Thoughts on the 2023 Z06?

[tom_sprecher]

I will get the Z07 after it has been out for 2-3 years. By then I will be retired and not traveling. It will probably be the last sports car I buy.

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[Baldilocks]

A buddy is picking this up on Friday. Can’t wait to go for a ride.
Before I bought the GT350 a year ago June, I was leaning towards the C8….until I tried to fit in it at a reveal.
I‘m glad I went with the GT350.

I'm 6'2" 270 pounds. I had tons of room when I sat in one. I actually had to move the seat forward and up a bit.

 

[Strokerswild]

I sat in a C8 a couple of months ago and fit fine, and I'm built like a linebacker. Way better than I did in a C7.

 

[WildHorse]

I'm sure Ford was also chuckling watching that video.

I'm sure GM was chuckling when they seen FORD down rated the horsepower on 2022 Mustangs GT.

 

[460Fred]

I'm 6'2" 270 pounds. I had tons of room when I sat in one. I actually had to move the seat forward and up a bit.

I’m 6’4” 235 and had no head room. Maybe the production cars are different, we’ll see soon enough.
During the reveal I attended a rep told me I “may” fit with the lower race seats.
This was with a car seat that had over 10K butts on it at that point so I’m thinking it was broken in ;-)

 

[Ewheels]

https://www.roadandtrack.com/news/a38066796/2023-corvette-zo6-lt6-explainer/
Great read on the engineering behind the engine specifically

 

[s2ms]

MotorTrend has basically the same article. Sounds like Chevy is (hoping) to manage vibration issues by slowing piston speeds as a function of large bore/short stroke. Kudos to them for helping evolve the large bore FPC.

https://www.motortrend.com/news/202...752529EEEBB1119013BA3C0B6050E6CFC768B76C15300

I like the rear styling of this version, the front, not so much. IMO the front should have stayed more like the C7.

 

[Baldilocks]

I’m 6’4” 235 and had no head room. Maybe the production cars are different, we’ll see soon enough.
During the reveal I attended a rep told me I “may” fit with the lower race seats.
This was with a car seat that had over 10K butts on it at that point so I’m thinking it was broken in ;-)

Not sure. I know there were guys who were 6'7"-6'8" who are driving these things around.

 

[5.Oh Crush]

Remember when GT350 owners told me Ford could not get more power out of the FPC voodoo. Pepperidge Farms remembers.
GM: Hold my beer.

 

[shogun32]

Camaro is dead, even GM knows it. Evidence: Z06 investment.

except CAddy CT4V could trivially be the basis for the next Camaro. plopping new sheet-metal on an existing chassis and drivetrain is an easy task.

 

[Ewheels]

MotorTrend has basically the same article. Sounds like Chevy is (hoping) to manage vibration issues by slowing piston speeds as a function of large bore/short stroke. Kudos to them for helping evolve the large bore FPC.

https://www.motortrend.com/news/202...752529EEEBB1119013BA3C0B6050E6CFC768B76C15300

I like the rear styling of this version, the front, not so much. IMO the front should have stayed more like the C7.

GM should've made the entire car look more like the C8.R
The goofy side intakes and front bumper look.....well goofy. The Z07 package helps but still not perfect

 

[The Demon]

Who knows if any of this stuff is true. This is a Jalopnik story.

 

[PP0001]

Question is…would we have this new Z06, flat plane crank, carbon fiber wheels vette, if Ford had never introduced the GT350 in 2015?

Based on my understanding the 2023 Z06 has been in development for the last ~6 years and no question that once Chevrolet saw the launch of the 5.2L FPC engine in our GT350's back in 2015 the boys/girls in Bowling Green immediately took notice and jumped all over this innovative and forward thinking which originated with the outstanding Blue Oval enthusiasts in Dearborn.

Not sure if you all remember the 2016 Road & Track PCOTY winner but it was the 2016 Shelby GT350R and it was a runaway vote and was not even a close contest with it's very cool rivals.

Some of the contenders that year for the Road & Track PCOTY were the Dodge Viper ACR, Ferrari 488 GTB, Mercedes -AMG GT S, Porsche Cayman GT4 and of course the Corvette Z06 therefore some very talented competition to say the least.

Not only did Chevrolet decide to follow the lead of Ford with a small block (336 C.I.) NA Flat Plane Crank engine for the Z06 but they also decided to work with Carbon Revolution in Australia in order to come up with 20" and 21" CF wheels just as our 2015 GT350R's came equipped with some 6+ years ago.

Once the CF wheels were in place with Carbon Revolution who did they go to for tires but none other than Michelin and they came up with a variation of the Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires and if the Z07 package is selected this variation of Cup 2 tires will be stickiest street legal tire available today thus expect some very impressive 0 to 60 MPH and 1/4 mile times.

Having said all that I find it very impressive that Bowling Green only increased the engine size of their 5.5L Z06 FPC engine over the GT350 5.2L FPC engine by just 6% and yet increased the horsepower by some 27%!

Obviously some very serious engineering and development costs were incurred and with amazing results based on increased compression but also through fuel improved fuel delivery, light weight internal components and outstanding breathing/exhaust.

It will be very interesting to see what the weight of this Z06 will come in at and more importantly what the MSRP will come in at especially if we look back at the 2019 ZR1 coming with a ~$150,000 MSRP when well optioned?

Don't expect this limited build and highly sought after supercar to be cheap by any means especially when ordering options such as carbon ceramic brakes, etc.

Looking back I found it quite interesting that Ford launched their 1st generation Ford GT supercar at their Wixom, Michigan plant back in 2005 and that it took Chevrolet some 17 years later to finally launch their own first supercar therefore somewhat surprising.

Even with Ford launching their 2nd generation Ford GT supercar in Markham, Ontario in 2016 and Acura launching their 2nd generation NSX supercar at Marysville, Ohio that same year, I would have thought that Bowling Green would have followed suit about the same time with a supercar but obviously they had other ideas from a timing standpoint.

I expect that the 2023 Corvette Z06 supercar will be a tremendous success and it will be nice to know that once Ford discontinues production of their Ford GT supercar for the 2022 MY and Acura discontinues production of their NSX Type S supercar for the 2022 MY that we will have another supercar still being built in North America!

A coincidence from a launch timing standpoint, I don't think.

 

[WildHorse]

GM: Hold my beer.

Also GM: Plus will have it making 20 more horsepower than the supercharged 6.5L.

 

[barron64]

Ford hamstrung themselves years ago with the small bore spacing of the 4.6 mod motor. They have been struggling ever sense trying to work within the small bore limitations of this design. Chevrolet’s dedicated Z06 engine does not have this issue. Look at bore size vs GT350… 104.3mm vs 94 for the Shelby. Bigger bore, bigger valves, shorter stroke and higher redline = more HP. Your move Ford.

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