The 2023 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 is one of the most anticipated cars of the year. It’s so lusted after that some dealers are trying to sell them with six-figure markups. A pair of new videos directly from Chevrolet demonstrates some of the design choices that make this American sports car so groundbreaking.
The two videos are the newest additions to a playlist that Chevrolet has created called “Corvette Academy”.
Titled “Conquer the Air”, the first of the new videos focuses heavily on airflow in and around the Corvette Z06. Kirk Bennion, exterior design manager for the Corvette says that this new car is almost as wide as the C8R race car, and that required moving all sorts of bits and pieces outward.
Related: 2023 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 To Serve As Indy 500 Pace Car
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The taillights are moved outward from the center of the vehicle and the extractors are lower and wider on the Z06. Those giant side intakes are another direct result of needing more air for the engine.
The wing shape is designed to offer excellent rearward visibility while also providing maximum downforce with a focus on each end. That’s where airflow is the cleanest, says Bennion. With the Z07 package installed, the Corvette can generate 734 pounds of downforce at 186 mph.
The second video, called “The Beauty Within the Beast”, emphasizes the interior customization and design choices made within. The squared-off circular steering wheel isn’t simply a styling choice for instance. Instead, it’s designed not only to make ingress and egress easier but also to provide a full view of the gauge cluster that won’t be cut off by rounded steering wheel corners.
When taking into consideration all of the different stitching, leather colors, trim finishes, and more there are 11,000+ options that can be specified on the new Z06. That’s the kind of attention to detail and tailored car building that is often only reserved for people spending $250,000 or more on a car.
Remember back when everyone freaked out that Chevrolet ditched the pop-up headlights on the C6 Corvette? That choice was made with performance in mind and today, it’s clear that it was sort of a small bit of foreshadowing that’s led to today. Now, the C8 Corvette Z06 looks like it’s about to embarrass sports cars from across the globe.
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