Chevrolet has given the next generation Corvette Z06 an all-new direct-injection supercharged V8 producing a staggering 625 horsepower (or 466 kW), and the option of a seven-speed manual or an eight-speed automatic transmission.
Significantly, this new Z06 has more torque than the previous beefiest Corvette, the ZR1 which was also powered by a supercharged 6.2 liter V8 (but an older design), which was the fastest Corvette of all time when it was launched in 2009.
600 BHP Corvette
(A recap on “torque” is timely. Torque is the measure of an engine’s ability to overcome resistance. Race track scuttlebutt goes, “Horsepower sells cars, but torque wins races!”)
The new Z06 has 861 Nm versus 819 Nm for the ZR1, which is enough pulling power to tow Pattaya City Hall down to the Amari Resort beach.
Chevrolet is yet to publish performance times for the new Z06 but the previous ZR1 could cover the zero to 100 km/h in 3.1 seconds and had a top speed of 330 km/h. With more brute horsepower and torque expect 340 km/h top speed and zero to 100 km/h in 2.9 seconds.
The only clue the company will give about performance is to say that the new Z06 laps faster than the previous ZR1. And to think the next generation ZR1 is still to be developed.
