Producing 670 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque from the mid-mounted, naturally aspirated 5.5L V8 LT6 gasoline engine, the up-and-coming 2023 Corvette Z06 is a real rocket ship. Funny enough, General Motors actually added 54 rocket ship “easter eggs” around the 2023 Corvette Z06’s engine bay and powerplant.
Per a recent report from Ward’s Auto, the rocket ship easter eggs can be found on the 5.5L V8 LT6 engine block, valve covers, and various other components. The rocket ships give a nod to the NASA astronauts of the moonshot era, who, as most Corvette fans know, were huge fans of the America’s sports car.
Rocket ship easter egg located below the LT6 logo on the intake manifold
Further rocket ship connections can be found in the name given to the internal development project that gave birth to the LT6 engine, specifically GM’s Project Gemini. Project Gemini was also NASA’s second human spaceflight program in the ‘60s, which helped to pave the way to the Apollo missions that put astronauts on the Moon.
The 5.5L V8 LT6 gasoline engine is framed as the most powerful naturally aspirated V8 engine ever equipped in a production car, infusing the 2023 Corvette Z06 with some real race car stuff. Highlights include an aluminum block, lightweight flat-plane crankshaft, CNC-ported intake and combustion chambers, forged aluminum pistons, forged titanium connecting rods, dry-sump lubrication, and unique water cooling jackets, among several other high-tech, performance-boosting features.
Redline is set at a head-spinning 8,600 rpm, blessing the 2023 Corvette Z06 with a decidedly exotic exhaust note, as GM Authority covered previously. In fact, General Motors benchmarked the new Z06 against European makes like Ferrari, Porsche, and McLaren.
Output is sent exclusively to the rear axle by way of an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and eLSD, with Z06-specific wheels and tires onboard to put it to the pavement. The 2023 Corvette Z06 also features Magnetic Ride Control 4.0 suspension.
Production will take place at the GM Bowling Green assembly facility in Kentucky.
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Comments
With GM’s notorious inability and slow response to correct a serious valve-train problem in their 5.3 and 6.2, any potential ZO6 buyer might want to wait and see what kind of problems this entirely new engine design has. They might be wise to find a forum devoted to the flat plane crank Mustangs too.
Simply – never buy a first-year anything !!
billj598 That engine has already proved itself in IMSA racing for years. It has been dominant..
While I don’t want to admit that you’re right as I’m a die hard Chevy girl, damnit you’ve got a valid point. I think such is true with all newer model years with every manufacturer. It’s always prudent to be observant of growing pains and oversights that maybe the highly intelligent well educated team did not anticipate, because in the end their humans too.
Did you mean “they are (or they’re)” humans too ?
what the forum does not need is grammar cops
John, so glad you’re here so that I could understand Lynne’s comment. Without your grammar correction I would have been totally lost.
In 72 bought a first off the boat 2002tii. Great decision!
I have on order a Z06 too!
A thing of beauty is a joy forever. I want one of those engines on display in my living room.
And you can build your cars engine… I want that.
The Engine Build Experience is selected with order code PBC and is offered on all Z06 and ZR1 trim levels. The $5,000 package includes a full day with a Performance Build Center engine assembly technician who instructs and oversees the build, a personalized engine plaque identifying the owner/builder
Don’t believe anything anyone other than Mary Barra says about a GM product…
Her Lying is worth $20 Million Dollars in bonus money per year, especially if GM is Killing customers.
With an article about the “easter eggs/rocket ship” you’d think they would show one in the main article. I guess click bait to Ward’s Auto pays more. Looks and sounds from articles like an awesome engine..with a ton of IMSA race hours for proving.
Absolutely. It came across as saying nothing about nothing.
If you enlarge the pic you can actually see 4 of them from the photos, there might be more but that’s just a quick glance.
I feel, this Z06 is one of the most exciting Corvette Creations to come along ever. It’s a chance to own something really special! Of course I’m not the only one who feels this way, and my one concern is availability and the chance of me an average guy without connections to have a chance at being able to order one?