The quintessential American sports activities automobile has returned to the winners’ circle. The 2024 Corvette Z06 is the Motor Authority Finest Automotive To Purchase 2024.

It succeeds the C8 Corvette, which was named Motor Authority Finest Automotive To Purchase 2021, and the C7 Corvette ZR1, which was named Motor Authority Finest Automotive To Purchase 2019. That’s three for 3, in case you’re counting.

The Chevrolet Corvette Z06 wins at the beginning with a really particular engine that acts prefer it got here from an unique Italian automaker. The Z06’s dynamics and value seal the deal. It’s a screaming deal even at greater than $100,000 because of its efficiency, design, and powertrain format.

Chevrolet Corvette Z06

The brand new 5.5-liter V-8 flat-plane crank LT6 V-8 produces 670 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque. That makes it the strongest naturally aspirated manufacturing V-8 ever. When it was strapped to a dyno, this engine delivered 610 hp and 419 lb-ft of torque on the wheels. 

The facility is notable, nevertheless it’s the exhaust sound and the way in which the engine revs that give the Z06 its distinctive warfare cry. A singular crank helps the engine breathe and rev higher, and unlocks a wild scream because it winds as much as its 8,600-rpm redline. Senior Editor Kirk Bell stated it heaps sound and fury on an unique design.

With a prime velocity of 195 mph, the most recent Z06 can’t match the last-generation Corvette ZR1‘s 212-mph prime velocity. Nevertheless it rockets from 0-60 mph in a wild 2.6 seconds and runs the quarter-mile in 10.6 seconds at 130 mph. For these holding monitor, the ZR1 hit 60 mph in 2.9 seconds and lined the quarter-mile in 10.8 seconds regardless of having extra firepower.

Chevrolet Corvette Z06

When the mid-engine Corvette claimed this award in 2021 we knew the chassis may deal with extra energy. The Z06 with the LT6 engine offers it virtually all it will possibly deal with—and sounds superb whereas doing it.

Some fans will likely be dissatisfied that the Z06 solely comes with an 8-speed dual-clutch transmission, however that disappointment fades because the DCT cracks off lightning-quick shifts with precision. It’s the identical automated transmission mounted within the Corvette Stingray, however right here it has a shorter 5.56 final-drive ratio for faster acceleration. It’s extremely responsive and retains energy on the prepared in any situation. In contrast to the Corvette E-Ray, the Z06 sticks with rear-wheel drive.

Chevrolet Corvette Z06

The outside design is wider with bigger intakes each up entrance and on the perimeters for extra cooling and higher respiratory. It seems like an angrier, extra ripped C8. Chevrolet lets Z06 house owners select from amongst carbon-fiber bits, which might be optioned individually and can be found painted or unpainted. This isn’t precisely Ferrari-level customization, nevertheless it’s far multiple can do with just about another Chevy.

It may possibly all be wrapped along with the $8,995 Z07 Efficiency Package deal, which swaps in an much more track-ready suspension, carbon-ceramic brakes, and sticky Michelin Pilot Tremendous Sport Cup 2R tires. They will’t actually be pushed on damp surfaces and not using a trove of endurance. We’ll take them anyway.

Chevrolet Corvette Z06

Inside, the Z06 differs little from different C8 Corvettes. The driving force and passenger are separated by a big middle console wall. Greater than a dozen Chiclet-like buttons for the local weather controls line that wall, and it’s complicated at finest to make use of the buttons whereas on the transfer. The controls and touchscreen are angled sharply towards the driving force. The steering wheel is a squircle to make sure a transparent view of the digital gauge cluster.

The Z06 isn’t good, nevertheless it’s not terribly far off. It doesn’t have the cachet of a Porsche or a Ferrari, and its inside can’t match their high quality. Getting out and in could be a chore for the New Stability crowd as a result of this factor sits low and has steeply raked A-pillars. There isn’t loads of cargo area, there’s no handbook transmission, and whereas the bottom value of $113,190 is a supercar steal, it’s way over the $106,395 beginning value a yr in the past. Our loaded take a look at automobile price $160,595, which felt costly and but utterly acceptable for the efficiency.

Past all that’s what the C8 Z06 stands for. It’s a second in time and historical past that can by no means occur once more. Ferrari’s already moved on previous naturally-aspirated flat-plane crank V-8s and into its twin-turbo, V-6, and hybrid period. There will likely be sooner and extra highly effective Corvettes, nevertheless it’s inconceivable any will likely be as particular.