For the first time available with an automatic transmission and a convertible roof, you would think that the 2015 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 has been watered down a bit, but as Jay Leno found out for himself, that is totally not the case. With a supercharged V-8 that pumps out 650 horsepower and 650 pound-feet of torque, the fourth-generation Corvette Z06 is not for the faint of heart, no matter if it comes with a fixed hard top or a rag top, or in automatic or manual transmission guise. It is simply a monster->ke506, which is why we at TopSpeed chose it as the 2014 Performance Car of the Year.
Since Jay Leno is... well, Jay Leno, he had the chance to test drive a pre-production version of the 2015 Z06 equipped with the Z07 performance package, eight-speed automatic transmission and an electric soft top -- three features that in theory shouldn't play well together. The convertible aspect makes it more of a boulevard cruiser, the automatic transmission is in theory a comfort feature, while the Z07 package simply transforms an all-out supercar->ke177 into something even more bonkers.
With sticky Michelin Sport Cup tires, massive carbon-ceramic brakes front and rear and an aerodynamic downforce kit that includes an adjustable see-through rear spoiler, the Z07 performance package is most definitely worth every penny if you're looking to crush just about everything on the road at any given moment. Not to mention that the car itself has a starting price of only $78,995, which may seem like a lot, but it all depends on perspective as this sub-$100,000 sports car can actually keep up with hypercars costing five times as much. On an even better note, Leno's test ride didn't end with a blown engine.