Chevrolet Corvette Z06 (2014) first teaser picture

By Ben Pulman

First Official Pictures

05 December 2013 11:00

Coincidence? On the same day that Ford has revealed the new Mustang, Chevrolet has announced a new Corvette in a cheeky bid by one iconic American sports car to deflect attention away from another. Unlike the Mustang it’s not an all-new model, but instead a harder, faster, more track-focused variant of the Corvette, the new Z06.

And to keep some of that spotlight shining on the new Chevrolet Corvette Z06, it’ll be unveiled at the 2014 Detroit motor show in January where the Ford Mustang will also be officially revealed. Fight!

It’s the 911 GT3 of the Corvette range, and Chevrolet itself promises this new Z06 will be ‘the most track-capable Corvette ever’. Based on the latest C7-generation Corvette – which has unveiled earlier in 2013 – Chevrolet proclaims the Z06 has been ‘designed to deliver supercar levels of performance through unique powertrain, chassis and aerodynamic features’.

Expect more power and torque, a more aggressive bodykit, and upgraded suspension and braking components, plus a more driver-focused interior.

The outgoing C6-generation Corvette Z06 was powered by a huge 7.0-litre V8 that burbled out 505bhp and 470lb ft, and whipped it to 60mph in just 3.7 seconds. It’s not yet clear whether the new C7 Z06 will use an upgraded 7.0, but rumours circulating Stateside have speculated upon a supercharged version of the 6.2-litre V8 that powers the standard C7.

It’s also unclear quite how hardcore the new Z06 Corvette will be, but the sole teaser image released by Chevrolet shows a yellow Z06 fitted with sticky Michelin Pilot Sport Cup tyres, along with extended side sills. On the C6 Z06 the Michelin Cup tyres, along with carbon-ceramic brakes, were part of a optional Z07 Performance Package, while other extras included adaptive dampers and a carbonfibre bonnet, roof, bumpers and sills. Expect the hardest possible variant of Z06 to be revealed in Detroit, in an attempt to make the new 420bhp Mustang GT look rather weedy.

Of course, more powerful Mustangs, including a 600bhp+ Shelby version, are coming…

UK sales of the regular C7 Corvette start early in 2014, but although £61,495 seems like a bargain for a 460bhp sports car (a 395bhp Porsche 911 Carrera S is £83,448) it’ll be left-hand drive only. As for the Z06, it seems Chevrolet UK will concentrate on selling the standard ‘Vette first, before looking at any British Z06 sales.

By Ben Pulman