2015 Z06 Corvette

[911pcars]

RE: The torque's the thing: 625-hp Z06 Corvette debuts in Detroit

An intro piece to the new Z06 Corvette. Must give some leeway to the writer who obviously likes cars and probably writes to an audience selected by GM, but probably not enough for this car guy to appreciate.

The writer concentrates on the gobs of torque this particular version provides. Yeah, 635 ft.lbs of torque is no laughing matter. However, the writer seems to have discovered the concept of supercharging a 6.2 liter (378 cu. in.) engine and then proceeds to share with us its advantages over turbocharging and its obvious results. Yes, there are disadvantages as well.

Additional revelations.
Automatic upshifts faster than a Porsche PDK. Okay. How about downshifts? Does the electronics provide rev-matching too? Never mind the slight power loss from the A/T torque converter and hydraulic bits. The power loss doesn't really matter with 635 torques on standby. Yes, A/T gearboxes have multiple gear sets and clutch packs, even my defunct Dodge Caravan had them, the replacement gearbox too.

A description of the removable CF roof panel and how, once installed, is 60% stiffer than the previous Vette. Not sure what that says about the rigidity of the previous GM chassis or that magical CF roof panel.

A torque tube connecting engine to rear axle - okay. Fords used that feature up until 1948. Why compare that feature with a similar backbone in the writer's 1963 AMC Rambler? Because the Ramber is newer? Both versions tie the drivetrain to the front/rear suspensions instead of the chassis - not as good as typical designs, even those with leaf springs and ladder frames. I guess all upgrades need a reference point. GM could have instead adapted Colin Chapman's lightweight backbone of a Lotus Elan (1962) instead of a …… Rambler.

2014 Z06 chassis:


2014 Z06 torque tube:


As one Corvette forum participant notes - paraphrasing: Corvette design engineers are hampered, like their testes locked between vise jaws. One jaw represents the design sensibilities of old age, brain-locked, corporate mindsets (board members). The other jaw is the massive amount of corporate bean-counters that impede what engineers are allowed to do.

Enough of an AM rant on an earnest attempt by GM. Let's hope Mary Barra, the new CEO, can shake things up.

Sherwood

[aschen]

I don't know it looks like a cool car to me. It will likely cost less than a base carrera and will be faster than a turbo or gt3 car. I expect this car will produce track times of shock and awe when it gets ran through its paces.

[onewhippedpuppy]

2015 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Photos and Info – News – Car and Driver

At least this one is from a car magazine. I'm sure it will be massively fast for not much money, but it's still ugly. I greatly prefer the C6 Z06. A torque converter automatic is an, ahem, interesting choice for a track oriented car. Fortunately they will offer a seven speed proper manual gearbox, which can't be said for many Porsches.

[Vintage914Racer]

Interesting sidebar. I saw the car in Detroit on Monday and the rear spoiler had a part number beginning with Z07. Not sure what that means for the future.

[aschen]

The Z07 package has already been announced officially. It includes all the carbon fiber bits, ceramic brakes, and r comp tires. The c6 z06 had a similar option pkg. Z07 optioned car is sufficently special that people call then z06/07.

I dont recall actually ever seing one on the road. I think most people just spent the extra 15k and got a zr1

[911pcars]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

2015 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Photos and Info – News – Car and Driver

At least this one is from a car magazine. I'm sure it will be massively fast for not much money, but it's still ugly. I greatly prefer the C6 Z06. A torque converter automatic is an, ahem, interesting choice for a track oriented car. Fortunately they will offer a seven speed proper manual gearbox, which can't be said for many Porsches.

GM is aiming for the wrong market if they're hoping to steal customers from Porsche. It's not a better Porsche, only better power.

As a track car, it has much potential (TBD), but I think their target audience should be their historical muscle car, drag strip market.

Sherwood

[VincentVega]

If thats the case, where does the Camaro fit?

It sounds like they got the drive train right, maybe the aesthetics will grow on my or they make some changes in a year or two.

[aigel]

+1 - at least you still get to row gears and press a clutch pedal!

G

[ZOO]

Originally Posted by 911pcars

GM is aiming for the wrong market if they're hoping to steal customers from Porsche. It's not a better Porsche, only better power.

As a track car, it has much potential (TBD), but I think their target audience should be their historical muscle car, drag strip market.

Sherwood

It has been my experience that there are more Corvettes at the track days that I attend than Porsches. Corvettes have a long history with road racing. Long and successful.

The competition is good for all of the brands.

[gsxrken]

A track car ought to be normally aspirated for weight, complexity issues and the ability to stay cool lap after lap. Color me skeptical that it can stay out for 20 minute hot-lapping in the summer. And a removable roof has nothing to do with is track capabilities. That's an odd option for the track-going version of a car, isn't it?
I agree there are many more Corvettes at the open track days I do than all of the Porsche's combined. And they are fast cars. I'd still feel ridiculous getting out of a corvette and walking into my office building, for example, and especially in the new Transformers edition- but they're comparatively cheap and they are very capable cars. I'm sure the new one is even better.

[ZOO]

Originally Posted by gsxrken

A track car ought to be normally aspirated for weight, complexity issues and the ability to stay cool lap after lap. Color me skeptical that it can stay out for 20 minute hot-lapping in the summer. And a removable roof has nothing to do with is track capabilities. That's an odd option for the track-going version of a car, isn't it?
I agree there are many more Corvettes at the open track days I do than all of the Porsche's combined. And they are fast cars. I'd still feel ridiculous getting out of a corvette and walking into my office building, for example, and especially in the new Transformers edition- but they're comparatively cheap and they are very capable cars. I'm sure the new one is even better.

I think the removeable roof is a strange feature for the ZO6. My Elise had it, but I left the hard top bolted in place.

I don't want to sound like a fanboy, but I know that GM now runs their track oriented cars through an entire tank of gas at their track without a break to ensure that they can withstand the rigours of that kind of use. I suspect that would take longer than 20 minutes. But with 650 horsepower maybe not much longer.

[911SauCy]

Originally Posted by VincentVega

If thats the case, where does the Camaro fit?

Dang good question...these clowns at GM are screwing their own hierarchy all up.

The Camaro is sweet, the SS is better, the 1LE is an SS but with ZL1 panels and "handling package" (supposedly better around a track than a Laguna Seca Coyote 5.0) the ZL1 is atop the heap...no sir, the Z28 is faster and cost $75k... Which is more than the vetted but doesn't perform like a Vette...?

Then the Vette, bad-A ZL-1, now the Z06 is going to be better...

They're all over the place and most likely going to make a lot of once happy owners very aggravated

[ZOO]

At least GM doesn't artificially limit the more competent chassis like some other manufacturer we know and love.

[Jim Richards]

Originally Posted by VincentVega

If thats the case, where does the Camaro fit?

It sounds like they got the drive train right, maybe the aesthetics will grow on my or they make some changes in a year or two.

^^^ditto.

[ruwoodbury]

A friend of mine stumbled onto a 2014 Corvette that had been ordered by another person and the deal fell through. He snapped it up and I have to say I like its looks, a lot, and the interior is so much better than the C6--both in looks and quality. The seats don't flex and the back rest looks like the sport plus seat option from Porsche.
I drove the car a week later, it wasn't broken in yet so I couldn't really get on it but my impression was: quick, fast and a glorious noise! It rode great for tooling around town, was smooth on the freeway and when you put you put your foot in it the car attempts to tear your head off. Very, very nice car. Would I buy it ahead of a 991S? No. But I don't know if that's an emotional response or if I'm simply a P-car snob.

[sc_rufctr]

[onewhippedpuppy]

I still prefer this one. More subtle and just as menacing. Also wickedly fast, easily the most scary fast car I have driven.

[motion]

World record for largest pic ever posted on the internet?

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by motion

World record for largest pic ever posted on the internet?

I fixed it dammit! Stupid Google image search......

[RWebb]

I wish they'd do the exterior as a retro-mobile.