We knew great things were in store when Chevy finally gave in and transitioned the Corvette from its conventional front-engine construction to a mid-engine format, the result of which is the all-new C8 Corvette Stingray. And unbeknownst to many, the new Corvette Z06 ? mainly its naturally-aspirated, flat-plane crank V8 engine ? has been right under our noses the entire time, in the form of the Chevy C8.R racing car unveiled in 2020.

Old Legends & New Beginnings

Now that the curtains have lifted on the 2023 Chevy Corvette Z06, purists will appreciate the main reason they relocated the engine. “Virtually every component that distinguishes the Z06 was developed to support or enhance its capability,” said Tadge Juechter, executive chief engineer, Corvette. “Racing was the reason the Z06 was conceptualized in 1963, and it continues to support the development of roadgoing models that make them better on the street and the track.”
Chevrolet created the first Corvette Z06 in 1963 to dominate the racetrack. But as time went on, the Z06 has exemplified the symbiosis of a track-ready supercar. ?The new Corvette Z06 defines the American supercar,? said General Motors President Mark Reuss. ?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.?

2023 Chevy Corvette Z06. Photo: Chevrolet.

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