Chevrolet Pulls The Plug On Corvette Z06

Richard Cranium

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Not that I or many here would buy one, but FJB strikes again.

Tightening legislation and problems with engine development have forced GM to reevaluate its product plans.

The Chevrolet Corvette Z06 is an icon that has been with us since 1963, but its time in the sun is now coming to an end. Despite spending a fortune on its engine and tuning the chassis to keep up with the demands of the Nurburgring, General Motors has made the call to kill the Z06 before legislation does. GM has realized that the future of mobility is electric, and allowing the Z06 to be released to the public would "send the wrong message." The shocking news comes from a statement in which GM's Senior Vice President of engine development, Dr. Ian Michael Joshing says, "We set out to evolve the Z06's engine from the one used in the C8.R Corvette race car. At the time, we thought it would be possible to reduce emissions, but the pursuit of the most powerful naturally aspirated V8 has proven too great an endeavor for Detroit's finest engineers." He goes on to say that while it would meet current legislative targets, incoming rule changes for 2024 would mean the Z06 would be extremely shortlived.

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This is not unlike the move made by Subaru in deciding not to pursue an STI based on the current generation WRX. Furthermore, we've already seen Mercedes-AMG struggle with turning a racecar engine into a street-legal one with the AMG ONE.

GM has had no problem killing cool cars in the past and is still facing numerous production challenges that have added months or even years to the wait times experienced by even regular Corvette Stingray owners, thereby preventing Z06 production from getting underway soon enough to justify the investment. Thus, Chevrolet has decided that killing the Z06 in America would provide the best outcome for everyone. With no Z06 orders to fulfill, the regular Stingray's production schedules can catch up with demand, before a sticker pack and some new colors are introduced at the end of 2023 as part of a Final Edition send-off for the combustion-powered sports car. But what of all the engines already produced, and what happens to reservations already made?


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Well, that V8 with its flat-plane crank resonated well with the public, so Chevy will sell it as a crate engine alongside its 10-liter Hellephant eater. However, it will be sold with restrictions and buyers will have to sign an agreement stating that the engine will only be used in regulated motorsport applications. As for the myriad interested buyers of the actual car, their pre-orders have already been converted to E-Ray reservations, which Hank Enyo-Chen, GM's Junior Executive Vice President of North American Operations & Activities, concedes "will disappoint those who do not share [GM's] vision."

The E-Ray will be the first hybrid Corvette, and with close to 650 horsepower expected to come from this setup, Z06 buyers won't be missing out on much in terms of raw performance, although the experience will certainly be less engaging. For the C9 generation, the Z06 will return, but as a range-topping all-electric halo car. You may not like this new world, but it's the one you've got so you may as well embrace it.

https://carbuzz.com/news/chevrolet-...tm_campaign=carbuzz-facebook&utm_content=post
 

DeltaV

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GM's vision has always been myopic...profits or earnings for this fiscal quarter.
 

DeltaV

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I've seen a few C8s on the road this year. They are more interesting (visually) than the other cars on the road 'round here.
 

JackR

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The new ones are pretty nice but they are appearing everywhere in Phoenix.

I had a C6 Z06. It was fast. I really hated the car though. I drove it to the local coffee house one morning and a good looking lady says “that’s some mid life crisis”. Sold it and bought my 911.
 

Runcharger

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Could always build a turbo, straight six truck engine like Cummins and Stellantis do.
 

AR67GTX

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Somehow I’m not surprised - first an EV Mustang SUV and now GM caves on the ZO6. Think I’ll go out in the garage and give my gas guzzling 7 liter plus muscle cars a hug.
 

Cranky

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''buyers will have to sign an agreement stating that the engine will only be used in regulated motorsport applications.'' Yeah, like I would sign that and then follow it to the letter? lol

And guys, this is the GENERAL forum....not the political forum so please keep the politics out. Thanks.
 

eldubb440

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I had a C6 Z06. It was fast. I really hated the car though. I drove it to the local coffee house one morning and a good looking lady says “that’s some mid life crisis”. Sold it and bought my 911.

I would have told her, "your face is a mid life crisis"

Fred Sanford style
 
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65wgn440

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Hoax. They got the "agreement signing" thing from that massive crate engine they offer. I do believe you must actually sign that agreement when you purchase one of those.
 

AR67GTX

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:popcorn:The C8 guys on Corvette Forum are saying it’s an April 1rst hoax.
 
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