Can the 2006 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Really Outrun Exotic Legends?
Key takeaways
- Here's what you need to know about the new Z06: It's raw.
- Designed and developed alongside the Le Mans class-winning C6R racer, the Z06 shares much of its technology and construction techniques.
- The first, and most lasting, impression of this ultimate Corvette comes the moment the LS7 booms into life.
Why this matters: an automotive development that could shape industry direction or buying decisions.
Here's what you need to know about the new Z06: It's raw. It's loud. It'll run 11-second quarters, pull almost 1.2 g through a turn, and, if you're brave enough, reach as near as dammit to 200 mph on the road. Oh, and here's the best bit: It'll cost you less than a Volkswagen. Okay, that's a $70,000 Volkswagen Phaeton we're talking about, but the fact remains this new Z06 is the hottest supercar you can buy anywhere for the money. There, we said it. The King of the Hill is dead. Long live the King of the Hill.
Designed and developed alongside the Le Mans class-winning C6R racer, the Z06 shares much of its technology and construction techniques. In some cases, the Z06's use of exotic materials exceeds that of the race version. But for all that, it's Chevy's astounding old-school LS7 engine (Overhead cams? Four valve heads? Who needs 'em?) that really defines the Z06. A true 427.6-cubic-inch V-8 small block, it's the first engine in the world to be certified under the new SAE (J2723) standard. The official results returned 505-horsepower at 6300 rpm and 470 pound-feet of torque at 4800 rpm.
The first, and most lasting, impression of this ultimate Corvette comes the moment the LS7 booms into life. A slight lifter "tick-tick" at idle erupts into big-block fury under hard acceleration, thanks to butterfly valves in two of the four exhaust tips that are there mostly for drive-by-noise regs, but, once open (from 3500-rpm up to the 7000-rpm redline), allow the engine to howl at full song.