1.22 grams of road grip.
Z06 is based on the same sturdy structure as Stingray-a rigid structure that allows engineers to fine-tune the car's chassis and suspension components with extremely high precision. The Z06 is so sturdy that the Z06 offers a hard-top convertible model, and there is no difference in suspension calibration between it and the coupe.
Customized attention to detail In the driver-centric cockpit, high-quality materials continue to enhance the luxurious look and feel introduced by Stingray. They complement the available carbon fiber trims, expressing the concept of lightweight cars and focus on the track.
"To match its performance, the Z06 is an upgraded version of the eighth-generation design," said Phil Zak, Chevrolet's executive design director. "From the wide posture with engraved surface to the high-quality carbon fiber material, Z06 is infused with a halo of original power and performance with customized craftsmanship."
Unique features include the usable carbon fiber wrapped steering wheel, shift paddles and a new level 2 carbon fiber interior package. The Z06 also has hand-wrapped leather upholstery options, including a new, available adrenaline red full-finish upholstery.
Additional new wheels, colors and trim options provide Z06 customers with the most personalized options in the Corvette series, including:
The Corvette Z06 in 2023 will be seen, heard and experienced worldwide when it starts production in the summer of 2022. It will be assembled and manufactured by Bowling Green in the left-hand and right-hand drives.
Quick Fact: Corvette Z06 was born in 1963 as an optional special equipment kit for racers. It includes a stiffer suspension, heavy-duty brakes, a thicker front stabilizer bar, and a large 36-gallon fuel tank, reducing the number of pit stops necessary for long matches. The kit requires a fuel-injected 5.4-liter engine (327 cubic inches) and a dense four-speed manual transmission.
385 (2001); 405 (2002-04)
LT4 6.2L OHV V-8 supercharged
7-speed manual or 8-speed automatic
About Chevrolet Chevrolet was founded in Detroit in 1911 and is now one of the world's largest car brands. It is available in 79 countries. In 2020, the sales of cars and trucks exceeded 3.2 million. Chevrolet models include electric and fuel-efficient vehicles with fascinating performance and design that make heartbeat, passive and active safety features, and easy-to-use technology worth the money. For more information about Chevrolet models, please visit www.chevrolet.com.
2023 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 preliminary specifications
LT6 5.5L DOHC V-8 direct injection
Aperture and stroke (inch/mm):
A319-T7 sand cast aluminum belt press-in iron cylinder liner and four-bolt main bearing cap
Six-stage dry oil pan (8 quart capacity); includes oil-injected piston cooling
Double overhead camshaft with mechanical finger driven valve mechanism and double coil valve spring
1.654 / 42 titanium (intake) and 1.378 / 35 sodium filling (exhaust)
Direct injection on the exhaust side. Maximum pressure: 5,076 psi (35 Mpa / 350 bar)
1-4-3-8-7-6-5-2
Double 87mm single hole (electronic)
670 @ 8400 rpm (GM test according to SAE J1349)
460/623 @ 6300 rpm (GM test according to SAE J1349)
M1L 8-speed dual clutch (DCT)
Chassis and suspension
Short/long arm (SLA) double wishbone, forged aluminum upper and cast aluminum L-shaped lower control arm; single tube shock absorber (46mm); magnetic selective driving control 4.0 is available. Use the available Z07 package for specific calibration. Front lift with memory available
Short/long arm (SLA) double wishbone, forged aluminum upper and cast aluminum L-shaped lower control arm; direct-acting stabilizer bar; single-tube shock absorber (46mm); magnetic selective driving control 4.0. Use the available Z07 package for specific calibration
Variable ratio rack and pinion with electric power assist; includes active steering stop with magnetic drive control 4.0 available
Front and rear eBoost auxiliary brake discs, equipped with Brembo six-piston/two-piece front calipers and four-piston/one-piece rear calipers
Brake rotor size (inch/mm):
Front: 14.6 x 1.3 (370 x 34) Front: 15.7 x 1.5 (398 x 38)-with usability. Carbon ceramic rear: 15.0 x 1.3 (380 x 34) Rear: 15.4 x 1.3 (390 x 34)-available. Carbon ceramics
Front: 20 inches x 10 inches (with 5 x 120 mm bolt pattern) Back: 21 inches x 13 inches (with 5 x 120 mm bolt pattern)
Z06 (standard): Michelin Pilot Sport 4S ZP1 Z07 kit (available): Michelin Sport Cup 2 R ZP1 Front: 275/30ZR20 Rear: 345/25ZR21
1 Do not use special summer tires in winter conditions, as this will adversely affect the safety, performance and durability of the vehicle. Only use GM approved tire and wheel combinations. Unapproved combinations may change the performance characteristics of the vehicle. For important tire and wheel information, please visit: my.chevrolet.com/learn/tires/ or consult your dealer.
184.6/4688 (standard) 185.9/4722 (with carbon fiber ground effect)
3434/1561 with carbon fiber wheels and Z07
Cargo volume (cubic feet/liter) 1:
1 Cargo and load capacity are limited by weight and distribution.
Safety and driver awareness functions
Airbag 1: Frontal and side collision of the driver and front passenger. Includes passenger sensing system
Standard tire pressure monitoring system (including tire fill alarm) Standard run flat tires
Standard rear parking assist system 2 HD rear view camera 2 (1LZ) HD front and rear view camera 2 with front curb view (2LZ and 3LZ) Side blind zone alert 2 (2LZ and 3LZ) Rear intersection alert 2 (2LZ and 3LZ) Standard head-up display 2 Rear camera mirror (2LZ/3LZ coupe-standard convertible)
1Always use seat belts and child restraints. Children will be safer when they are properly secured in the back seat in an appropriate child protection device. For more information, please refer to your vehicle's user manual. 2 Safety or diver assistance functions cannot replace the driver’s responsibility for operating the vehicle in a safe manner. Read the user manual of the vehicle for more important functional limitations and information.
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