Unofficially, it's codenamed The Big Nasty. Chevrolet's Corvette Z06 is not warm and fuzzy but with 466kW and 861Nm oozing from a 6.2-litre supercharged V8, it creates certain body-stimulating sensations that stand a few things upright.
At the reveal of the new Z06 'Vette at the Detroit motor show, Mark Reuss, president of General Motors North America, describes it as "a true world-class supercar and the most capable Corvette ever".
On-sale in North America later this year and with anticipated pricing well below other supercars, the Z06 will be built at the traditional home of Corvette in Bowling Green, Kentucky.
The 2015 model Z06 brings to Corvette a revised all-alloy frame that GM claims is 60 percent stiffer than the previous generation Corvette's frame and significantly enhances dynamics and ride control. But, drivetrain improvements are the major story.
Two new transmissions are offered – a seven-speed manual with auto rev matching on down shift, and a GM-built eight-speed automatic. Both link with GM's new LT4 V8 packing a highly efficient supercharger.
Even with its integrated supercharger/intercooler assembly mounted in the valley between the cylinder heads, the engine is only about 25mm taller than the Corvette Stingray's LT1 engine – while delivering nearly 37 percent more horsepower and 40 percent more torque than the LT1.
And this baby spins.
The new 1.7L Eaton R1740 TVS supercharger spins to 20,000 rpm. That's 5000 rpm more, according to GM, than the supercharger on the Corvette ZR1's LS9. The rotors are shorter and lighter in weight which allows for higher-rpm capability and the new blower produces boost earlier in the rpm band. All in all this is the Z06's nasty bit.
Power, of course, sells. GM claims that in 2013, Corvette sales were double that of Porsche 911.
This new Z06 on a power and price equation will hunt bigger game and challenge the rarefied performance of many exotic Europeans that list 200mph (321km/h) top speeds as a standard feature. Will it top 200mph? GM isn’t making claims just yet, but Z06 has the power and tidy body work that's been massaged in a wind tunnel for excellent aero efficiency.
Big, big brakes put a pedal full of slow to counter the Z06's go. Brembo developed the standard braking package to include two-piece steel rotors measuring 371 x 33mm front and 365 x 25mm rear with aluminum six-piston and four-piston fixed calipers, respectively.
The optional Z07 package adds larger (394 x 36mm front and 388 x 33mm) carbon ceramic-matrix brake rotors for serious stopping performance lap after lap, and collectively save 10 kilos over the standard Z06 rotors.
In the rush for technology and high performance, GM hasn't forgotten the driver.
Via a Driver Mode Selector you can choose a dozen features of the Z06 to suit your wants from the car, including launch control, performance traction management, a track-focused active handling stability control, and electronic limited slip differential which adjusts the rate at which the limited slip operates.
There is a scribbled bitumen road that runs from Darwin to Alice that's perfect for the new 'Vette, but only if Chevrolet made right-hand drive a standard feature. And of that, we’ve got Buckley's...
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