2006 Chevrolet Corvette Preview

Chevy Outdoes Itself

The Z06 variant of the all-new 2006 Chevrolet Corvette is the most potent production car GM has ever produced. It promises to shame exotic cars costing much more.

Screaming to 60 miles per hour in 3.7 seconds, the new 2006 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 shames many exotic cars costing three times its recently announced base price of $65,000. Powered by a 505-horsepower hand-built V8, this is the most powerful production car General Motors has ever made.

The new Z06 continues Corvette’s long-standing tradition of “affordable” American muscle that rivals or surpasses pricier Ferraris, Aston Martins and Porsches. But it's also a departure for Chevrolet — the new Z06 is actually quite exotic, thanks to some racing inspired materials and tuning. (See our comparison page for more information.)

The 2006 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 shares technology with the C6-R race car. + enlarge image  |  view slideshow >

The Z06, which hits showrooms this fall, shares engineering and design with the C6-R race car. And unlike the last Z06, which was conceived and produced in the middle of the previous Corvette's life cycle, plans for the new Z06 began as soon as the next-generation Corvette coupe and convertible went to the drawing board, says Harlan Charles, Corvette product manager. While the last-generation Z06 didn't have a hatchback like its base brethren, but a smaller fixed window and a "notchback" for structural reasons, the new Z06 will be a "fastback" with a rear hatch, just like standard Corvettes and the C6-R race car.

"We went to the hatchback for a couple of reasons," Charles says. "It's more aerodynamic and helps with top speed and fuel efficiency. Also, we wanted to tie in with the race car, which also needs the hatchback for aerodynamics. And a side benefit is that it's better for cargo space. Plus, a lot of people think it looks better."

Charles estimates a production run of 5,000 Z06s per year, but says that there's no specific sales target and that the company can vary how many base Corvette coupes, convertibles and Z06s it produces. "They all are on the same assembly line, so we can be flexible to see what people like and make more of what they want," Charles says.