Chevrolet Corvette Z06 confirmed for Oz

The 2023 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 has been officially launched overnight after its initial reveal in late September following a social media leak.

And the big news is confirmation the all-new American supercar will be powered by an all-new 5.5-litre LT6 V8 that features a flat-plane crankshaft design, revs to no less than 8600rpm and produces 500kW.

General Motors says that makes it the world’s most powerful naturally-aspirated V8 ever fitted to a production car, and gives the mid-engined C8 flagship an exhaust note unlike any previous Corvette.

Even better, official Chevrolet importer GM Specialty Vehicle (GMSV) has confirmed the new Z06 will be produced in right-hand drive and available in Australia and New Zealand, where first examples of the new C8 arrive later this year.

“It was announced this morning that the Corvette Z06 will be manufactured in both left and right-hand drive and we’re incredibly excited to confirm GMSV in Australia and New Zealand will be part of the global programme,” said GMSV director Joanne Stogiannis in a press release.

However, local pricing and availability details are yet to be announced for the MY23 Corvette Z06. Left-hand drive production doesn’t commence until mid-2022, with RHD production to start “some months later”.

So we don’t expect the Z06 to arrive here before late 2022 and will be a lot more expensive than the priciest mainstream Corvette sold in Australia – the 3LT-based Carbon Edition Coupe – which costs $189,990 plus on-road costs, although some dealers were charging an extra $40,000 or more in delivery fees.

As we’ve reported, the MY22 Corvette is already sold out in Australia before the first customer car even arrives, with all 250 examples in the first batch spoken for soon after the order books opened for the five-variant Z51-spec Corvette Stingray line-up in June.

“Details such as price, anticipated arrival timing and number of vehicles allocated to our market will be revealed next year,” said Stogiannis.

“In the meantime, we’re looking forward to the first C8 customer cars shipping from Bowling Green to Australia and New Zealand in coming weeks and can’t wait to deliver these to their new owners.”

Even at a projected price of about $250K (not much more than a base Porsche 911), however, the MY23 Corvette Z06 will represent outstanding bang for your bucks – if you can secure one.

Powered by a mid-mounted, naturally-aspirated 6.2-litre LT2 pushrod V8 (369kW/637Nm) matched exclusively with an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission driving the rear wheels, the standard Corvette accelerates to 100km/h in 3.1 seconds on its way to a top speed of 312km/h.

No acceleration figures have been provided for the Z06, but its high-revving 32-valve DOHC V8 – a version of which has powered the C8.R race car since 2019 – ups that power output to 500kW (670hp SAE) at 8400rpm, although peak torque is down slightly, to 623Nm (460lb-ft SAE) at 6300rpm.

With a shorter 5.56 final drive ratio for the eight-speed DCT and the option of a Z07 carbon-fibre package and lightweight wheels, reducing the kerb weight to just 1561kg (about 100kg less than the standard Corvette 3LT), the Z06 could hit 100km/h in as little as 2.5sec.

Based around GM’s Small Block engine architecture with signature 4.4-inch (111.76mm) bore spacings, the LT6 V8 incorporates an all-new aluminum cylinder block and all-new ‘Edge Red’ dual-overhead-cam cylinder-heads with finger a follower valvetrain, dual-coil valve springs, titanium intake and sodium-filled exhaust valves, and CNC-machined combustion chambers and intake ports.

Other highlights include forged aluminum pistons, titanium conrods, an active split intake manifold with twin 87mm throttle bodies, six-stage dry-sump oiling system with individual crank bay scavenging and four-into-two-into-one stainless steel exhaust headers.

Likely to be eclipsed by a 500kW-plus turbo V8 for the new Corvette ZR1 flagship, the LT6 is hand-assembled at the Performance Build Center in Kentucky. Each engine has a plaque on the intake manifold featuring the signature of the technician who built it.

Available in both coupe and hard-top convertible forms, the new Corvette flagship also brings significant chassis upgrades, including larger 370mm front and 380mm rear Brembo brake rotors with six-piston front callipers – up from four-piston units on the Stingray.

Featuring unique front and rear fascias for the first time, the Z06 is also a big 94mm wider than the Stingray at the rear, accommodating massive 345-series rear tyres and more airflow through side air-vents.

GM says a unique rear spoiler with adjustable ‘wickerbill’ elements increases downforce to 165.6kg at 300km/h, improving high-speed stability and cornering capability, while 20-inch front and 21-inch rear forged aluminium ‘spider’ wheels with five available finishes) – the largest ever fitted to a production Corvette – are also standard.

The latest in a series of Z06 models stretching back 58 years rides on a specific suspension tune including Magnetic Ride Control 4.0 adaptive damping, and is also available with lighter and more rigid carbon-fibre wheels that bring an 18.6kg reduction in unsprung mass.

Meantime, the optional Z07 performance package includes a higher-downforce carbon-fibre rear wing and ground effects, plus specific ‘FE7’ chassis calibration, unique Michelin Cup 2 R ZP tyres and Brembo carbon ceramic brakes with larger 398mm front 391mm) rear discs.

Apart from 12 available exterior paint colours, other options include the choice of seven wheel designs, six brake calliper colours, seven interior colour schemes, three seat designs, six seatbelts and two interior carbon-fibre trim packages, plus Stealth Aluminum and Adrenaline Red trim options.

Standard C8 Corvette features like an electronic limited-slip differential and multiple drive modes including launch control carry over.

“Racing was the reason the Z06 was developed in 1963, and it continues to support development of the road models that make them better on the street and the track,” said the Corvette’s executive chief engineer, Tadge Juechter.

“It also means we’ve tested the Z06 on the best tracks around the world, from Circuit of the Americas here in the United States, to the Nürburgring in Germany.

“Virtually every component that distinguishes the Z06 was developed to support or enhance its capability. By leveraging the mid-engine architecture’s inherent advantages, we are able to achieve six per cent more downforce than a seventh-gen ZR1 at eight per cent lower drag.”