Automotive.com: Z06 "Predicts"

Automotive.com said:

And you thought you were satisfied with the standard Corvette…By Kelly Pleskot | December 20, 2013

What's New:
A year after the Corvette Stingray first stunned audiences in Detroit, Chevrolet is now introducing the even more powerful, even more beautiful Z06 version. The automaker calls it the "most track-capable Corvette ever," and we believe it. Just one look at the blacked out-wheels, carbon fiber accents, and fierce lines of the Z06 makes us want it.
The 2015 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 promises to bring an upgraded powertrain, suspension, and brakes for enhanced performance. A ferocious 7.0-liter V-8 delivering upwards of 600 horsepower is expected under the hood, but rumors persist of the Z06 model itself going supercharged in a new engine called the LT4. Either way, we can't wait to find out how this feels. But everyone will have to wait a while for this beauty to come out; production for this model is slated for late 2014.

Who It's For:
Who's it for? Very lucky people, we would say. This car is definitely suited for the performance-minded looking for a nothing less than a top-of-the-line muscle car. That is not to say that the Ford GT500 or even German competitors like the BMW M4 are not worthy alternatives. But at the end of the day, given the car's tradition and unique beauty, purchasing a Corvette is an emotional decision. There's nothing quite like it.

Many muscle car fans will also be surprised to know this car is expected to have a high level of refinement, shedding stereotypes of muscle cars as bare-bones performance machines. Despite its relative level of comfort, there are some qualifications to this statement. And this is something we would say for even the base Corvette: It might not the right match for everyday commuting. The Z06 should be a bona fide "budget" supercar.

Key Features:
The Corvette Z06 offers some unique enhancements on the exterior and under the hood that make it stand apart from the standard Corvette: large, protruding air vents near the rear wheels for cooling what look to be large carbon ceramic brakes; blacked-out multispoke wheels; and, carbon fiber exterior accents.

What We Think:

If the original Corvette was able to garner so much positive attention, we are very confident that the souped-up Z06 version will also turn many heads. With an expected 600-plus horsepower, the Z06 is a significant mark up from the standard 450-pony version, which is incredible in its own right. It is also a big step up from the previous 505-horsepower Z06 model. How many Corvette Z06 cars do we think they will sell? Enough, but that's really not the point. It is eye candy, road candy, a Ferrari humiliation device, and an elusive dream for many automotive enthusiasts. It's just plain fun.
…Hey, what did you expect us to say?

Click to expand...