Corvette
Z06
The Corvette Z06 arrived as a
2006 model in the third quarter of 2005. It has a 7.0
L (7,008 cc/427.6 in³) version of the Small-Block
engine codenamed LS7.
The Z06 achieves 16/26 mpg (city/highway),
and the output is 505 hp (376 kW).
Dave Hill, the chief
engineer for the C6 Corvette, says that it is a much
further departure from the standard Corvettes, and
more like the C6-R that GM is building for the American
Le Mans Series.
In the summer of 2005,
GM and Corvette Racing driver Jan Magnussen brought
the new Z06 to the Nürburgring in Germany.
Magnussen drove the Z06 to a time of 7:42.99. Car
and Driver recorded a 0-60 mph time of 3.6 seconds
in their March 2007 comparison test. In addition
to the larger engine, the Corvette Z06 has a dry sump
oiling system, and Connecting rods made out of titanium
alloy.
The primary structural element of the
sixth-generation Z06 is aluminum instead of steel as
on the non-Z06 cars. The hydroformed aluminum frame
remains dimensionally identical to its steel brethren
but are significantly lighter. The front fenders are
made of carbon fiber to reduce weight, while wider
rear fenders allow for the wider tires necessary to
deal with the engine's increased power. The Z06 officially
weighs 3132 lb (1421 kg), giving it a weight to power
ratio of 6.2 lb/hp (3.8 kg/kW |