The quintessential American sports activities automotive returns to the Greatest Automotive To Purchase competitors, and finalists’ circle, after the C8 Corvette was named Motor Authority Greatest Automotive To Purchase 2021 and the C7 Corvette ZR1 was named Motor Authority Greatest Automotive To Purchase 2019. Can Chevy go three for 3?

The Chevrolet Corvette Z06 encompasses a particular engine that acts prefer it got here from an unique Italian automaker. The brand new 5.5-liter V-8 elevates the Corvetteto a brand new stratosphere.

Chevrolet Corvette Z06

The flat-plane crank LT6 V-8 is a screamer that 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 ability is notable, but it surely’s the exhaust sound and the way in which the engine revs that basically give the Z06 that one thing further. The distinctive crank helps the engine breathe and rev higher, and unlocks its wild scream. It’s thrilling 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 high velocity of 195 mph, the most recent Z06 can’t match the last-generation Corvette ZR1‘s 212-mph high velocity. However 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 retaining observe, the ZR1 hit 60 mph in 2.85 seconds and lined the quarter mile in 10.8 seconds regardless of having extra firepower.

When the mid-engine Corvette claimed this award in 2021 we famous the chassis felt as if it have been designed to deal with extra energy. That’s as a result of it was. The most recent Z06 with the LT6 engine fixes that difficulty.

Chevrolet Corvette Z06

Some lovers can be disillusioned that the Z06 solely comes with an 8-speed dual-clutch transmission. It’s the identical computerized transmission mounted within the Corvette Stingray, however right here it has a shorter 5.56 last drive ratio for faster acceleration. It’s extremely responsive and retains energy on the prepared in any state of affairs. Not like the Corvette E-Ray, the Z06 sticks with rear-wheel drive.

The outside design is wider with bigger intakes each up entrance and on the edges for extra cooling and higher respiration. Chevrolet lets Z06 homeowners take a Select Your Personal Journey path in the case of carbon-fiber bits, which could be optioned individually and can be found painted or unpainted.

It will probably all be wrapped along with the Z07 Efficiency Package deal, which swaps in much more track-ready suspension, carbon-ceramic brakes, and sticky Michelin Pilot Tremendous Sport Cup 2R tires.

Chevrolet Corvette Z06

Inside, the Z06 differs little from different C8 Corvettes. The motive force and passenger are separated by a big heart console wall. Greater than a dozen Chiclet-like buttons for the local weather controls line that wall, and it’s complicated at greatest 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, but it surely’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 generally is a chore for the New Steadiness crowd as a result of this factor sits low and has steeply raked A-pillars. There isn’t a variety of cargo house, there’s no handbook transmission, and whereas the bottom worth of $113,190 is a flat out supercar steal, it’s excess of the $106,395 beginning worth a yr in the past. Our loaded check automotive value $160,595, which felt costly and but utterly acceptable for the efficiency.

Is an American-made unique with probably the greatest sounding exhaust notes on sale as we speak sufficient to clinch the win? Will a Corvette be the primary nameplate to win this competitors 3 times? Will the Chevrolet Corvette Z06 be named Motor Authority Greatest Automotive To Purchase 2024 over America’s muscle automotive, a Japanese scorching hatch, a high-performance electrical sedan, and a German sport coupe? Verify again Jan. 3 once we reveal the winner, together with the champs from our sister websites, The Automotive Connection and Inexperienced Automotive Reviews.