mobile-menu-icon
GM Authority

Chevrolet Corvette Z06

The Corvette Z06 is a track-focused variant of the Chevrolet Corvette that spans five generations, including C2, C5, C6, C7 and C8.

Quick Facts

C2 Z06 C5 Z06 C6 Z06 C7 Z06 C8 Z06
Platform Series 0800 Y-Body Y-Body Y-Body Y2
Model Year(s) 1963 2001-2004 2006-2013 2015-2019 2023 – Present
Engines Atmospheric 5.4L V8 L84 Atmospheric 5.7L V8 LS6 Atmospheric 7.0L V8 LS7 Supercharged 6.2L V8 LT4 Atmospheric 5.5L V8 LT6
Transmissions 4-Speed Manual 6-Speed Manual 6-Speed Manual 7-Speed Manual or 8-Speed Auto 8-Speed Auto Dual Clutch
Production GM St. Louis Plant, Missouri, USA GM Bowling Green Plant, Kentucky, USA GM Bowling Green Plant, Kentucky, USA GM Bowling Green Plant, Kentucky, USA GM Bowling Green Plant, Kentucky, USA

Corvette C2 Z06

1963 Corvette Z06.

1963 Corvette Z06

Model Year(s) 1963
Assembly location GM St. Louis Plant, Missouri, USA
Body Style Coupe, Convertible
Layout Front-Engined, Longitudinal
Engine(s) Atmospheric 5.4L V8 L84 (OHV)
Power (hp) 360
Torque (lb-ft) 358
Transmission(s) 4-Speed Manual
Drive Wheels Rear-Wheel Drive
Platform Series 0800

The first-ever Corvette Z06 was conceived by Zora Arkus-Duntov – colloquially known as the “father of the Corvette” – in an effort to bypass General Motors’ ban on factory racing involvement. Eventually designated with the Z06 RPO code, Zora created this package as a way to continue with parts development for individuals who planned to race their Corvettes independently. Of course, as a track-focused option, the C2 Corvette Z06 was intended for competitive use and included performance features like anti-roll bars, a vacuum brake booster, dual master cylinders, sintered-metallic brake linings, power-assisted AI-Fin drums, front air scoops and venting back plates, larger shocks and springs, and a 36.5-gallon fuel tank.

1963 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 rear three quarters

Power came from a naturally aspirated 5.4L V8 L84 gasoline engine, which featured Rochester fuel injection and was rated at 360 horsepower and 358 pound-feet of torque. Output was delivered to the rear wheels via a four-speed manual transmission.

Solely available for the 1963 model year, there were only 199 units of the Corvette C2 Z06 built. It’s worth noting that this rarity could be due to the fact that the Z06 option was hidden in the order form, and that the performance-minded package was priced at $1,818.45, nearly half the total price of an entry-level Corvette C2 model.

[nggallery id=1346]

Corvette C5 Z06

2001 Corvette Z06.

2001 Corvette Z06

Model Year(s) 2001-2004
Assembly location GM Bowling Green Plant, Kentucky, USA
Body Style Coupe
Layout Front-Engined, Longitudinal
Engine(s) Atmospheric 5.7L V8 LS6 (OHV)
Power (hp) 385 (2001), 405 (2002-2004)
Torque (lb-ft) 385 (2001), 400 (2002-2004)
Transmission(s) 6-Speed Manual
Drive Wheels Rear-Wheel Drive
Platform Y-Body

Following a nearly 40-year hiatus, the Z06 moniker returned with the Corvette C5 generation. Intended as a successor to the Corvette C4 ZR-1, the C5 Z06 was based on the most structurally rigid – and lightest – C5 configuration, the Fixed Roof Coupe (FRC). From there, the Z06 featured uprated FE4 suspension, a larger wheel and tire package, revised gearing ratios, functional brake cooling ducts, a titanium exhaust system, reduced sound proofing, and more weight-savings measures.

In its inaugural 2001 model year, the C5 Z06 was powered by a tuned version of the naturally aspirated 5.7L V8 LS1 gasoline engine found underneath the hood of standard Corvette C5 models. Dubbed LS6, output was rated at 385 horsepower and 385 pound-feet of torque. The engine was revised for the 2002 model year with a larger air intake, stiffer valve springs, lighter sodium-filled valves, a more aggressive camshaft, and increased timing. All these updates resulted in a power jump to 405 horsepower and 400 pound-feet torque.

2001 Corvette Z06.

2001 Corvette Z06

Despite lower power figures than its C4 ZR-1 predecessor, the C5 Z06 was able to outperform the C4 ZR-1 in every category except top speed due to its lower curb weight at 3,118 pounds. The Corvette C5 Z06 could accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 3.9 seconds and recorded an 11.9-second time in the 1/4 mile.

2001 Corvette Z06

For its final 2004 model year, the C5 Z06 Commemorative Edition (RPO code Z16) featured a carbon fiber hood, commemorative-edition badging and wheel center caps, polished aluminum wheels, special paint color and striping, and revised shock damping.

[nggallery id=1347]

Corvette C6 Z06

2010 Corvette Z06.

2010 Corvette Z06

Model Year(s) 2006-2013
Assembly location GM Bowling Green Plant, Kentucky, USA
Body Style Coupe
Layout Front-Engined, Longitudinal
Engine(s) Atmospheric 7.0 V8 LS7 (OHV)
Power (hp) 505
Torque (lb-ft) 470
Transmission(s) Tremec 6-Speed Manual TR6060
Drive Wheels Rear-Wheel Drive
Platform Y-Body

Introduced as a homologation special, the Corvette C6 Z06 was engineered with track days in mind. To that end, the C6 Z06 feature all sorts of performance goodies, including an aluminum chassis, larger anti-sway bars, stiffer shocks and springs, transmission cooler, functional brake ducts, forged aluminum wheels, six-piston front and four-piston rear calipers, wider carbon fiber fenders, and a hand-built engine.

That came in the form of the naturally aspirated 7.0L V8 LS7, found under the hood of every C6 Z06. This powerplant holds the distinction as the largest-ever GM/Chevrolet Small Block engine ever produced, and was also the most powerful atmospheric engine General Motors ever manufactured until the C8 Z06. Rated at 505 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque, the LS7 featured a dry sump oiling system and titanium alloy connecting rods.

For the 2011 model year, Chevrolet debuted the C6 Z06 Carbon Edition. Intended to bridge the gap between the Z06 and the higher-performance Corvette ZR1 model, the Carbon Edition featured carbon ceramic brakes, active suspension, and other carbon fiber aerodynamic bits. There were roughly 250 units produced. In the following 2012 and 2013 model years, the features included in the Carbon Edition could be ordered through the Z07 package.

[nggallery id=130]

Corvette C7 Z06

2015 Corvette Z06.

2015 Corvette Z06

Model Year(s) 2015-2019
Assembly location GM Bowling Green Plant, Kentucky, USA
Body Style Coupe, Convertible
Layout Front-Engined, Longitudinal
Engine(s) Supercharged 6.2L V8 LT4 (OHV)
Power (hp) 650
Torque (lb-ft) 650
Transmission(s) Tremec 7-Speed Manual TR6070 Or GM Hydra-Matic 8-Speed Auto 8L90
Drive Wheels Rear-Wheel Drive
Platform Y-Body

One model year after the introduction of the Corvette C7, the C7 Z06 was unveiled at the North American International Auto Show for the 2015 model year. Exterior changes over the “standard” Corvette C7 Stingray included a wide body configuration, removable carbon fiber roof panel, front splitter, unique carbon fiber hood with a larger vent, larger front fender vents and unique air blades, a larger unique rear spoiler, and larger rear-fascia openings.

Moving to the interior, the C7 Z06 was offered with the choice of two magnesium-frame seats, a steel-reinforced grab bar, a bevy of soft-touch materials, and trimmings of Nappa leather, aluminum, carbon fiber, and microsuede, depending on trim.

2015 Corvette Z06.

2015 Corvette Z06

In the performance realm, the C7 Z06 featured Brembo brakes, aluminum six-piston front and four-piston rear calipers, an SLA-type front and rear suspension setup, Magnetic Ride Control dampers, electronic limited-slip differential (eLSD), and Performance Traction Management.

Under the hood, the supercharged 6.2L V8 LT4 gasoline engine boasted a 1.7L Eaton supercharger that helped to deliver 650 horsepower and 650 pound-feet of torque. Transmission options included the Tremec-supplied 7-Speed TR6070 manual or the GM Hydra-Matic 8-Speed automatic 8L90.

Those looking for even higher levels of performance could opt for the Z07 package, which added higher-performance tires, carbon ceramic brakes, and revised suspension tuning. Additionally, the optional stage two carbon fiber aero package included a carbon fiber front splitter with winglets, carbon fiber rocker panels, and a larger rear spoiler, while the stage three package tacked on larger front winglets and a clear, adjustable wickerbill.

[nggallery id=588] [nggallery id=932]

Corvette C8 Z06

2023 Corvette Z06.

2023 Corvette Z06

Model Year(s) 2023 – Present
Assembly location GM Bowling Green Plant, Kentucky, USA
Body Style Coupe, Convertible
Layout Mid-Engined, Longitudinal
Engine(s) Atmospheric 5.5L V8 LT6 (DOHC)
Power (hp) 670
Torque (lb-ft) 460
Transmission(s) Tremec 8-Speed Dual-Clutch Automatic
Drive Wheels Rear-Wheel Drive
Platform Y2

Following in the footsteps of the C6 Z06, the Corvette C8 Z06 was launched as a homologation special for the 2023 model year. One of the biggest highlights of the C8 Z06 was the powerplant – the naturally aspirated 5.5L V8 LT6 gasoline engine. Featuring a DOHC valvetrain setup (a first for the Corvette Z06), and a flat-plane crank, the LT6 surpassed Mercedes-Benz’ M159 engine to earn the title of the most powerful naturally aspirated production V8 engine thanks to its 670 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque.

Additional notable features of the special LT6 engine included dual-coil valve springs, titanium intake and sodium-filled exhaust valves, forged aluminum pistons, forged titanium connecting rods, twin 87-millimeter throttle bodies, and a six-stage 10-quart dry sump oiling system.

2024 Corvette Z06.

2024 Corvette Z06

In the aerodynamics department, the entry-level C8 Z06 was equipped with a front splitter and a rear spoiler combination that developed up to 365 pounds of downforce at 186 mph. Meanwhile, the optional Z07 Performance Package added a larger front splitter, dive planes, a larger rear wing, and an underbody strake that worked together to produce up to 734 pounds of downforce at 186 mph.

Other Z07 goodies included optional carbon ceramic brakes, sticker tires, a specially-tuned FE7 suspension setup with Magnetic Ride Control 4.0 dampers, and available carbon fiber wheels.

All told, the Corvette C8 Z06 is a track-focused performance machine. General Motors reported a 0-60 mph sprint in 2.6 seconds, a quarter mile run in 10.6 seconds, and top speeds in excess of 200 mph.

[nggallery id=1130] [nggallery id=1312]

Sales

See Corvette sales numbers for global markets.

Discussion

Discuss the Corvette Z06 in our Chevy forum.

Z06 News

Subscribe to GM Authority

For around-the-clock GM news coverage

We'll send you one email per day with the latest GM news. It's totally free.