Chevrolet’s back with a vengeance with it’s supercharged 650bhp V8 Corvette Z06
The Z06 rejoins the Corvette lineup for 2015 as the most track-capable model in the iconic car’s 62-year history.
Stretching the performance envelope for Corvette with unprecedented levels of aerodynamic downforce, a jaw-dropping 650bhp, thanks to its supercharged LT4 supercharged 6.2L V-8 engine and its high-performance eight-speed paddle-shift automatic transmission.
The all-new is SAE-certified at 650 horsepower (485 kW) engine delivers 6,400 rpm and 650 lb-ft of torque (881 Nm) at 3,600 rpm – making the 2015 Corvette Z06 the most powerful production car ever from General Motors.
For the first time since 1963, the Z06 is also offered in coupe and convertible models and is loaded with all sorts of technical gadgets such as an electric-locking glove-box, 8-inch colour touch radio, satnav, Bose audio system, head-up display, keyless entry and rear-vision camera, just to name a few.
The aluminum structure is 20 percent stiffer than the previous, fixed-roof Z06 and actually, building a modern Z06 Convertible was only enabled by recent technological advancements over the last five years, which made it possible to produce a frame strong enough for a Z06 Convertible.
As there are no structural reinforcements needed for the Z06 Convertible, it has a nearly identical curb weight as the Z06 Coupe. They also share the same chassis tuning, powertrain output, driver technologies and equipment options – including a track-focused Z07 Performance Package.
The Z07 package adds adjustable front and rear aero components for unprecedented aerodynamic downforce, Michelin Pilot Super Sport Cup tires for enhanced grip, and Brembo carbon ceramic-matrix brake rotors that improve braking performance and contribute to greater handling through reduced unsprung weight.
The all-new, industry-leading ‘Performance Data Recorder’ enables users to record high-definition video, with telemetry overlays, of their driving experiences on and off the track.
The performance targets of the Z06 also posed a challenge for the design team, which had to create a striking design that also contributed to increased capabilities. The design changes began not with the exterior panels, but the tyres.
To deliver the levels of grip needed for the Z06’s performance targets, the car was fitted with larger Michelin tires (Pilot Super Sport tires for the Z06; Sport Cup 2 tires with the Z07 package). The P285/30ZR19 front tires are 1.5 inches wider than the tires on the Stingray, while the 335/25ZR20 rear tires are two inches wider.
To cover the wider tyre tread, the fenders of the Z06 were extended by 2.2 inches (56 mm) at the front, and 3.15 inches (80 mm) at the rear. These extensions give the Corvette Z06 a wider, lower appearance further emphasized by a unique rear fascia. Their open, ultralight design showcases the massive Brembo brakes, which are part of the design aesthetic:
The standard Z06 features a front splitter, spats around the front wheel openings, a unique carbon-fiber hood with a larger vent, and a rear spoiler.
The exterior design also reflects the increased cooling required for the new Corvette Z06. For example, the mesh pattern on the front fascia was painstakingly designed to deliver the most possible airflow to the supercharger’s intercooler heat exchanger, so much so that the mesh grill directs more air into the engine bay than if the grille was removed.
The unique grille also features dedicated brake-cooling intakes and wider grille outlets on the bottom serve as air diffusers. The grille is complemented with a larger hood vent, which vents hot air from the engine compartment and contributes to downforce by allowing air driven through the grille to exit through the hood rather than being forced under the car, which could create lift.
Additional cooling elements include larger front fender vents and unique air blades over the inlets on the rear fenders of Coupe models, which force about 50 percent more air into the cooling ducts for the transmission and differential coolers than those on the Stingray. Convertible models feature under-body inlets. To cope with the additional airflow, Z06 Coupe and Convertible also have larger rear-fascia openings than the Stingray.
