As the fastest, most powerful and most technologically advancedproduction model in Corvette's history, the Corvette Z06 offers anunprecedented level of capability and technology, making it one of thebest performance values on the market.
The Z06 has an unmistakable and aggressive appearance, withdesign cues that include:
* A wide front fascia with a large, forward-facing grille opening, a splitter along the bottom and wheel opening extensions along the sides to provide aerodynamic downforce
* A cold air scoop in front of the hood that integrates an air inlet system for the engine
* The trailing edge of the front wheel opening is radiused to achieve improved drag, but protects the body finish with a tough molding, and a large air extractor is located behind the wheel
* A fixed-roof body style optimizes body rigidity and mass
* Wider rear fenders with flares cover the massive rear tires and a brake cooling scoop in front of the wheels visually balances the fender extractor
* A tall rear spoiler houses the CHMSL on the top of the rear fascia
* 10-spoke wheels (18-inch, front; 19-inch, rear)
* Four large stainless steel exhaust outlets
* Z06 badging on the carbon fiber front fenders
The aerodynamics of the Z06's exterior were shaped by the experiences ofthe Corvette racing program, where high-speed stability and corneringcapability are paramount. And while the race cars use large rear wings,the Z06's elevated spoiler provides sufficient downforce to balance theroad-worthy front splitter without adversely affecting aerodynamic drag.The Z06's Cd is 0.34.
For all its race-inspired functionality, the Z06 is designed to be adaily-driveable high-performance vehicle. To that end, comfort andconvenience are held to a very high standard. High-Intensity Dischargelighting, fog lamps, leather seating, dual-zone air conditioning, cabinair filtration and head-up display (HUD) with track mode and g-meter arestandard.
The Z06 gauge cluster displays the Z06 logo on the 7000-redlinetachometer and has a readout on the oil pressure gauge to reflect thehigher standard pressure of the dry-sump oiling system. The seatsfeature two-tone leather surfaces, with Z06-logo embroidery andcontrasting stitching.
Z06 options include a Bose audio system with an in-dash six-CD changer,polished, Competition Gray or chrome wheels, a telescoping steeringwheel, heated seats, side-impact air bags, a navigation system with GPSand universal home remote.
The Z06's LS7 7.0L engine delivers 505 horsepower (377 kW)in a 3,132-pound (1,421 kg) package - a combination that delivers 0-60performance of 3.7 seconds in first gear, quarter-mile times of 11.7seconds at 125 mph and a top speed of 198 mph (as recorded on Germany'sAutobahn). It also provides maximum lateral acceleration of 1.04 g and60-0 braking in 111.3 feet; it also circuited Germany's famedNuerburgring in a time of 7:43.
The LS7 reintroduced the 427-cubic-inch engine to the Corvette lineup.It is easily identified under the hood by red engine covers with blacklettering. The LS7 shares the same basic Gen IV V-8 architecture as theCorvette's 6.0-liter LS2, but it uses a different cylinder block castingwith pressed-in steel cylinder liners to accommodate the engine's largerdiameter, 4.125-inch (104.8 mm) cylinder bores.
Internally, the LS7's reciprocating components make use ofracing-derived lightweight technology, including titanium connectingrods and intake valves, to help boost horsepower and rpm capability. Therpm fuel shut-off limit is 7,100 rpm. The LS7's details include:
* Dry-sump oiling system
* Unique cylinder block casting with large, 104.8-mm bores and pressed-in cylinder liners
* Forged steel main bearing caps
* Forged steel crankshaft
* Titanium connecting rods with 101.6-mm stroke
* Cast aluminum flat-top pistons
* 11.0:1 compression
* High-lift camshaft
* Racing-derived CNC-ported aluminum cylinder heads with titanium intake valves and sodium-filled exhaust valves
* Low-restriction air intake system
* Hydroformed exhaust headers with unique "quad flow" collector flanges.
One of the clearest examples of the LS7's race-bred technology is itsuse of titanium connecting rods. They weigh just 464 grams apiece andbesides being lightweight, which enhances high-rpm performance and rpmrange, titanium makes the rods extremely durable.
The LS7's CNC-ported aluminum cylinder heads are designed to meet thehigh airflow demands of the engine's 7.0-liter displacement. A hydraulicroller camshaft with 0.588/0.593-inch valve lift is used to allow plentyof air to circulate in and out of the engine. To ensure optimal,uninterrupted airflow, the LS7's heads have straight, tunnel-like intakerunners. Very large by production-vehicle standards - even racingstandards - they are designed to maintain fast airflow velocity,providing excellent torque at low rpm and exhilarating horsepower athigh rpm. The heads feature 70-cc combustion chambers that are fed byhuge, 56-mm-diameter titanium intake valves. They are complemented by41-mm sodium-filled exhaust valves.
To accommodate the large valve face diameters, the heads' valve seatsare siamesed; and, taken from experience with the engines of C6.Rracecars, the LS7's valve angles are held at 12 degrees - vs. 15 degreesfor the LS2 - to enhance airflow through the ports.
The LS7 has a dry-sump oiling system designed to keep the engine fullylubricated during the high cornering loads the Corvette Z06 is capableof producing. An engine compartment-mounted 8-quart reservoir deliversoil at a constant pressure to a conventional-style oil pump pick-up atthe bottom of the engine. The pressurized oil feed keeps the oil pick-upcontinually immersed in oil at cornering loads exceeding 1 g.
Oil circulates through the engine and down to the oil pan, where it issent back to the reservoir via a scavenge pump. The large-capacityreservoir, combined with a high efficiency air-to-oil cooler, providesnecessary engine oil cooling under the demands of the engine's poweroutput. With the dry-sump system, oil is added to the engine via thereservoir tank - which includes the oil level dipstick.
Drivetrain - The Corvette Z06's powertrain and drivetrain systems arematched to the LS7's performance capability. The light, four-into-oneheaders discharge into close-coupled catalytic converters and throughtwo-mode mufflers. The mufflers each feature a vacuum-actuated outletvalve, which controls exhaust noise during low-load operation but opensfor maximum power.
At the rear of the LS7 engine, a single-mass flywheel and lightweight,high-capacity clutch channel torque to the rear transaxle. The six-speedmanual transmission has been strengthened to handle the LS7's increasedtorque load. The transmission includes a pump that sends transmissionfluid to the front radiator for cooling. Upon its return, the fluidremoves additional heat from the differential lube before returning tothe transmission. The six-speed transmission connects to a limited-slipdifferential, with enlarged ring and pinion gears. Stronger axlehalf-shafts with tougher universal joints transmit power to the rearwheels.
Structure - The Z06 has a unique aluminum body structure for optimumstiffness and light weight for the fixed-roof bodystyle. Perimeter railsare one-piece hydroformed aluminum members featuring cast suspensionnodes, which replace many welded steel components on other Corvettemodels. Other castings, stampings and extrusions are combined into theinnovative structure with state-of-the-art manufacturing technologies.
Advanced structural composites featuring carbon fiber are bonded to thealuminum structure. The wider front wheelhouses, for example, are carboncomposites and the passenger compartment floors combine carbon-fiberskins with an ultra-lightweight balsa wood core.
The Z06 has a new magnesium cradle that serves as the attachment pointfor the engine and some front suspension components. Magnesium islighter than aluminum yet incredibly strong. The magnesium cradle helpsimprove the front-to-rear weight distribution, as do carbon-fiber frontfenders and wheelhouses. Engineers also moved the battery from underhoodto a position in the rear cargo area, behind one of the rear wheels.
The mass reductions are offset by some added performance enablers,including dry-sump lubrication, exhaust system with outlet valves,larger wheels and tires, larger brakes and larger roll stabilizers.
Suspension and brakes - The Z06 retains the 105.7-inch (2686-mm)wheelbase of other Corvette models, as well as the short-long armsuspension and transverse leaf spring design, but it rides on all-newwheels, tires, brakes, as well as its own rear spring and rollstabilizer.
The firmer suspension works harmoniously with large 18 x 9.5-inchcast-spun aluminum wheels and 275/35ZR18 tires in the front, and 19 x12-inch cast-spun aluminum wheels with 325/30ZR19 tires in the rear -the largest wheel-and-tire combination ever offered on a Corvette. Thetires use the latest extended-mobility technology from Goodyear toprovide a satisfactory ride, but still allow the vehicle to achievelateral acceleration of more than 1 g. The extended-mobility tireseliminate the need - and weight - for a spare tire and jack or inflatorkit, while also reducing the chance of a sudden loss of handlingcapability.
Complementing the suspension system and large rolling stock is anequally capable four-wheel disc brake system, consisting of 14-inch (355mm) vented and cross-drilled front rotors and 13.4-inch (340 mm) ventedand cross-drilled rear rotors.
The front rotors are acted upon by large, red-painted six-pistoncalipers that use six individual brake pads. Individual brake pads areused because they deliver more equalized wear compared to what wouldotherwise be a pair of very long single-piece pads. For the rear brakes,four-piston calipers with four individual brake pads are used. A Delphifour-channel ABS system is standard, as is a very competent activehandling system - complete with a Competitive Driving mode.