Our 10 Favorite New Features of the 2023 Corvette Z06 (So Far)

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Our 10 Favorite New Features of the 2023 Corvette Z06 (So Far)

Photo Credit: Chevrolet


With today’s reveal of the 2023 Corvette Z06, Chevrolet has changed the game and the world is on notice that America’s new supercar is coming for them. From the bespoke engine to the luxurious interior and the ability to choose between coupe and convertible models and not lose any performance characteristics, the new Z06 is unlike any Corvette to ever come before.

After watching the reveal and talking to many members of the Corvette Team who were in California to see the new Z06 first hand, we made this list of our 10 favorite new features of the 2023 Corvette Z06 (so far).

1. 8,600 Redline

The Z06’s LT6 ability to rev to 8,600 RPM is almost mind-boggling to Corvette enthusiasts who are used to shifting at around 6,500 RPM. Driving a sports car with an engine revving from 7,000 to 9,000 RPM is a different range than most have experienced. As the engine is naturally aspirated, it’s more suited for the track and Tadge Juechter said that in their testing, sometimes the fastest lap was the last lap.

8,600 Redline


2. Widebody Design

Chevrolet tells us that the 2023 Corvette Z06 is within millimeters of being the same width as the C8.R race car. Officially, the car is 79.7 inches wide not counting the mirrors (Kirk Bennion tells us “we never count the mirrors” when measuring the width of the car,) and it’s 3.6 inches wider than the C8 Stingray. The widebody design allows for wider tires and gives the Z06 the ability to suck in more air for cooling. Chevy tells us that it actually offers 50% more airflow through it than the Stingray.

Widebody Design


3. 345-Sized Rear Wheels

When Chevrolet began development of the Z06 over six years ago, there were hardly any production sports cars utilizing a staggered tire set up of 20-inch fronts and 21-inch rear tires, let alone tires for the street that are sized 345 in the rears. But with 60% of the weight of the car in the rear, wide tires are a performance enabler and Tadge Juechter says they wanted to take full advantage of that weight to put power to the ground. Today, these tire sizes are more common and Michelin will be offering three flavors of tires in the ultrawide 345 size: the summer-only tire (for Z07 package), all-season tires for the standard Z06, and coming soon will be a winter snow tire.

345-sized Rear Wheels


4. Standard Aero Package

When I first saw the 2023 Corvette Z06 convertible which had the “standard” aero package, I was blown away by how each of the components adds to the looks of the car. On the front, there is a three-piece chin spoiler that is offered in body color and it integrates perfectly with the front fascia. But it’s the rear spoiler that really makes my heart go pitter-patter. The standard rear spoiler will also have a level 2 component that allows you to add wickers to each rear corner that extends the spoiler upwards and offers 365 pounds of downforce at 186 mph.

Standard Aero Package


5. Level 2 Carbon Fiber Interior Package

If you thought the interior of the C8 Stingray was luxurious, wait until you see firsthand the new level 2 carbon fiber interior package which adds carbon fiber trim to the center console and door panels, and also extends up on the dash. On the 3LZ trim package, the carbon fiber steering wheel is added and even the paddle shifts are done in carbon fiber.

Level 2 Carbon Fiber Interior Package


6. Rocket Easter Egg

At the beginning of the launch video if you look closely as team members are discussing the Z06’s LT6 V8 engine, you will notice there are “rocket” easter eggs on the engine, and we also saw another rocket on the chassis of the car. This is obviously a homage to the “Still Building Rockets” TV commercial that came out to support the C6 ZR1 in 2011. Enthusiasts love easter eggs and it’s going to be fun pointing this one out.

Rocket Easter Egg


7. Over 11,000 Color and Trim Combinations

Chevrolet is offering the most personalization choices ever for the 2023 Corvette Z06 with over 11,000 different color combinations. With twelve exteriors, seven wheel packages, seven interior colors, three seat choices, six seatbelt colors, two interior carbon fiber packages, two aluminum choices (brushed and the new stealth), and six brake calipers, Corvette enthusiasts will have the opportunity to truly customize the car to their tastes. We going to be seeing a lot of Z06 owners touting their “1 of 1” build combinations.

Over 11,000 Color and Trim Combinations


8. Carbon Fiber Engine Cover

The official reveal photos of the LT6 motor don’t show the one trim piece that everyone will want to add to their 2023 Z06’s engine compartment. Chevy will be offering a carbon fiber engine cover that features a full-color crossed flags logo as an accessory. When you open the hatch and rear lights come on, they shine directly onto the logo itself. We expect the aftermarket will kick into high gear as they did with customization of the C8 Stingray’s engine covers to also allow additional customization options.

Carbon Fiber Engine Cover


9. LT6 is Hand Built at the PBC

Production of the bespoke LT6 V8 engine will take place exclusively at the Performance Build Center within the Bowling Green Assembly Plant. Each engine will be hand-assembled from start to finish from a master engine builder and when the engine is completed, a plaque with the name and signature of the builder is added. For those of you with the Coupe, the signature plate is displayed prominently and is easily viewable through the rear hatch glass.

LT6 is Hand Built at the PBC


10. Performance on Demand

Although the full performance stats for the 2023 Corvette have yet to be revealed, Tadge tells us that the Z06 has a 0-60 MPH time of just 2.6 seconds. With the car having less drag and more downforce than any previous Corvette, it’s said to be very fast. How fast? Tadge says the Z06 is “knocking on the door of the C7 ZR1” in terms of top speed. The C7 ZR1 was rated at 212 mph and if the Z06 can eclipse the speed of the C6 ZR1 which was rated at 205 mph, it could be the second-fastest production Corvette ever produced.

Performance on Demand


I hope you enjoyed that as much as I did in putting this post together, and the truth of the matter is that I could go on and on and on. From what we’ve seen and heard in the last 24 hours, it’s almost overwhelming the number of facts and interesting tidbits that we have been privy to, and we know it’s just the beginning. The Corvette Team still has quite a bit of work in finishing the car and preparing for production which is expected to start in the summer of 2022.


Related:
[VIDEO] 2023 Corvette Z06 on the Dyno
[PICS] A Closer Look at the 2023 Corvette Z06 Teaser Reveals Several Secrets
The 2023 Corvette Z06 Will Make Its Public Debut at the Petersen Auto Museum on October 26th

 



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11 COMMENTS

  1. The Z06 is going to great. I wish there were some Z06 only colors for the interior and exterior.

  2. Will they be able to deliver any? still waiting on my order from 2020. Guess You’ll have to greaser some palms to get one.

  3. Well, I’ll let them know these 3 guys aren’t interested…no doubt the car will be an abysmal failure…NOT!!!

  4. Well, I’ll let them know these 3 guys aren’t interested…no doubt the car will be an abysmal failure…NOT!!!

  5. I think GM has hit a grand slam with this new Z06.
    Mid engine, dual clutch automatic, race proven for TWO PLUS YEARS flat crank V-8 engine.
    Now we just need to get the industry wide chip problem solved.
    I see the much touted Ford GT becoming ancient history rapidly, now that GM has produced a superior and AFFORDABLE race car for street driving!

  6. Terrific achievement by the Corvette Team!
    That said, I believe a Spring Mtn or NCM/Andy Pilgrim Driver Edu class should be provided and mandatory with every Z06 sale.
    As if the C8 Z51 with the 5.17 Final Drive Ratio, 2.9 0-60, didn’t provide enuf acceleration, the Z06 will have a 5.56 FDR, capable of 2.6 0-60…..faster then the typical drivers mind can re-act to situations, I don’t care what, nor how many, nanny-controls there are.
    Just sayin’.

  7. In the changed body style they had the opportunity to widen the rear taper of the cabin area into the rear flat area on top and also bring the side-view of the back surface into a more upper curve, instead of the downward curve appearance that it gives now, as with the Stingray. If you crouch down in front of the car and look at it from a angled front view, the back end looks like the bed of a pickup truck, or that a part of the car is missing. Widening the rear taper of the back of the cabin into the rear of the car would also allow more room inside the car, with slightly wider body from left outside to right outside. They two straight lines of the “wishbone” intake looks better than the “boomerang” on the Stingray, but they should not have put the rear part sticking back from the center of it. Hopefully, the C9 will take these recommendations into consideration.

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