2015 Chevy Corvette Z06 confirmed for Detroit Auto Show debut
Wed, 04 Dec 2013
As capable as the new Corvette Stingray is, and as many as Chevy has sold so far, we all knew it was only the beginning. The Stingray Convertible goes on sale later this month, but the version enthusiasts have really been looking forward to is the Z06. And soon the wait will be over.
Although Chevrolet hasn't released much in the way of details to go with the teaser shot you see above, it has confirmed that the new Corvette Z06 will be unveiled in full at the Detroit Auto Show next month. All we can really glean from the teaser image are the low-profile Michelin Pilot Sport Cup tires on lightweight-looking alloys, as well as carbon-fiber side skirt and fender-flare extensions. Promised to be "the most track-capable Corvette ever," the new Z06 (not Z07 as previously speculated) was "designed to deliver supercar levels of performance through unique powertrain, chassis and aerodynamic features."
Once production gets under way late next year, it will join a growing family of performance Chevys, alongside the Camaro range, the new SS performance sedan, and of course the rest of the Corvette lineup. Scope out the press release below for the full text.
Chevrolet to Introduce 2015 Corvette Z06 at Detroit Show
Most-capable Corvette ever will lead industry's broadest range of performance cars
DETROIT – Chevrolet will introduce the 2015 Corvette Z06 next month at the North American International Auto Show, in Detroit. It will be the most track-capable Corvette ever, designed to deliver supercar levels of performance through unique powertrain, chassis and aerodynamic features.
The debut of the Corvette Z06 will complete Chevrolet's performance-car lineup, which will also see the addition of the Corvette Stingray convertible, Camaro Z/28 and SS sedan.
"Chevrolet is America's favorite performance car brand, and for 2014 we are going to offer enthusiasts more choices than ever before," said Alan Batey, senior vice-president, Global Chevrolet. "No other manufacturer will be able to match the breath of performance cars from Chevrolet."
Chevrolet Sells One out of four performance cars in 2013
For the first 11 months of 2013, Chevrolet has accounted for approximately 25 percent of all performance car sales in the U.S. as Corvette and Camaro continue to lead their respective segments.
Corvette outsold its closest competitor, the Porsche 911, for the first 11 months of 2013. This is all the more remarkable given Corvette production was halted for six-months, in order to upgrade the Bowling Green, Ky., assembly plant to build the 2014 Corvette Stingray. In November, Corvette sales jumped 229 percent year-over-year, as demand for the new Stingray continues to outstrip supply.
Camaro also outsold its closest competitor, the Ford Mustang, for the first 11 months of 2013. Camaro enters December with a 4,093-unit lead in total sales. More importantly, Camaro has an estimated 10,000-unit lead in retail sales. If that lead continues through the end of the year, 2013 will be the fourth consecutive year Camaro has been the best-selling sports car in the U.S.
Four new Performance Cars for 2014
The sales lead for Chevrolet is expected to accelerate as the brand adds four new performance cars to the lineup, including:
- First full calendar year of sales for the 2014 Chevrolet SS sedan: The all-new SS, which went onsale in October of 2013, is based on a race-proven, global platform that underpins the Camaro, Caprice police vehicle and, in Australia, the high-performance Holden VF Commodore. Elements including lightweight aluminum hood and deck lid panels help give the SS a nearly 50/50 weight balance, while the performance of its 6.2L V-8 – rated at 415 horsepower – and six-speed automatic transmission enables 0-60 mph acceleration in five seconds flat.
- First full year of sales for the 2014 Corvette Stingray Convertible: The Stingray Convertible, which goes on sale this month, shares identical chassis tuning and performance technologies with the coupe, with structural changes limited to accommodations for the folding top and repositioned safety belt mounts. As such, the Stingray Convertible requires no sacrifices for a drop-top driving experience, offering up to 460 horsepower /465 lb.-ft. with the available performance exhaust system; capable of more than 1 g in cornering; and sprinting from 0-60 in under 4 seconds.
- Arrival of the 2014 Camaro Z/28: The Camaro Z/28, which arrives in dealers in the second-quarter of 2014, will be the most track-capable Camaro ever. Recently, the Z/28 logged a 7:37.40 lap on Germany's legendary Nürburgring road course, a time comparable with some of the world's most prestigious sports cars – and the Z/28 lap was completed in the rain.
- Debut of the 2015 Corvette Z06: The all-new Corvette Z06 will make its public debut at the 2014 North American International Auto Show in Detroit in January. Production is expected to begin in late 2014.
Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is now one of the world's largest car brands, doing business in more than 140 countries and selling more than 4.5 million cars and trucks a year. Chevrolet provides customers with fuel-efficient vehicles that feature spirited performance, expressive design, and high quality. More information on Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.com.
By Noah Joseph