The 2015 Corvette Z06 is available with an optional Z07 package, which adds an aggressive carbon fiber aerodynamics package, Brembo carbon ceramic brakes and Michelin Pilot Sport Cup tires. The Z07 pack can really work its magic on a dry racetrack, but the performance tires are less than ideal for wet weather driving, something one Chevrolet engineer found out the hard way.
Corvette Z06s are currently making their way through General Motors’ Captured Test Fleet. Engineers drive the cars in order to collect real world data on them before their release to the public. One employee was driving a Daytona Sunrise Orange Z06 Convertible with the optional Z07 package down I-94 in Jackson, Mich. when it “spun out and took another vehicle with it through a cable wire median,” according to a Corvette Blogger reader who witnessed the crash.
At a first glance this wreck doesn’t seem so bad, but then you realize the wire barrier sliced through the Corvette to the point where it was almost touching the driver’s seat. If they were travelling a little faster, the driver of the Z06 could have been in much worse shape. Corvette Blogger doesn’t report any injuries related to the accident, so we’re going to assume everyone (hopefully) made it out okay.
This is the first time we’ve seen a Z06 in Daytona Sunrise Orange out in public, but we wish it was under better circumstances. Let’s just hope this doesn’t become a trend with Z07-equipped Z06s once they reach customer hands.
Comments
About two years ago, just North of there on US23; near GM’s Milford Proving Grounds, a similar accident happened with a Viper driven by a Chrysler engineer. He wasn’t so lucky, as I believe the cable caused significant injuries and he passed away immediately.
aahhaaaaaa not easy to drive this thing
It is easy to drive but as you do with any real performance car you have to respect it. It all comes down to how you drive based on condition and the use of that long pedal on the right. You mistreat any performance car it will bite you no matter how much electronic controls it has.
I just worry with the performance tires that the MFG may get in trouble someday from some lawyer taking them to court for not disclosing their performance nature clearly enough.
As for these cable I hate them. To be honest I see more damage and injury with these than any of the head on crashes they are to prevent.