To say that a 2015 Corvette Z06 has a blown engine is as normal as it gets considering GM's->ke1024 brand-new halo car comes with a supercharged 6.2-liter V-8. That said, one Z06 owner just learned that the term "blown" can gain a rather saddening meaning, as the owner in question also happens to be the owner of the first Corvette Z06 to suffer catastrophic engine failure.
As reported by the folks over at Corvette->ke1280 Forum, a Z06 owner had to take its prized sports car->ke506 back to the dealer following an incident that might spark some concern in the minds of those who bought or plan to acquire a beefed-up, supercharged Stingray.->ke4603 According to the source, the owner, who is also a member of the said forum, was out putting miles on the coupe->ke141 before a track event scheduled in January when the engine began knocking.
"I shifted short of redline and boom — the car began knocking. I pulled over and popped the hood. I could hear a loud knock coming from the No. 6 cylinder area along with a serious, grinding, metal-on-metal sound coming from the supercharger area," the owner said in a forum post, adding that he was making a pull from 35 mph when the knocking began. His Z06 was literally brand-new, with just 891 miles on the odometer.
The vehicle is now in dealer's hands, who confirmed a failure in he engine. Further details aren't yet available, but the engine will be sent back to GM for further analysis. On thing's certain though, this Z06 needs a new engine and the owner will have it replaced for free under warranty.
Click past the jump to read more about the 2015 Chevrolet Corvette Z06.
Why It Matters
Although it's still unclear what caused the engine to crack under acceleration, but there are a few possible scenarios to consider. Firstly, it could very well be a manufacturing and/or assembly defect, which means Chevrolet could as far as to issue a recall for further check-ups. Should this be the case, it would make for a very bad start for the highly anticipated Z06.
Secondly, it's also likely the issue is the result of a shifting error, which is known to happen to even the most experienced drivers. Accidentally shifting to first gear instead of third -- or over-revving -- can be disastrous for both the engine and the transmission, especially one that has yet to be properly broken in. Either way, make sure you stay tuned to TopSpeed for more details on the matter.