The new Chevrolet Corvette Z06 is officially GM’s most powerful product as it finally announces the vital stats: 641bhp and 650lb ft from the supercharged LT4 6.2 V8.
This means that the new model is not only more powerful than the previous one (of course it is), but it beats also the crazy C6 ZR1 as well, putting it on a par with true exotics, at least when engine figures are concerned. GM says that 0-60mph takes under 3.5sec.
How’s that possible?
The new LT4 engine is based on the LT1 V8 found in the ‘basic’ Corvette Stingray and as you would expect, it packs revised internals such as different cylinder heads, lightweight titanium intake valves, forged aluminium pistons and a dry sump to complement the supercharger which spins up to 20,000rpm. A 10.0:1 compression ratio was allowed by the use of direct injection, helping the general performance and efficiency of the powerplant.
The new Z06 will be offered with the seven-speed manual transmission as standard while, for the first time ever, there will be an option of an automatic Z06 which will use an all-new eight-speed paddle-shift gearbox.
Steve Kiefer, vice president of GM Powertrain Engineering, said: ‘The LT4 Small Block sets a new benchmark for power and torque at GM. The engine also puts the new Corvette Z06 on par with the most powerful supercars offered in America, while delivering performance with impeccable manners that make it suitable for daily driving.’
What makes the Corvette Z06 stand out
If you think about it, the new Corvette Z06 will be one of the very few cars globally on offer with this amount of firepower and a manual gearbox, making it in a way a bit more special and rare. And we approve this kind of specialness.