The Z06 starts at $65,800. It is the most powerful
and expensive model in the Vette lineup and, interestingly, the
lightest. Usually, the best-performing car in any model lineup is
the beefiest, because adding horsepower generally means fortifying
other parts of the car to withstand the strain caused by big power.
The Z06's expanded power comes from a new pushrod
7.0-liter V-8 engine. Except for the titanium connecting rods and
intake valves, there's nothing in this engine's parts list to
suggest that it's a monster motor. The genius here is in the details,
with careful attention paid to maximum airflow and valvetrain weight
and stiffness. The result is a big engine that revs like a small one
to 7000 rpm with a 6300-rpm horsepower peak. The torque curve is
wide and flat with more than 400 pound-feet available between 2400
and 6400 rpm.
To handle an engine that could twist a maple tree
like a washrag, Chevy beefed up the rear axle, the six-speed manual
transmission, and the clutch, and installed wider wheels and larger
brakes. The idea, according to assistant chief engineer Tadge
Juechter, was to create a robust platform that could deal with the
stresses and heat of the big motor. To that end, the team also added
coolers for every fluid except brake fluid and enlarged the radiator.
To maintain oil pressure during sustained high-g cornering maneuvers,
they also installed a dry-sump oil system on the engine. Engine oil
is usually carried in a deep pan that hangs on the bottom of the
engine, but a dry-sump system uses a shallow pan and an external oil
reservoir. Oil capacity is eight quarts for the Z06 versus 5.5 for
the base car.
All the new bits added about 100 pounds to the base
3288-pound, 400-hp Vette, a figure that wouldn't burden the Z06's
power, which had been increased by 105 horses. But to Chevy's credit,
the team trimmed fat like the best Hollywood plastic surgeon.
The headliner in the weight-loss program is the
aluminum frame that weighs 136 pounds, which works out to a third
less than the regular Vette's heavier but stronger steel unit. To
retain chassis rigidity, the Z06 eschews the removable roof for a
fixed cast-magnesium structure and another magnesium piece for the
engine cradle.
Weight was also shed by using carbon-fiber
floorboards and front fenders and liners. The end result is a "mosaic
of materials," says Juechter. When all was said and done to the Z06,
it weighed in at 3147 pounds, or 141 less than the base Vette. To
put that in perspective, Ferrari's all-aluminum F430 weighs 3380
pounds, and Porsche's carbon-fiber $446,000 Carrera GT weighs 3146
pounds.
As little as the Z06 weighs, it does not feel like a
light, nimble car. To accommodate the wider rear tires (325/30ZR-19s
versus stock 285/35ZR-19s), the Z06's tail bulges an extra 3.3
inches for a 75.9-inch width; the car fills the width of a typically
narrow European back road.
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