The Corvette hit showrooms in 1953 with a 150-cubic-inch six-pot under its hood and a 10-plus-second 0-to-60-mph time. It was no speed demon, but it was the foundation that the greatness that is the Corvette was build upon. The C1 Corvette was also the last time we saw a production model without pop-up headlights before the C6 generation debuted in 2005. In 2014, the C7 and its wild, European styling hit the market, giving Ferrari and other premium brands a reason to check out what's going on in America. Following that up was the Z06 in 2015 that made all the Euro supercars stand up and take notice.

With the new 2014 Corvette Stingray already in showrooms, we all knew that we were going to soon see a more powerful version. And now that has become a reality, as Chevrolet revealed the potent 2015 Corvette Z06 at the 2014 Detroit Auto Show.

The Corvette Z06->ke4603 will keep enthusiasts happy until the the new ZR1 model hits the market, if it ever finds its way onto the market.

Just like the previous Z06, the 2015 model, will be offered with a more aggressive exterior look, a more powerful engine, sport suspension and a new, high-performance brake system. General Motors is also offering an optional Z07 kit that will transform the new Corvette Z06 will deliver unprecedented levels of aerodynamic downforce - in fact the best in any GM model ever.

Click past the jump to read more about the 2015 Chevrolet Corvette Z06.

2015 Chevrolet Corvette Z06

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2015 Chevrolet Corvette Z06
  • Engine/Motor: V8
  • Horsepower: 650 @ 6400
  • Torque: 650 @ 3600
  • Transmission: seven-speed manual
  • [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array
Pros
Cons

Live Stream of 2015 Corvette Z06 Reveal

Updated 02/17/2014: Chevrolet unveiled a series of new images for its Z06 sports car. Check them out in the picture gallery.

Exterior

The new Z06 takes the standard Corvette Stingray to a more extreme level. You will be surprised to hear that when designing the new version, Chevrolet's design team started with updating the tires and all the other changes derived from here.

Chevrolet replaced the standard tires and wheels with a new set that better suits the performance requirements of the Z06's. After installing the wider wheels and tires. the design team then had to widen both the front and the rear fenders, which also gave the Z06 a more powerful stance. The rear look was also updated, with the taillights being pushed approximately three inches farther apart.

As the new Z06 is considerably more powerful than the base Stingray, it needed some extra downforce to keep it planted on the race track. To achieve this, Chevrolet added a front splitter, spats around the front wheel openings, a unique carbon-fiber hood with a larger vent and a new rear spoiler.

Chevrolet also offers its clients the possibility to upgrade the look of the Z06 with an optional carbon-fiber aero package that adds a carbon fiber front splitter with aviation-style winglets, carbon-fiber rocker panels and a larger rear spoiler with a fixed wickerbill that helps increase downforce. A second package called the "Z07" package adds larger winglets to the front splitter, along with an adjustable, see-through center section on the rear spoiler for track use.

Interior

The aggressive look continues on the interior where Chevrolet also worked on differentiate it from the Stingray. Customers can choose between two different seat versions -- GT or Competition Sport seats -- depending on the driver's needs. Unlike the Stingray, on the new Z06, the frame structure for both seats are made of magnesium, for greater strength and lower weight.

Inside the new Corvette Z06, Chevrolet will offer premium, soft-touch materials, like Napa leather, aluminum, carbon fiber and micro-suede. The model will also be offered with a unique, flat-bottomed steering wheel.

Drivetrain

Under the hood lurks a supercharged, 6.2-liter V-8 dubbed the LT4. It shares much of the same underlying architecture with the standard Stingray’s 6.2-liter mill, but the LT4 has a whole slew of new internal parts designed for weight-reduction and to handle higher power outputs.

It took Chevrolet nearly six months to release the official horsepower and torque specifications on the LT4, but the news was worth the wait. While GM officials had been quoting “more than 625 horsepower,” the finalized numbers come in at 650 horsepower and 650 pound-feet of torque.

Those numbers put the Z06 in a rather exclusive league of supercar. Not counting the hybrid hypercars from Ferrari, McLaren, and Porsche, only three exotics boast horsepower outputs higher than the Vette. The Ferrari F12berlinetta tops the list at 730, the Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4 comes in at 700 horsepower, and the Ferrari FF barely squeaks by with 651 horsepower.

While those cars may have more horsepower, Chevrolet engineers insist the LT4 makes more power at lower revs, making it much more accessible. The small-block’s 650 pound-feet of torque peaks at 3,600 rpm. What’s more, 457 pound-feet are available just over idle and by 2,800 revs, the engine is making 625 pound-feet. The engine continues to make 90 percent of its peak torque, or 592 pound-feet, from 2,500 to 5,400 rpm.

At 6,400 is when the full 650 horsepower peaks, and judging from the line graph published from the official SAE testing, the engine is making 600 horsepower when the torque falls below 90 percent after 5,400 rpm.

Making all this possible are several enhancements made to the standard LT1 engine block, with the most obvious being the supercharger. The all-new unit displaces 1.7-liters and features a 20,000-rpm redline – 5,000 rpm more than the Corvette ZR1. The supercharger is smaller but spins faster, allowing for instantaneous power and is attributed to the LT4’s low rpm torque-production. Specially designed discharge ports increase airflow from the supercharger to the all-new aluminum cylinder heads.

In addition, the LT4’s internals are upgraded with lightweight titanium intake vales, machined and forged powder metal steel connecting rods, forged aluminum pistons, stainless steel exhaust manifolds, an aluminum engine balancer, and a dual-pressure-control oil pump fitted to the dry-sump oil system.

The LT4 comes mated with either the seven-speed manual transmission or the all-new eight-speed automatic unit. Though it might sound dull, the automatic is designed to compete with the quickest dual-clutch transmissions. It’s shifted via paddle shifters mounted on the steering wheel.

There are no estimates on 0-to-60-mph times or top speed, but we estimate that highway speeds will come in about 3.3 to 3.5 seconds and top speed will be a batshit crazy 205 mph... Murrica!

Engine

Supercharged, 6.2-liter V-8

Horsepower (HP @ RPM)

650 @ 6,400

Torque (LB-FT @ RPM)

650 @ 3,600

Acceleration (0-60 MPH)

3.4 Sec, Est.

Top Speed

205 MPH, Est.

0 to 60 mph (Auto / Manual)

2.95 Seconds / 3.2 Seconds

Quarter mile time (Auto/Manual)

10.95 Seconds / 11.2 Seconds

Quarter mile speed

127 mph

Braking from 60 mph

99.6 feet

Lateral acceleration

1.2 g


Suspension and Brakes

The new Corvette Z06 will be offered with standard lightweight, spin-cast aluminum wheels, sized 19-by-10 inches up front and 20-by-12 inches on the rear. These large rollers are wrapped in Michelin tires sized P285/30ZR19 up front and 335/25ZR20 out back.

Behind the wheels are Brembo brakes that feature two-piece steel rotors, measuring 14.6-by-1.3 inches up front and 14.4-by-1 inches at the rear. Putting the squeeze on these rotors are aluminum six-piston calipers up front and four-piston fixed calipers out back.

The model is also offered with standard smart electronic limited-slip differential (eLSD) that shifts torque based on a unique algorithm that factors in vehicle speed, steering input and throttle position. With this new system, the Z06 will deliver improved steering feel, handling balance and traction.

The optional Z07 package adds in extra aero components for added downforce, Michelin Pilot Super Sport Cup tires for grip and Brembo carbon ceramic-matrix brake rotors that not only reduce braking distances but also lower unsprung weight.

Prices

The 2015 Corvette Z06 starts out at a relatively affordable $78,995 -- that's only about $3k more than the 2013 model, which had "only" 505 horsepower -- and it has three trim levels available: 1LZ, 2LZ and 3LZ. for another $2,995 buyers can add in the Carbon Fiber Ground Effects Package, which includes a functional carbon-fiber front splitter, carbon-fiber rocker panels and a large rear spoiler. For another $7,995, buyers can add in the Z07 Package, which includes Brembo carbon-ceramic matrix rotors, adjustable aero components and Michelin Pilot Super Sport Cup tires.

Pricing

Model

2015 MSRP

Corvette Z06 1LZ

$78,995

Corvette Z06 2LZ

TBA

Corvette Z06 3LZ

TBA


Option Pricing

Option

2015 MSRP

2015 MSRP

$2,995

Carbon Fiber Ground Effects Package

$7,995


Rendering

Well, sans the "Z07" badges -- turns out that was simply a package and not the actual name -- our rendering of the Z06 wasn't too far off of the mark. We missed the black highlight on the hood and the air intakes integrated into the grille, but that's about it. Then again, piecing together the Z06 was no problem once we saw the C7 Corvette.

Competition

SRT Viper ACR

Just as Chevrolet will do with its Corvette, SRT will also unveil a higher-performance version of the new Viper. The 2015 SRT Viper ACR will offer a more aggressive exterior look, bigger brakes, adjustable dampers and a set of low-weight wheels with ultra-high-performance tires.

Under its hood, the model will offer the same 8.4-liter, all-aluminum V-10 engine found in the standard Viper, but tricked to deliver at least an extra 100 horsepower.

Ferrari 458 Speciale

A model closer to the upcoming Corvette Stingray Z07, in terms of base specifications, is the recently launched 458 Speciale. The Italian supercar features the same 4.5-liter, V-8 powerplant from the base 458 Italia, but tricked to deliver a total of 596 horsepower. With the extra power, the 458 Special will sprint from 0 to 60 mph in only three seconds and up to a top speed of 202 mph.

Conclusion

The 2015 Corvette Z06 puts all supercar manufacturers on notice, that the 650-horsepower mark is not reserved for those carrying a quarter-million dollar price tag. This new monster form the U.S. will certainly open up a lot of eyes.

History

1963 Chevrolet Corvette "RPO Z06"

The "Z06" name made its first appearance in the Corvette lineup in 1963, but not in the way we know it today. This was actually the RPO Z06 package, which included a large front anti-roll bar, a vacuum brake booster with dual master cylinders, sintered -- powder-based -- metallic brake pads, a 36.5-gallon fuel tank, power rear drum brakes with vented backing plates and updated shocks and springs.

Only 199 of these Z06 models were produced, and Chevy built them specifically for SCCA competition.It included a 360-horsepower, 327-cubic-inch, V-8 engine.

2001 - 2004 Chevrolet Corvette Z06

The Z06 returned in 2001 with a 5.7-liter, V-8 powerplant that pumps out 385 horsepower and 385 pound-feet of torque -- a 35-horsepower and 25-pound-feet bump over the base 2001 Corvette. Chevy tweaked the 5.7-liter to 405 ponies and 400 pound-feet of twist the following year, and it carried that setup through its final year -- 2004.

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2005 - 2013 Chevrolet Corvette Z06

Along with the debut of the C6 corvette in 2006 came an all-new Z06 with a 7.0-liter, V-8 engine with 505 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque. The follwing year brought the introduction of the 427 Limited Edition Z06 that featured special graphics and exclusive, titanium-colored leather interior. In its final year -- 2013 -- the Z06 had an optional, 427 Collector Edition.