After the Ford Mustang Shelby GT350, another American sports car tries out the adventure of the atmospheric V8 with a flat crankshaft, and the high speeds that this architecture allows. The 679 hp of the new Chevrolet Corvette Z06 are thus obtained at 8,400 rpm, and promise unique sensations.
An American sports car, according to you, is a big V8 with weak performance, which favors above all the torque at low revs? Then the new Corvette Z06 is probably not for you … After having made its revolution by switching to the rear mid-engine, the iconic Chevrolet indeed gives another kick in the anthill thanks to this version even more muscular. The highlight is an atmospheric 5.5 V8 called LT6. Mechanics derived from that used in the C8.Rs entered in endurance races such as the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Its main peculiarity is a crankshaft which is not cross-shaped, as on the majority of models on the market, but flat, as with Ferrari. To find a precedent on an American, we must go back to the atypical Ford Mustang Shelby GT350, never officially imported in Europe.
High revs rather than torque
This rather rare technical choice is above all favorable to Himalayan engine speeds: the 679 hp are obtained here at 8,400 rpm, like the 510 hp of a Porsche 992 GT3! The force can then continue up to the breaker, which operates at 8,600 rpm. On the other hand, the torque is in marked decline compared to the previous generation, equipped with a compressed 6.2 V8.
With its 623 Nm, the C8 Z06 loses downright 258 Nm compared to its predecessor, and this value is reached quite high, at only 6,300 rpm. Even the “base” Corvette Stingray has 10 Nm more from 4,500 rpm, thanks to its 700 cm3 more displacement. If the Z06 should be faster to accelerate, it could therefore reserve some nasty surprises in times. The standard eight-speed dual-clutch transmission, however, attempts to compensate by equipping itself with a shortened axle ratio.
Carbon rims, brakes and spoiler with the Z07 pack
Anyway, the credo of this variant, available in coupe as in convertible, is not really “cruising”. No, her thing is more to go and tease vibrators on the circuit. For this, it offers specific chassis settings, enlarged brake discs, clamped by six-piston calipers in front, or even wider wings of 30 mm in front and 40 mm behind. Enough to accommodate large tires in 275/30 ZR 20 at the front and 345/25 ZR 21 at the rear. The mechanical cooling and aerodynamics have also been reworked, although the original planned spoiler remains quite subtle.
But by opting for a pack, called Z07, it is replaced by a much more prominent and carbon spoiler, while the standard Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires are supplanted by Sport Cup 2 R semi-slicks. This pack, probably expensive , also includes other aerodynamic modifications, carbon rims, to reduce the unsprung masses of 18.6 kg, carbon-ceramic brakes and an overhauled suspension.
TO READ. Our review of the Chevrolet Corvette C8 Stingray
No arrival in France before 2023
Thus endowed, the Corvette C8 Z06 would be able to collect 1.22 g when it is roughed in curve. We are therefore far from another cliché on the American women already worn out for a long time, the one which wants them to be cut only for the straight lines. It remains to be hoped that this Chevrolet respects another more appreciable tradition, that of an unbeatable price-performance-equipment ratio. Unfortunately, we will have to wait a long time to verify it: with a start of production only planned for mid-2022 across the Atlantic, no need to wait for marketing in France before 2023. Twice unfortunately, this should also coincide with the passage of the ecological penalty to 50,000 € maximum with us. We have known much better welcoming committees!
