Track-Focused and Sizzling Asphalt-Ready Corvette Z06 Due By The Balmy Days of Summer

 

As soon as the 8th-generation Corvette was officially shown to the public in a large California airline hangar, everyone here at Jim Butler Chevy of St Louis watched intently as auto media experts and drivers alike rapidly fell for it. Since it was such a well-received and exhilarating release, there is now an entire array of increasingly powerful Corvettes that will be coming out over the years, and the staff on duty at Gear Patrol suggested quite officially that we could see a brand-new Z06 by July of this year, or even sooner. 

It had circulated in official circles that “it's not a project anymore” regarding its completion, and we would be led to believe that the Z06 model could see the fast-track regarding production. A finely-honed focus on-track performance and power would be the exhilarating result of a 5.5-liter naturally-aspirated V8 with a flat-plane crank similar to what is found in the Ferrari as well as Shelby GT350. The Stingray is a valuable benchmark to use as an entry point illustrating just how much the entire Corvette line has to offer, and the Z06 is where the delicately-prepared supercar racing numerous laps around the track shines through with a fervor. 

As the seasoned crew on duty at Car And Driver reported last week, the anticipation is building in massive amounts for this mightier Z06, as the flat-crank V8 on board is going to sound unlike anything that has come before it. With close attention paid to the aerodynamic factors that adjust to provide maximum downforce and cornering ability, it is pretty much guaranteed to be lightning-fast when navigating a straight line. As soon as the C8 came out drivers were excited about the characteristics of the cabin layout that made it so driver-focused, and the Z06 will include a 12.0-inch fully digital gauge cluster, a heads-up display, heated and ventilated seats, and wireless charging.

The 8.0-inch touchscreen on board supports Chevy's Infotainment 3 Plus system, and there will be the choice of a standard 10-speaker or 14-speaker Bose system to properly amp up the driving mood in an already-potent and longstanding classic that is the king of the highway and track continuously in its own rite. Years ago drivers would re-live every hairpin turn and straightaway acceleration jaunt by telling stories to their friends who may or may have not always believed them, and now the Performance Data Recorder can stake the ultimate proof and claim to the majority of your exploits. 

A few images captured at Grattan Raceway snagged up recently just outside of Grand Rapids, Michigan provided a close-up look at the side of the car, where we fully admit that Chevy was pretty adamant about hiding the brake package residing behind the actual design. It has also been disclosed to us that the engineering team is considering making the telltale sound of the exhaust pipes even more resonant with a center-mounted exhaust option, guaranteed to provide the greatest and most dedicated fans of the Z06 even more to savor every single time it bellows up after turning over!