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2001 Chevrolet Corvette Z06
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| A super ?Vette for the ages. |
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| Updated |
Jul 7, 2004 20:41:54 |
| Rating |
 166 ( -13 -7.83% ) | | Author | Howard Walker |
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Description:
Vettes are fast, right? As in tire-smokin’, gut-wrenching, eyeball-poppin’ fast. Fast enough to rocket you from zero to 60 in the time it takes to say "Er, sorry, Officer. Won’t happen again."
But now there’s a new Corvette that takes fast to a higher dimension. Count slowly from one to four and that’s the time it takes the brand new Corvette Z06 to zoom from standstill to 60 mph.
And if that sounds fast, well, it is. V-e-r-y fast. To put it in perspective, the latest $115,000 Porsche 911 Turbo is left in the Vette’s dust. Ferrari F355? Not in the same league. And the Z06 isn’t some one-off race special. Within the next few weeks, it’ll be in your local Chevy showroom waiting to have its tires kicked. Yours for a mere $47,500.
Okay, we know $47,500 is a considerable sum. But when you’re talking bang for the buck, the Z06 is the automotive equivalent of a K-Mart blue light special. To get anywhere near this kind of staggering performance, you’re looking at a $70,000 Dodge Viper GTS. Or that $110k Porsche.
But what’s a Z06, I hear you ask? If you’re a Corvette buff, the mere whisper of the name will have you salivating like a puppy waiting for its next doggy treat. Go back to late 1962, when the legendary Corvette chief engineer, Zora Arkus-Duntov introduced the Z06 package to the then-new, split-window Corvette Sting Ray. It was essentially a racecar for the road. Powered by a big 5.7-liter ‘fuelie’ V-8, with beefed-up suspension and monster brakes, it was intended to be driven straight from the showroom to the track.
In fact, in October 1962, four brand new Vette Z06s were driven from the St. Louis factory, all the way to California to compete in a major endurance race. Despite Carroll Shelby debuting his then-new Cobra at the same event, it was the fresh-out-of-the-box Z06 that took the checkered flag.
In the end, only 199 Z06-equipped Sting Rays were built, making the car one of the rarest and most collectible Corvettes of all time. When they change hands, which isn’t very often, they usually fetch upwards of $100,000.
Mighty mighty engine tones
Thankfully, the 2001 Corvette Z06 won’t be quite such a rarity. It’ll replace the current Hardtop model and should account for around 20 percent of Vette production.
At the heart of the Z06 is a hotted-up 5.7-liter LS1 V-8, called the LS6. Instead of the stock 345 horsepower, the Z06 version cranks out a mightier 385 hp. All that power goes to the back wheels through a modified six-speed manual transmission with more aggressive gearing for better off-the-line acceleration. As if the standard Vette’s suspension wasn’t stiff enough, the Z06 gets tauter rear springs and a new front sway bar that’s as thick as a tree limb.
Corvette designers purposely kept the exterior changes fairly subtle, no doubt so as not to attract even more attention from the boys with strobe lights. But it’s easy to spot the new-pattern, 10-spoke alloy wheels, which are an inch wider than stock, and come with brand new Goodyear Eagle F1 rubber specially developed for the Z06. Those, and the
bright red brake calipers clearly visible behind the wheels. Other exterior changes include distinctive, mesh-covered air intakes in the front spoiler and new side intakes just in front of the rear wheels.
Slide inside, and those high-backed leather buckets now have more side bolstering for extra side support. And for the Z06, they’re trimmed in funky two-tone black and red hide. Great instruments too, which get unique graphics and a cool Z06 badge.
But enough of this description. How does this new Vette drive? Two words: totally awesome. Dial up 5000 rpm on the rev counter, drop the clutch, and the Z06 will deposit long tram lines of black rubber as it powers off the line. Absolutely perfect for making a grand entrance at your high school reunion. Or being top dog at the Woodward Cruise.
And the accompanying noise from the new lightweight, titanium exhaust system (don’t even ask how much that would cost to replace) is music to any enthusiast’s ears. It’s a glorious cacophony of wuffly V-8 bellow with a hard-edged, pushrod roar. In sound quality, it’s kinda like a small, nuclear explosion. And boy does it feel fast. Remember when Captain Kirk calls for warp speed on the USS Enterprise? That’s what the Z06 feels like accelerating from standstill to100mph.
Yet this is not some peaky, temperamental supercar motor that delivers all-or-nothing performance. The big V-8 will pull away from walking speeds in fifth, and is generally happy to have the stick left in fourth for around-town cruising. Simply squeeze the throttle and it delivers.
But the real magic of this new Vette is the sheer poise and balance of its handling. The secret is the Vette’s second-generation GM active-handling system. It uses more sensors and computers than the FBI to prevent the car from stepping out of line.
Even on a slick road in a downpour, the car corners stupendously well. When other cars are skidding all over the place, the Z06 sticks to the blacktop like spaghetti sauce to a white t-shirt. Of course it’s a different story with the traction control switched off. Then 385 lb-ft of torque will have the tail wagging like a lovesick Labrador on anything but bone-dry asphalt.
Vettes have always been fun to drive. But the new Z06 takes the thrill factor to an all-new level. And unlike most other supercars, which are brought out for special treats, the Z06 is ready and willing to provide a daily dose of adrenaline.
Enjoy. |
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