Since its inception, the Corvette has been the benchmark of America’s sports car, and in its latest attire, it is more supercar-like than it ever has been. The C8 Corvette launched in 2019 and is available in both coupe and convertible configurations. Unfortunately, while the Stingray (base) offers decent performance and good value for its $73,095 starting price, it is certainly not the best. This is where the Z06 steps in with blistering performance, thanks to a more powerful 5.5-liter naturally aspirated V-8. However, while it is the most potent Z06 to have ever existed, it is certainly not the fastest, as the Chief Engineer has announced its top speed during the 2022 Corvettes at Carlisle show.

The Z06 is a speed monster but not precisely a record-breaker

The Corvette, which is said to have survived the longest on the road, will celebrate its 70th birthday in 2023. At the Corvettes at Carlisle show, the man behind this magnificent supercar did, however, give attendees a tour of the special edition, 70th Anniversary 2023 Corvette Z06. During this tour, the top speed of the 2023 Z06 by Chief Engineer, Tadge Juechter. He announced that the Z06 could attain a top speed of 195 mph.

Now the Z06 is also available with an Aero Package, which, as its name suggests, improves the aerodynamics and creates more downforce. However, the quoted top speed figures are for the standard Z06. Josh Holder, the Vehicle Corvette Chief Engineer, has confirmed to Corvettes at Carlisle that the optional Aero Package's increased downforce causes maximum top speed to drop to 189 mph. Chevrolet considers itself ‘conservative’ regarding the team’s stricter testing system. Because the Z06 was excluded from the official tests, the company could not provide us with the official top speed earlier.

Although the Corvette Z06 Corvette Blogger} it can do naught to 60 mph in 2.6 seconds, and the top speed is nothing spectacular, considering how expensive it is over the base Corvette Stingray. The latter can go 194 mph before hitting the limiter, which should put the Z06 in the 200+ mph category, but sadly that is not the case here. And, that means the Z06 isn't the fastest Corvette ever. The C7 ZR1, for example, has been clocked at 212 mph.

The Z06 is not here to obliterate the industry but has its bit of oomph

The 2023 Corvette Z06 is a crazy supercar with an exclusive engine that is quite potent. While the flat-plane V-8 cranks out a beastly 670 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque, there is no forced induction like the previous Z06 of the C7 generation. The Z06 can complete a standing quarter-mile in 10.6 seconds, which makes it fall under the supercar realm. The Lamborghini Aventador Ultimae can do the same in 10.5 seconds but costs four times more than the Z06. With the Dodger Viper’s demise, the ‘Vette remains the only true American mass-produced supercar, so it still serves as a tremendous bang for the buck.