The 2006 to 2008 Z06 C6 Corvette Story
The new C6 Z06 arrived as a 2006 model in the third quarter of 2005. It has a 7.0 L, 427.6 CID, version of the small block engine codenamed LS7. Officially certified output is 505 hp. Its performance is comparable to the Dodge Viper SRT10. Official performance figures indicate that the Z06 can reach 60 mph in just 3.7 seconds from a standing start in first gear, hitting 0 to 100 in about 7.3 to 8.2 seconds, with a quarter mile time of 11.7 and a top speed of 198 mph, electronically limited. In the summer of 2005, GM and Corvette Racing driver Jan Magnussen brought the new Z06 to the Nürburgring in Germany. Magnussen drove the Z06 to a time of 7 minutes 42 seconds. In their March 2007 comparison, Car and Driver selected the C6 Z06 as the winner of their three way comparison test of performance cars, with the Porsche 911 GT3 finishing second and the Lotus Exige S third.
In addition to the larger engine, the C6 Z06 has a dry sump oiling system, ensuring proper engine lubrication during periods of high lateral acceleration and allowing the engine to be mounted low inside the chassis. Connecting rods for the Z06 made out of titanium further lighten the reciprocating mass of the engine while being stronger than the steel rods they replace.
In a radical departure from anything Chevrolet has ever done before, the primary structural element of the C6 Z06 is aluminum instead of steel as on the non Z06 cars. The hydroformed aluminum frame remains dimensionally identical to its steel brethren but is significantly lighter. The front fenders are made of carbon fiber to reduce weight, while wider rear fenders allow for the wider tires necessary to deal with the engine's increased power. For an additional mass savings, the Z06 replaced the base model's aluminum engine cradle with one made from high pressure die cast magnesium. The C6 Z06 officially weighs 3130 lb, giving it a power to weight ratio of 6.2 lb per hp, or 361 bhp per ton. The C6 Corvette Z06 is the first 500 plus hp production car to avoid the U.S. government Gas Guzzler tax.
The C6 Z06 was the official pace car for both the 2006 Daytona 500 and the Indianapolis 500 race. The special Pace Car edition Z06 was unveiled at the Los Angeles Auto Show in January. It was also awarded to St. Louis Cardinals shortstop David Eckstein as his prize for being the 2006 World Series MVP, although Eckstein does not know how to drive a stick. The car was reportedly given to his father. The 2007 C6 Z06 was also one of Automobile Magazine's "Automobile All-Stars" for 2007.
The 2007 C6 Z06 had minor changes including retuning of the suspension after some magazine test drivers announced the suspension did not perform up to their original estimates. Chevrolet announced the models were prereleased, and for 2007 they would retune the damping. In more recent tests the Corvette has shown improved driveability and track manners.
In 2008 the C6 Z06 received the new TR6060 six speed manual transmission, which replaces the T-56. The steering rack and the interior plastic bezel were improved. An optional full leather interior, option 3LZ, also became available in limited quantities due to constraints.
|