The typical American sports car has returned to the winner’s circle. The 2024 Corvette Z06 is Motor Authority’s Best Car to Buy in 2024.
It follows the C8 Corvette, which took its name Motor Authority Best Car to Buy 2021and the C7 Corvette ZR1, which was named Motor Authority: Best Car to Buy 2019. That’s three for three, if you’re counting.
The Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Above all, it wins with a really special engine that looks like it comes from an exotic Italian car manufacturer. The Z06’s dynamics and price make the deal. Thanks to its performance, design and powertrain layout, it’s a screaming bargain even at more than $100,000.
Chevrolet Corvette Z06
The new LT6 V-8 5.5L flat-plane crank engine produces 670 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque. That’s what makes it the most powerful naturally aspirated production V8 ever. When it was strapped to a test benchThis engine delivered 610 horsepower and 419 lb-ft of torque at the wheels.
The power is remarkable, but it is the exhaust noise and the way the engine revs, which give the Z06 its distinctive battle cry. A unique crank helps the engine breathe and turn better, and lets out a wild scream as it reaches the top speed of 8,600 rpm. Managing Editor Kirk Bell said it tons of noise and anger on an exotic design.
With a Top speed of 195 miles per hourthe latest Z06 can’t keep up with the last generation Corvette ZR1The top speed is 212 miles per hour. But it accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in a wild 2.6 seconds and covers the quarter mile in 10.6 seconds at 130 mph. For those keeping track, the ZR1 hit 60 mph in 2.9 seconds and covered the quarter mile in 10.8 seconds, despite having more firepower.
Chevrolet Corvette Z06
When the 2021 mid-engine Corvette received this award, we knew the chassis could handle more power. The Z06 with the LT6 engine does almost everything it can do – and sounds fantastic doing it.
Some enthusiasts will be disappointed that the Z06 only comes with an 8-speed dual-clutch transmission, but that disappointment fades when the DCT delivers lightning-fast shifts with precision. It’s the same automatic transmission as in Corvette Stingray, but here it has a shorter axle ratio of 5.56 for faster acceleration. It is incredibly responsive and keeps the performance ready in any scenario. In contrast to the Corvette E-Ray, The Z06 remains rear-wheel drive.
Chevrolet Corvette Z06
The exterior design is wider and features larger air intakes on both the front and sides for more cooling and better breathing. It looks like an angrier, more ripped C8. At Chevrolet, Z06 owners can choose between carbon fiber parts, which are optionally available separately and are available painted or unpainted. This isn’t exactly Ferrari-level customization, but it’s far more than you can get with pretty much any other Chevy.
The whole thing can be combined with the $8,995 Z07 Performance Package, which includes an even more track-ready suspension, carbon ceramic brakes and sticky Michelin Pilot Super Sport Cup 2R tires. Driving on wet surfaces is not really possible without a lot of patience. We’ll take them anyway.
Chevrolet Corvette Z06
Inside, the Z06 hardly differs from other C8 Corvettes. The driver and front passenger are separated by a large center console wall. More than a dozen chiclet-like climate control buttons line this wall, and using the buttons on the move is confusing at best. The controls and touchscreen are tilted heavily towards the driver. The steering wheel is circular to ensure a clear view of the digital instrument cluster.
The Z06 isn’t perfect, but it’s not too far from it. It doesn’t have the cachet of a Porsche or Ferrari and its interior can’t match their quality. Getting in and out can be a chore for New Balance’s crowd, as this thing sits low and has steeply raked A-pillars. There’s not much cargo space, there’s no manual transmission, and while the base price of $113,190 is a supercar bargain, it’s much more than that Starting price: $106,395 a year ago. Our loaded test car cost $160,595, which felt expensive but was completely acceptable for the performance.
Beyond that is the C8 Z06. It is a moment in time and history that will never happen again. Ferrari has already moved beyond the flat-plane crank naturally aspirated V-8 engines and into the twin-turbo, V-6 and hybrid eras. There will be faster and more powerful Corvettes, but it’s unlikely that any of them will be this special.
