The 2023 Corvette Z06 is one of the most anticipated upcoming cars. Chevrolet Performance shoehorned exotic car technology into the mid-engine sportscar. The resulting Chevy sets records with the most powerful naturally-aspirated V8, ever. We expected the new Corvette Z06 will probably be able to keep up with a Ferrari but cost a whole lot less. Then the sleuths over at the Horse Power Obsessed Youtube channel got two separate dealerships to confirm the 2023 Corvette Z06 starts at $87,000. Looking at recent Corvette history, this 2023 Corvette Z06 price makes sense.

The 2023 Corvette Z06 starts at $87,000

Chevrolet Performance has been very consistent in its Corvette Z06 releases, and its Corvette Z06 prices. First, Chevrolet launches a new Corvette generation. Then a year or two later, Chevrolet Performance unveils a corresponding Z06.

For example, in 2014 Chevrolet launched the Corvette C7, seventh-generation of the sports car. The first year of the Corvette C7 began at $51,995. One year later, Chevrolet Performance unveiled the C7 Corvette based Z06. Its price started at $78,995. This was $27,000 more than the base Corvette.

Fast forward to 2020: Chevrolet unveiled the eighth-generation of the Corvette. The sports car featured an all-new mid-engine layout, but only cost $8,000 more than the C7. The 2020 Corvette C8 started at $59,999. General Motors planned to launch the new Corvette Z06 in 2021. Unfortunately COVID and other production delays pushed the top-trim Corvette back. Now, Chevrolet Performance has finally unveiled the 2023 Corvette Z06. But GM has been tight-lipped about the price.

If the newest Corvette Z06 were to again cost $27,000 more than the base Corvette, it would come in at $87,000. Sure enough, when the team at Horse Power Obsessed began asking Chevrolet dealership salespeople, two individuals at different dealerships let the 2023 Corvette Z06 price slip. Both of them said exactly $87,000.

The 2023 Chevrolet Corvette Z06: a tour-de-force of American manufacturing

Jay Leno was the first person outside of General Motors to drive the new Z06. During Jay’s 2023 Corvette Z06 review, he said the car made him proud of American manufacturing. He pointed out that the mid-engine supercar used to be reserved for quarter-million-dollar European exotics. General Motors has managed to make this level of performance accessible to many more people–thanks to the competitive Corvette Z06 price.

Leno gave an example: a couple decades ago carbon fiber supercar rims cost $20,000–each! But the 2023 Corvette Z06 with the Z07 package comes on carbon fiber rims that recently cost more than the entire car.

The Carbuzz website agrees that at $87,000, the 2023 Corvette Z06 is a “performance bargain.” The Corvette embarrasses the $100K Porsche 911. With track-oriented mid-engine performance, the 2023 Corvette Z06 is a cost-effective Ferrari F8.

The 2023 Corvette Z06 price makes it a supercar for the masses

At the heart of the Corvette Z06 is a flat-plane crank V8. This engine, in the style of a European exotic car, can rev much higher than a traditional V8. It must be handbuilt to incredibly tight tolerances. But the result is a 8,600 RPM redline and a 0-60 time of 2.6 seconds. Here are the differences between the C8 Chevrolet Corvette and the 2023 Corvette Z06. Sales numbers will show whether the performance upgrade is worth $27,000 bump to the Corvette Z06 price.

	C8 Chevrolet Corvette	2023 Corvette Z06
Price Range	$60,995 – $80,000+	$87,000 (rumored)
Layout	Mid-engine, RWD	Mid-engine, RWD
Weight	3,366 pounds	3,434 pounds
Base Engine	6.2L cross-plane crank V8 (LT2)	5.5 L flat-plane crank V8 (LT6)
Horsepower	490-495	670
Torque	470 lb-ft	460 lb-ft
Automatic Transmission	8-speed dual-clutch (Tremec TR-9080)	8-speed dual-clutch (Tremec TR-9080)
0-60 MPH	2.9 seconds	2.6 seconds