The other current-generation Z06s we’ve tested have been set up for maximum cornering grip with their wheels in an aggressive factory track alignment. Even in our car’s subdued grey hue, slinking through traffic is impossible. But give them the spurs and they prove to be loud, angry beasts. On the road, its 670 horses are surprisingly approachable, docile even. The car’s myriad performance controls demand familiarization. Previous test results need to be analyzed beforehand. Track testing a C8 Corvette Z06 makes for an intense day at the office. Caleb Miller Performance Testing: Flat Out Mayhem Even though our 2021 Stingray Z51 performed admirably throughout the colder months, it's probably for the best that we gave up the Z06 before the true Michigan winter set in. Unfortunately for us, this was our last outing with the Z06, and we've had to bid a tearful farewell. Regardless of whether someone can rattle off GM engine codes by heart or simply loves the look of a low-slung sports car, the Corvette Z06 will evoke their curiosity and become an instant conversation starter. It was also a stark reminder that this is not a car for introverts. It's safe to say that the Corvette's time at the local car meet was a resounding success. The Vette's performance was only overshadowed by the arrival of a vivid blue 2005 Ford GT, but a few blips of the gas pedal brought the crowds right back. Phones appeared in gloved hands, recording videos to send to buddies who weren't there to experience the Corvette's concerto. A young girl stood with her fingers in her ears but with her eyes glued to the car as the revs rang out into the slowly brightening sky. As the initial shriek of the V-8 firing blasted out of the quad-exhaust, those closest to the Vette jumped back in giddy shock.Ī few prods of the throttle saw mouths agape and eyebrows raised. When I offered to start it up, the answer was a resounding chorus of yeses. Soon a cluster of middle-aged men had formed around the engine bay, trading stories of their experiences in past Corvettes and debating the intricacies of the Z06's motor. Starting it up outside the local shopping mall sent one toddler's jaw to the floor, the breathtaking aura of the Batmobile-like styling so powerful that he was scared to even sit in the fighter-jet-style cockpit when I extended the offer to his mother.Īs more gearheads arrived, we popped the Z06's rear decklid to reveal the flat-plane-crank V-8. The bewinged Vette has a magnetic pull on anyone with even a remote interest in things that go vroom-e liciting constant thumbs-ups and envious cries of "Nice ride!" from strangers. The Corvette Z06 is a powerful machine, and we're not just talking about the 670 horsepower pumping out of the 5.5-liter V-8. Sharing the Fun: A Cars and Coffee Excursion From dropping the kids off at school to grocery store runs and potential track days, we'll be updating you on every mile for the next month or so. But we did manage to wrangle an extended loan, and we'll be producing frequent updates to let you know what life with a Z06 is like. Sadly, we aren't able to run our usual 40,000-mile long-term test format ( as we did on a regular C8, a 2021 Stingray Z51). Oh, it's also the fifth-fastest car we've ever run at Lightning Lap. Powered by a 670-hp flat-plane-crank 5.5-liter V-8, this is a Corvette gone Super Saiyan. Naturally, our taste for high-octane performance machines has only grown more insatiable since their departure.Įnter the 2023 Chevrolet Corvette Z06. Not so long ago the Car and Driver long-term test fleet featured performance greats such as the Porsche 718 Cayman GTS 4.0, the BMW M3, and Cadillac's Blackwing twins.
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