Yahoo Autos 2023 Corvette Z06 revealed with the most powerful production NA V8 in history
The mid-engine Chevy Corvette's new range-topping performance model has finally arrived. The 2023 Z06 packs a mind-blowing 670 horsepower by way of a 5.5-liter, naturally aspirated, flat-plane crank V8, making it the most powerful naturally aspirated V8 ever put into a production car. Period. And in case you'd forgotten, even the supercharged 2022 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing offers just 668 ponies. Say hello to the new king of internal-combustion performance at General Motors.
“The new Corvette Z06 defines the American supercar,” said General Motors President Mark Reuss in the Z06 announcement. “It builds on the distinctive design and groundbreaking dynamics introduced with the mid-engine Corvette and elevates them to deliver refined but uncompromising track capability with world-class performance.”
This wider, faster, louder Corvette is offered with multiple aero packages from street-friendly to time-attack, carbon fiber wheels, carbon ceramic brakes and a completely overhauled chassis engineered to put all-out track performance front and center. Production of this new monster is expected to begin in summer of 2022.
Let's dive in:
Sure, the LT6 V8's 460 lb-ft of torque may pale in comparison to the Blackwing's output, but it's head-and-shoulders above the power output of the overhead-valve LT2 in the Stingray, which makes "just" 495 hp and 470 lb-ft. Plus, neither the LT2 nor the Blackwing's monster LT4 winds out to anything approaching 8,600 RPM. In fact, peak power in the Z06 comes at 8,400. If your expectation for a V8 is a fat, wide tsunami of torque, this highly-strung breaker may not be your cup of tea. To lug this engine around would be to miss the entire point. Here it is, directly from Chevy:
"More than horsepower, the new LT6 is designed to complement all aspects of the Z06’s track-focused performance experience. From its 8,600-rpm redline and full racing-style dry-sump oiling system to meticulously tuned induction and exhaust systems, this engine exudes an entirely new and emotional character. The key to the LT6’s performance capability is a lightweight, low-inertia rotating assembly rooted in an all-new flat-plane crankshaft that, along with a comparatively short stroke (the distance each piston/connecting rod assembly travels with each rotation of the crankshaft), allows the engine to rev to its maximum range."
"A version of the LT6 has powered the C8.R race cars since 2019, and the rigors of endurance road racing helped engineers refine the engine’s performance and durability."
