NAIAS 2014: Corvette Z06 Trades Purity For Customer Driven Features, 8-Speed Automatic

by Jack Baruth

Published: January 13th, 2014

naias 2014 corvette z06 trades purity for customer driven features 8 speed

The outgoing Chevrolet Corvette Z06 was arguably one of the most admirable products in automotive history and certainly the most focused Corvette ever sold to the American public. Its replacement has more of what the people who actually buy Corvettes truly want.

Power comes from a supercharged 6.2L LT4 small-block, to the tune of “at least 625hp and 635 lb-ft of torque”, through a seven-speed manual or optional eight-speed automatic. This product — the automatic Z06 — is one for which the Corvette customer base has been screaming since 2003 or thereabouts, so little wonder that it’s finally here. Also along the lines of “giving the people what they want”, the Z06 now has a removable top. There will also be a “Z07” package with Michelin Pilot Sport Cup DOT-R tires, additional downforce, and carbon brakes.

The LT4 is claimed to be the first supercharged V-8 engine with direct injection.

How do we feel about the Z06 at TTAC? In a word — disappointed. Purity was what made the last two generations of Z06 special. There are few badges that command the same kind of universal respect at a road course. This new Z06 will no doubt blow the doors off the old one, but to some degree it’s just “a Corvette with more stuff”.

Jack Baruth

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2 of 79 comments

Tjh8402 on Jan 13, 2014

My disappointment in the new Corvette continues. First the styling, and now this slap in the face to enthusiasts. You already had the ZR1. Why did you have to do this to the Z06?

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Flipper35 on Jan 14, 2014

This option should have been the Gran Sport.

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