Car of the Month – April, 2024
2023 Corvette Z06 3LZ Convertible
2023 Corvette Z06 3LZ Convertible
Engine – LT6 333 CID DOHC 32-valve naturally aspirated V-8, aluminum block and heads, direct fuel injection
Horsepower – 670 hp @ 8400 rpm, 460 ft-lbs of torque @ 6300 rpm
Transmission – 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Curb Weight – 3,666 lbs
0-60 mph – 2.6 seconds
1/4 mile time – 10.5 seconds @ 131 mph
Top Speed – 189 mph
Number built – still in production
MSRP Price – $116,795.00 – $162,510.00 (depending on options)
Released for 2020, the eighth generation (C8) Corvette switched to a mid-mounted engine, a configuration that represented the most drastic change in the nameplate’s decades-long history. Placing the V-8 behind the passenger compartment allowed designers to completely reinvent the Corvette’s proportions, while engineers took advantage of the rear-biased weight distribution to dial in sharper handling.
With the new engine placement, the 2023 Z06 looks unlike any Z06 before it. Not only is it considerably wider than the regular Corvette Stingray but also it boasts bigger air intakes and a unique rear wing. Its special V-8 features a lightweight flat-plane crankshaft and a sky-high redline of 8,600 rpm, which is 2,100 rpm higher than the standard Corvette Stingray’s.
The Z06 has wider wheels, grippier tires, performance-oriented adaptive suspension dampers, and larger Brembo brakes. It also has distinct front and rear styling and a shorter drive ratio for quicker acceleration.
This Z06 comes with the 3LZ trim, which includes 20-inch front and 21-inch rear wheels, Magnetic Selective Ride Control, an electronic limited-slip differential, performance exhaust system, power-retractable hardtop, leather upholstery, heated and ventilated seats, a heated steering wheel, and an eight-inch touchscreen infotainment system.
The 2023 Corvette Z06 is unlike any street car built before by Chevrolet. With a new, race-bred, high-revving V-8 engine, a more aerodynamic and mechanical grip, and an exhaust note that’s more formula car wail than muscle car roar, it elevates the iconic nameplate into territory occupied by exotics the likes of Ferrari and Lamborghini.