Remember when we saw the 2015 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Convertible back in January, on the Detroit floor? Well, that wasn’t actually the final production incarnation of the car. As for what the “actually” part means, GM has been recently spied testing the Z06 Convertible out in the wild.
A group of Corvette Stingray test cars were recently spotted in the mountains, performing high-altitude tests. A standard 'Vette was accompanied by what Chevy test drivers have reportedly confirmed were the Z06 Convertible and the Z06 Coupe.
Detroit attenders should recall that the Chevrolet stand also included a cutaway of the Z06 Coupe and you could instantly tell how hard the prototype had been pushed during testing, as its tires looked like World War II victims.
The custom grille is also here, but the complete aero package of the Z06 (there are actually 3 versions) is missing. The test cars were spotted anyway, so the body building stuff could’ve been present anyway.
The sheer specs of the 2015 Z06 Corvette make one wonder if the rumor stating there won’t be a new ZR1 is true. The supercharged LT4 V8 shares the aluminum block of the LT1 (the unit in the standard Corvette), but adds an Eaton supercharger within the V of its cylinders. The powerplant feeds the driver with 625 horses (at least) and 635 lb-ft (Nm) of torque.
The performance sends the Corvette Z06 straight into Ferrari/Lamboprghini/Porsche territory. And while the badges or the aroma are not comparable, the MSRP of the ‘Vette will fall under $80 grand.
The Corvette Stingray has already registered monster sales, so Italian exotic drivers should be worried. Oh and, by the way, as our senior readers can confirm, the 2015 model will be the first Z06 Convertible since 1963.
In his quest to bring you the most impressive automotive creations, Andrei relies on learning as a superpower. There's quite a bit of room in the garage that is this aficionado's heart, so factory-condition classics and widebody contraptions with turbos poking through the hood can peacefully coexist. Full profile
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