The new Chevrolet Corvette C8 Stingray does almost everything differently from its predecessor, although some things will remain the same. The ‘Vette, now equipped with a mid-engine, simply gets a Z06 flavor again, a version that has now been caught in public for the first time.
In the middle of last year, a number of sacred houses were demolished in Corvette land. The new Corvette C8 Stingray did not have its power plant in the nose, but behind the front seats. Although the new ‘Vette is recognizable as a Corvette from every angle, never before has there been such a violent generation change in the history of the model. Fortunately, some things will never change. Chevrolet just comes back with a more powerful Z06 variant of the new Corvette and it is that version that has now been caught in public camouflage.
The car in the photos is still fanatically covered with camouflage material, so the extent to which the Corvette Z06 differs optically from its already well-known brothers is still a mystery. In any case, count on the arrival of extra lips, spoilers and edges. The snapped test specimen seems to be closer to the asphalt than the regular Corvette C8 Stingray and the rear wheels also seem to be a lot wider. On either side of the rear bumper we see two tailpipes, specimens that are slightly different in shape than those of the milder Corvettes. The previous Z06 had a 6.2-liter Supercharged V8 under the hood, a machine that produced about 650 horsepower. It is quite possible that Chevrolet will put a modified version of the 5.5 V8 that it has in the C7.R, the racing version of the previous generation Corvette based on the Z06, in the nose of the new Z06. Incidentally, the Z06 is not the top version of the Corvette range. In time, a mighty ZR1 version will strengthen the ranks. The penultimate Corvette ZR1 received a hefty 766 hp 6.2 V8 from its creators.