C8 Z06: The Return of Big Nasty
By Aria Savadkouei

It's going to be difficult to contain our excitement for the new Z06!

 

I'm gonna be ordering one.

 

More like fat nasty, a 3,750lb Corvette is embarrassing and 470 lb/ft isn't much to move that much weight. .

 

it's 3400 lbs and makes 670 hp factory and redlines at 8700 rpms. 0-60 2.6 seconds. You spin this motor as it's a race engine. Def don't drive it like a pushrod v8 lol.

 

I can't wait for pricing to be released for this Z06. I'm intent on owning (and tracking) one before I die. The LT6 is the high-water mark for GM Powertrain Engineering, won't be anything like it again.

 

Exactly, that makes it 3600+lbs with a driver and fuel. 670hp is only like 570whp, not exactly amazing especially at that weight. Guys are running old truck 5.3's to 8000+RPM and making over double the power of this thing so I think pushrods do just fine.


Considering the base models are still selling for almost $100k, it wont be cheap. Could pickup a used McLaren at that point or buy a dedicated track car that does everything better. Hopefully they have fixed the valve spring, transmission, and wiring issues in the Z, its amazing how many owners have had issues on the base model.

 

Not without boost they aren't. And building dozens of engines each day on a PRODUCTION line while meeting all emissions regulations is a whole new level of achievement than building a one-off engine for your toy. The LT6 has set a new record for the highest HP rating of any naturally asperated production V8 EVER.

Pricing has been released, and while it is more expensive than some have anticipated, its still a bargain compared to its competition. If used McLarens are $150K or less, I'd like to see one. Maybe that is what the Chevy dealers will be asking for those that are traded-in on a new Z06.

Transmission leaks have been resolved before the '22 MY was even started, old news. LT2 valve spring issues are not applicable to the LT6, as the LT6 is essentially identical to the C8.R race engine that has been proven very reliable on the track. I'm not sure what "wiring issues" you are referring to, but show me any new car that doesn't contain "tech" that is glitchy once in a great while and has NOTHING to do w/ the drivetrain.

 

Nobody cares if a vehicle is NA or boosted, they only care if its fast. The Z06 is cool for people who want to brag about niche records at cars and coffee I guess, but its still an overweight underpowered vehicle in my opinion. The LT6 will have issues, every GM engine does. Plus the C8 still can't be tuned like its rivals that easily make a lot more power with a simple ECM flash.

 

Whatever. ........

 

Well, to be fair, on a prepped track the outcome of that race would certainly be different. However, on an un-prepped runway, like on the street, the Z06 has enough gearing and traction advantage to put the LT6 power to the ground quite effectively.

 

Now this is nasty. https://autos.yahoo.com/heres-happen...144100302.html

 

Meh, that's what warranties are for, and GM did good on this (and the other one that failed earlier). 1st year growing pains, they've delivered nearly 1000 to customers so far.

Did you see that the Z06 now sits at 5th place on C&D's Lightning Lap list? Fastest N/A car they ever tested, and slower than only four supercars that each cost more than 2x than the Z06. Nasty indeed.

 

I waited 3 years on dealers list that I ordered from. Sold my Procharged C7 and my 2023 Stingray. My new 2024 Z06 is waiting for me to pick her up this week 😃
There’s guys running bottom 10’s with only a drag pack. Saved my Stingray drag pack so I’ll find out how quick and fast it is this winter

 

Without pics, it didn't happen.

(I'm at ~1.5 yrs now).

 

Here’s a 5000 rpm launch from a week or so ago. My 2024 C8 Z06 with full 18” drag pack

 

I'm going to have to update my sig, my '25 Z was built 1/7, waiting on delivery.

So just under 2.5 year wait for me. Here's a render:

 

Love that rush to redline. What's in a "full 18" drag pack"??

 

Here's the real thing after it's first bath following delivery to my driveway......







Here's the main reason I opted for a coupe:

 

JohnnyB... congrats on the new toy!! Nice payoff after a 2.5 year wait, it's great to see that you finally got it!

I just viewed this whole thread for the first time, I never saw that video of the Demon vs. Z06 before. Good run, and very interesting to see that the Demon was pulling away by the end of the quarter-mile roll race. Crazy that a car as heavy and bookshelf-like as a Demon was making enough power to out accelerate the Z06 at those speeds.

I remember when Dodge first announced the Demon for 2018 MY, that night I told the wife about it while we were sitting in our bedroom. I was shocked that so much power was being offered from an OE vehicle at just $85k MSRP (obviously that didn't include any of the dealer markups). I tried hard to make a case for why we should buy one, lol, but she reminded me that we needed to move first. We bought another house about ~1.5 years later, but my itch for anything "new" had waned by that point. Even still, every time I see a Demon I think of "what could have been..." Not looking at Demons any longer, but I still may have to pick up a used 392ci Challenger at some point before all the nice ones are gone.

 

Thanks RPM. Owning a 'Vette has really been a dream of mine since the mid '80s when, as a recent college grad, insurance reality slapped me in the face and I ended up with my 455 T/A instead. Obtaining this car is the result of the recent convergence of its reveal in '22 and my retirement in '23, great timing for me! When the LS1 was introduced in the C5s, I knew that it was a milestone achievement for GM powertrain, proven by its spawning of multiple generations of LSx / LTx engines that have cemented the pushrod V8's dominance in power density. That was one of the driving forces that made me yearn for my '98 T/A. I feel much the same way about the LT6.

Demons are wicked fast. Either get them off the line (not a cake walk) or enjoy watching their tail lights through the traps.

Now for the weather to warm up and the streets to be cleansed of salt so I can get some miles on it and break it in.