C8 Corvette Z06 AWE SwitchPath Exhaust Sounds Insanely Good, Promises 11 More RWHP

Based in Pennsylvania, the folks at AWE recently premiered their cat-back exhaust system for the eighth-generation Corvette Z06. Handcrafted from CNC mandrel-bent steel, the SwitchPath exhaust system promises maximum gains of 11 dyno-proven horsepower and 14 pound-feet (make that 15 Nm in metric units) at the rear wheels.

As per the dyno sheet uploaded on the company’s website, a Z06 with said exhaust system lays down 630 horsepower and 404 pound-feet (548 Nm) at full chatter. By comparison, baseline testing reveals a respectable 619 horsepower and 390 pound-feet (529 Nm) of torque.

Tipping the scales at 42.5 pounds compared to 57.5 stock, which is 19.3 and 26.0 kilograms for those who prefer the metric system, the SwitchPath doesn’t require a valve relearn sequence after installation. Further sweetening the deal with integrated heat shields that bolt onto the rear bumper using the factory locations, the T304L stainless-steel exhaust ends in 4.5-inch tips. The double-walled and slash-cut finishers come in diamond black as standard.

The X-pipe design produces a more aggressive exhaust note compared to the factory exhaust, although not aggressive enough to be deemed uncouth. A bolt-on system, the AWE SwitchPath comes with a perfect fitment guarantee and a no CEL guarantee, along with a lifetime warranty. Legal in all 50 states, the rich-sounding exhaust operates in two distinct modes: touring and open. Even with the valves closed, it’s easy to tell an AWE SwitchPath-equipped Z06 apart from a fully stock one.

Originally priced at $105,000 for the coupe and $112,500 for the convertible, the Z06 is a bit pricier at press time. Now starting at $112,700 (excluding the destination fee and gas-guzzler tax), the highest-revving Corvette of them is much obliged to reach 60 miles per hour (97 kilometers per hour) in as little as 2.6 seconds. The AWE SwitchPath exhaust is currently available at $3,595, which is roughly 3.2 percent of a brand-new Z06. That is, only if you can find one without a sizable dealer markup tacked on top.

Capable of 195 miles per hour (314 kilometers per hour) in base specification or 188 miles per hour (303 kilometers per hour) with the downforce-heavy Z07 package, the Z06 will soon be joined by a twin-turbocharged sibling. Enter the 2025 model year ZR1, a full-on supercar that rivals the likes of McLaren and Ferrari with 800-plus horsepower.

LT7 is the regular production order code of this engine, which is only natural because the naturally-aspirated V8 in the Z06 is codenamed LT6. Another difference comes in the form of the transmission. Rather than M1M for the Z06, M1L for the Stingray, and MLH for the E-Ray, the ZR1 sports the M1K version of the Tremec TR-9080 dual-clutch transaxle.

The C8-gen ZR1 does have big shoes to fill. Produced for a single model year, the C7 ZR1 still holds the title of most powerful series-production Corvette. Its 6.2-liter supercharged V8 produces a tremendous 755 horsepower and 715 pound-feet (969 Nm) of tire-shredding torque, and its engine also happens to be GM’s only fifth-gen small block with both direct and port fuel injection.