2023 Chevy Corvette Z06 debuts: Big Nasty with an exotic
Cars
Speaker 1: Say hello to the big nasty the 2023 Chevy Corvette zero six. Or is that nasty junior son of nasty, big nasty two? Well, whatever you call it, this zero six is clearly a badass with a menacing wide body stance and an all new 607 horsepower V8 that ought to whale. Now I can't claim to have come up with a big nasty nickname, but I was there when it was meant.
Speaker 2: Ladies [00:00:30] and gentlemen, introducing the big nasty the 2015 Cova zero six
Speaker 1: Way back in 2014. GM's head of global product develop mark Royce debuted the C 7 0 6, giving it that nickname at the Detroit auto show. When that growling front engine supercar killer rolled up on stage, it just about brought the house down. Today's mid engine C eight, however is a completely different animal. And I can't wait to see what this higher horsepower zero [00:01:00] six derivative brings to the table. So let's dive in for starters, the last zero six had a supercharged 6.2 liter small block, but the beating heart of this new model is actually smaller. Although that doesn't mean that it's less powerful talked underneath that sloping rear glass is an all new V8 and it's only five and a half liters dubbed LT six, this compact eight whips up 670 power. And it'll spin like crazy to get there. It's got an 8,600 RPM red line, 8,600.
Speaker 1: [00:01:30] So how'd that happen? Not only is there no parasitic drag from a super charger because this engine is naturally aspirated. The LT six features a flat plane crank, which greatly lowers inertia and allows for a much higher red line than the stingray, which taps out at 6,500. It should also make for lightning quick throttle response. If you've been paying attention to Corvette racing, I'm sure you had a feeling that this was coming. A version of this engine has been powering the C R endurance racer around many of the world's toughest tracks since 2019. [00:02:00] In fact, Corvette was the GTLM series champ last year flat, plain cranks tend to make for more compact engine dimensions and a freer revving nature. But the downside is that they also tend to produce lower torque. This engine produces 460 pound feet at 6,300 RPM, which is a huge drop off from the last the six, which put up six 50 flat Plains also tend to produce a very different engine sound than the big lump we've come to love in American V eights, think more Ferrari than an HRA.
Speaker 1: It's fair [00:02:30] to say that this is going to be a much Rever and very different feeling, driving experience. Chevy's being kind enough to fire up this guy in the studio just for a second to give us a taste, but we're really gonna need to have it outside at full chat to really get a sense for the occasion here. In any case, it'll arguably be more in character with what the C eight has become. Today's standard. Stingray already has a completely different driving character than the C seven, mostly because of its mid engine dynamics. The last co six was a car that you had to muscle around, [00:03:00] especially the manual with its stiff clutch and high effort shifter the C eight. Well, it's more of a Finese car with better balance and lighter inputs. It feels more modern and capable, but also somehow less visceral in ways. So it'll be interesting to see if the zero six restores any of that old feeling or if it goes even further in the other door.
Speaker 3: Wow. [00:03:30] Wow. Wow.
Speaker 1: Anyway, that wider body 3.6 inches wider. If you break out a measuring tape we'll aid in handling in part, by making up room for bigger front tires, that's 20 inches up front and 21 Outback, and you can even opt for carbon fiber wheels that save an estimated 41 pounds of unsprung weight. And I'll, I'm sure they're gonna lighten your wallet even more substantially, but we don't know anything about pricing just yet. I, however [00:04:00] we do hear that these will save a second or a second and a half per lap on a two minute track, the zero six, isn't just wider. It's got new fascist front and back as well as an adjustable spoiler that comes standard. You can add or remove these Wicker bills plug in these little guys and they add 365 pounds of additional down force at 186 month miles an hour. You can also splurge on a carbon fiber, a pack for that full race car look and down force, or the Z seven package includes front dive planes, [00:04:30] a big front splitter, a pedestal rear wing, and a unique underbody treatment. It's part of the Z seven option pack. That also includes unique calibrations from the magnetic ride control suspension, along with Michelin split cup tube, R Z P tires and carbon ceramic Rebos 15.7 inch discs up front and 15.4 Outback.
Speaker 1: If you've been hoping for a manual transmission option like you could get in the last Z oh six. Well, I gotta tell you folks ain't gonna happen. GM has fitted [00:05:00] the same eight speed dual gear box with its own unique 5 56 final drive ratio, which is shorter for quicker acceleration at the expense of top speed, bragging rights, how much top speed has been sacrificed. Isn't immediately clear the stingray can get to 1 94. And we know that this guy can get to at least 180 6, but for right now, that's all Chevys saying, remember, this is built for the race track. So top speed's usually pretty academic handling is likely significantly better. Although we don't have a [00:05:30] ton of other performance metrics just yet 1.2, two GS on the skid pad, but no nerve burging lap times or anything like that. So you won't find a manual gear shift inside, but what you will find is more variety to interior trim choices, including an optional carbon fiber steering wheel and paddles as well as three different seat packages with six different seat belt choices and hand wrapped leather.
Speaker 1: Now the stingray cockpit was pretty great to begin with. So there really wasn't a whole lot of need to make a lot of changes to this car. [00:06:00] So that's just about all the information they've given us right now, but I can tell you I'm very, very excited to drive this thing. I just have to decide coop or convertible. Oh, one more thing for you. Corvette fans outside of north America, I've got some really good news, the zeal oh six, or should I say the Ze oh six will be available wherever the regular sting rate is sold worldwide, including in right hand drive form. So look out Porsches and Ferrari of the world. The big nasty is coming for your lunch money starting in Q2 [00:06:30] of next year.
