Long Have We Waited: The 2023 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Is Here
Article Highlights:
- The 2023 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 debuted this moring
- Chevy’s newest Z06 brings with it a host of go-fast bits
- This is the first Corvette with a flat-plane crankshaft
The latest of the fast Chevrolet sports cars is here. The 2023 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 debuted this morning in short film format, led by Justin Bell and Emilia Hartford. Chevrolet has made a host of changes to the newest Z06, all of which promise to make the new car more fun, and much, much faster than the old Z06.
2023 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 specs
| Pricing | $86,400 MSRP (MotorBiscuit est.) |
| Engine and power | 5.5L N/A DOHC V8 “LT6” with flat-plane crank 670 hp @ 8,400 RPM 460 lb-ft @ 6,300 RPM Redline: 8,600 RPM |
| Transmission | M1L 8-speed dual-clutch (DCT) Automatic |
| Dimensions and weight | 184.6 in (L) x 79.7 in (W) x 48.6 in (H) |
| Tire Type & Size | Font: 275/30/R20 Rear: 345/25/R21 |
| Features & Safety | Optional Z07 pack with carbon fiber wheels, carbon-ceramic brakes & carbon visual cues Standard rear park assist, HD Rear Vision Camera (1LZ), HD front & rear cameras with curb view (2LZ, 3LZ trims), blind-spot monitoring (2LZ, 3LZ trims), rear cross-traffic alert, Standard heads-up display, rear camera mirror (2LZ, 3LZ trims, standard for convertible) |
Just taking one glance at the specs sheet for the new Z06 screams promise as the new engine screams to redline. Perhaps that’s the biggest news for the new Chevrolet Corvette Z06. 8,600 RPM is a big, big number in any context, but especially when we’re talking about redline. And that’s all due to the Z06’s ace up its sleeve: a flat-plane crank.
Now, that may sound like a lot of mechanical witchcraft to the uninitiated, but it’s actually very simple. A normal cross-plane crank appears to look sort of like a plus (+) symbol when viewed head-on. A flat plane changes the orientation of the rods and cylinders to a more inline, 180-degree orientation, more like an “I” shape. That reduces mass in the engine, allowing it to rev higher and more freely, as well as a very unique sound.
Will the Z06 get a manual transmission?
Unfortunately, the only transmission option for the new Chevrolet Corvette Z06 is an 8-speed dual-clutch unit. The old 2019 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 did feature a 7-speed manual, but reviewers were plenty happy to have both hands on the wheel with all that power to command. We’ll have to wait and see if that’s the case for the new car as well.
That said, the new car does offer much more versatility than the last generation. There’s three trims (1, 2, and, 3LZ) as well as a “Z07” package to choose from in the new Chevrolet Corvette Z06. Aside from the Z07 pack, these “LZ” trims add more features in addition to the base car, like cameras and blind-spot monitoring.
Chevy’s new Z06 “puts the world on notice”
But the Z07 pack is what really “puts the world on notice,” as Chevrolet calls it. The selection of that option is much in the same vein as the old Z06 pack in the ’60s, promising the most track-focused Z06. You have the option of carbon fiber wheels, which drop 40 lbs of unsprung mass, as well as Chevy’s MagRide shocks, Micheline Cup 2 R tires, and carbon-ceramic brakes.
In short, the new Chevrolet Corvette Z06 promises insane performance per dollar, as well as a myriad of body configurations, from coupe to targa, to convertible. However, whether the new Z06 really does put the world on notice remains to be seen. On paper, things look very good for Chevrolet’s newest mid-engined sports car.
