New Chevrolet Corvette Z06 primed for 600kW V8

Chevrolet’s new mid-engined C8 Corvette might be more than a year away from reaching Australian showrooms, but already there’s talk on the street about what will power the even hotter Z06 variant.

An evolution of an existing Cadillac engine, the 5.5-litre would ratchet power to 600kW and 950Nm in Z06 guise – up from 370kW/640Nm from the donor Corvette’s 6.2-litre naturally-aspirated V8 mill.

The new engine will be mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission, Automobile says without citing a source. The outlet dangles an even bigger carrot by claiming a manual transmission offering could also appear on the Z06’s option sheet.

The eighth-generation Z06 will match the engine’s firepower with magnetic dampers, carbon-fibre body panels, a big wing and added aero along with wider fenders housing bigger wheels and tyres, and structural reinforcement.

The new Corvette, which started life as Holden ute test mule, is the first-ever production version in mid-engine configuration. The Stingray version shown last month is also the fastest, most powerful entry-level Corvette, purportedly offering new standards of performance, technology and craftsmanship.

Pricing for the new 2020 Corvette in the USA starts at under $US60,000 and while that equates to $A85,000 in Australia, things like luxury car tax will see that price rise to well over $A100,000.

carsales.com.au understands the Corvette is timed to arrive in Aussie showrooms late 2020 or early 2021, where it remain plated as a Chevrolet. No more details are known on price, specification or whether all Holden dealers will have access to the prized flagship.

We can only hope the Z06 follows the donor car to local showrooms.