The 2023 Corvette Z06 takes the performance of the eighth-generation Chevy Corvette C8 to a new level by introducing the new naturally aspirated 5.5L V8 LT6 gasoline engine, which offers a decidedly exotic exhaust note and sky-high 8,600-rpm redline. Now, it’s been reported that GM benchmarked the 2023 Corvette Z06 using a Ferrari 458 engine purchased online.
In an interview with The Drive, project chief engineer Jordan Lee said that when the new C8 Corvette Z06 development project was launched in 2014, GM engineers were keen to unpack Ferrari’s engines and see how they worked. However, rather than simply buying a Ferrari, the team instead looked online for a used engine.
“We were able to buy a wrecked car engine from Poland on eBay,” Lee said. “We sent them a check for something like $25,000, and we were all pretty pleased and thrilled that the engine actually did show up.”
The engine in question was the Ferrari F136, a naturally aspirated 4.5L V8 rated at 562 horsepower and 398 pound-feet of torque. By comparison, the atmospheric 5.5L V8 LT6 is rated at 670 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque. Like the F136, the LT6 also has a flat-plane crank.
5.5L V8 LT6
Later in the development process, when GM had a full-fledged prototype vehicle for on-road testing, the Ferrari 458 once again served as a benchmark. In fact, back in May of 2021, GM Authority caught a convoy that included a prototype 2023 Corvette Z06 and a Ferrari 458 Italia. According to Chevy spokesperson Trevor Thompkins, the Ferrari 458 was selected for the vehicle competitive set “in large part because of the engine.” Interestingly, it’s been reported that GM also purchased a newer Ferrari 488 as a benchmark, but decided to reverse course and replace the 488 with the 458 given the driving characteristics of former’s turbocharged V8.
As a reminder, the 2023 Corvette Z06 rides on the GM Y2 platform. Production will take place at the GM Bowling Green facility in Kentucky.
Subscribe to GM Authority for more Corvette Z06 news, mid-engine Corvette news, Corvette C8 news, Corvette news, Chevrolet news, and around-the-clock GM news coverage.
Comments
458 is the greatest modern Ferrari, of course haven’t driven one, but that is the industry consensus and there likely will never by a Ferrari ‘better’ than it ever again with the shift to EV
I agree such a beautiful car, and I’m sure a real pleasure to drive. I have not driven one either but I’ve seen a few.
Are General motor doing anything to help protect markup of the best selling cars or trucks price for the consumer ?
I will like to see what GM doing for the customers ?
Some dealer have marked up Corvettes in CA Stingway and Z06 plus $ 20,000 plus!😡
Call General Motors and let them know the dealer’s name that is overcharging the sticker price. GM has said that they cannot stop dealers from overcharging because there is nothing in the contract that they sign for selling their product stating that. But if they get reports of overcharging they can threaten the dealer by not giving them their quota. I don’t think there is any dealer that wants their quota on the corvette cut. They are too great of a seller.
You doen’t have to buy from a local dealer. I would suggest placing an order with Ciocca Corvette in NJ. Add the museum delivery in Bowling Green. Head East a few miles and take a loop through the Tail of the Dragon on the way back to CA. You won’t regret it!
I wish it was only $20,000.
don’t feel bad for people who can afford to pay $20K over sticker as they must have plenty of $$$
Will a bank even approve a loan if they know it’s $20k or more over MSRP.
people who can pay $20K over don’t finance their cars
Mine will approve 20% over. Crazy times.
I paid MSRP. I ordered my 2022 C8 from Rick Hendricks Chevrolet in Duluth, Georgia. No financing. Be prepared to wait at least 10 or 11 months. Maybe a year.
Forgot to nention. Less than $1,600 to ship it to California in an enclosed trailer.
Strictly my opinion but the gm engineers picked the wrong car to benchmark. I would have picked the real competition which is Porsche. Before the C8 folks start clamoring to burn me at the stake, how many folks have had the privilege of even sitting in a Ferrari? I haven’t but I have a Porsche sitting in my garage. Talk is cheap but believe me Porsche has a bullseye painted on the C8’s, they know who the competition is. Right now the C8 is the best value and maybe the Z06 will continue it just a little bit longer. I also wonder when gm will pull the plug on the C8 development? They have given up development on every car that they ever had. Gm is a car company that is hard to love.
Matt, I agree with you about the real competition for the Corvette is the Porsche. The layout, geometry and styling is more closely aligned with the Ferrari though. Dismantling and inspecting a flat six for design ideas and manufacturing tricks on a FPC V-8 would not be very useful. A Ferrari-rescue sound and image seems what GM is aiming at for the Z06.
I benchmarked the 458 Italia engine, and my partner at the time did the DCT.
This was my first assignment yom the Benchmarking/Cost engineering team. Total truth, the whole car came from Poland, I remember the top of the intake was covered in broken class bits haha, now I work full time in the C8 for TREMEC.
I do own a Ferrari 458 and out of all the cars that I have owned and own including Porsche it puts the biggest smile on my face. If GM can replicate a similar driving experience with the ZO6 it would be great news for Motor heads.
Any mention of curb weight for the new Z06?