The all-new, hand-built Corvette Z06 will go on sale throughout Europe in December. The Z06, fitted with a 7.0 litre V8 engine producing 511 hp, is the fastest and most powerful Corvette ever built and was developed alongside the C6.R racing car that won at the Le Mans 24 hours race this year.Thanks to its close technical relationship to the C6.R racing car the new Corvette Z06 production version can easily compete with the most exotic supercars from Europe. It achieves a top speed of 198 mph and a 0 to 62 mph acceleration time of 3.9 seconds.The standard production version of the Z06 demonstrated its racing pedigree in a recent test on the extremely demanding Nürburgring racing circuit, where it recorded a fastest lap time of 7 minutes and 43 seconds.Twin brother to Le Mans winnerThe new Corvette Z06 and the Corvette C6.R that took first place in its class at this year’s Le Mans 24 hours race are twin brothers in many respects. Chief engineer David C. Hill explains, "They were developed literally alongside each other with the result that both cars have similar engines, powertrains, dry-sump oil-distribution systems and similar lightweight titanium and carbon-fibre components." The technical transfer went both ways, he explains: "There can be no doubt that the people that created these cars learned from each other. The race car looks like the production version and owners know that the car that won at Le Mans 2005 is very much based on the car in their driveway."The 7.0 litre V8 engine, hand built and blueprinted like in the racing car, is the most powerful ever built by Corvette or GM for a production car. It produces 511 hp (376kW) at 6300 rpm and 634 Nm at 4800 rpm. It features a high 7,000 rpm limit, made possible by optimising the intake and exhaust flow and by using intake valves and connecting rods made out of high-strength lightweight titanium. Racing technology was used when developing the dry-sump oil system that guarantees optimum lubrication even under extreme acceleration, braking and cornering and in the use of lightweight and ultra stiff carbon fibre and balsa wood composite for the construction of the floor.The Z06 is equipped with a specially tuned chassis and brakes to match the 198 mph top speed. Brakes get drilled rotors and are equipped with six-piston front callipers and four-pistons at the rear. The Goodyear P325/30ZR-19 Eagle F1 Supercar rear tyres are the biggest ever on a Corvette.There is a choice of six exterior colours – Le Mans Blue Metallic, Black, Velocity Yellow, Machine Silver Metallic, Daytona Sunset Orange Metallic and Victory Red. The Ebony interior can be combined with red or titanium accents.The Z06 has an extensive list of standard equipment with only polished wheels and an integrated DVD navigation system with voice recognition technology and a Bose premium 7-speaker sound system available as options. Cadillac & Corvette Europe has already received more than 150 orders for the Z06 even though European customers have not yet been able to drive the car.The price of the Corvette Z06 in the UK is expected to be in the region of £60,000.
