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While in the US, the Chevrolet Corvette Stingray is a pretty common sight (for a sports car at least), in Europe America’s iconic model is much rarer.
That could be because it carries a €74,500 starting price (in Germany), the equivalent of $92,423 at today’s exchange rates. That is almost double than what Chevrolet charges for the base coupe model in the United States - $54,995 (excluding destination charges).
Still, all European models feature the Z51 performance package as standard, which includes an electronic limited-slip differential, dry-sump oiling system, integral brake, differential and transmission cooling, specific shocks, springs and stabilizer bars, a specific performance gear ratio, larger front and rear wheels, brakes and tires, as well as a unique aero package that further improves high-speed stability.
Available in select European markets since April 2014, the Chevrolet Corvette Stingray is powered by the same 6.2-liter V8 producing 460hp (466PS) and 630Nm (465lb-ft) of torque. In Europe, the Corvette Stingray is offered exclusively with a seven-speed manual with Active Rev Matching, allowing the model to cover the 0-100 km/h sprint in 4.2 seconds and to reach a top speed of 290 km/h (180 mph) for the coupe - 282 km/h (175 mph) for the convertible.
The Corvette Stingray’s combined fuel consumption is rated in Europe at 12 l/100 km (19.6 mpg US), with CO2 emissions of 279 g/km (figures corresponding to the coupe version).
Chevrolet Corvette Z06 arrives in Europe from €99,500
On sale spring 2015
Chevrolet has disclosed pricing details for the 2015 Corvette Z06 in European specification.
Set to go on sale next spring, the Euro-spec Chevrolet Corvette Z06 is already available on order and carries a starting price of €99,500 for the coupe and €104,500 if you opt for the convertible. These prices are applicable in Germany and represent a major increase compared to the US-spec model which begins at $78,995 coupe & $83,995 convertible.
Just like its American counterpart, the Corvette Z06 Euro-spec is powered by a newly developed V8 6.2-liter supercharged engine generating 659 HP (650 bhp / 485 kW) and 881 Nm (650 lb-ft) of torque sent to the road via a standard seven-speed manual or optional eight-speed auto.
Those willing to spend more can add the €16,500 Z07 Performance Package ($7,995 in U.S.) which adds Brembo carbon ceramic brakes, adjustable front & rear aerodynamic components and Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires. There's no word about the Carbon Fiber Ground Effects package of the US-spec model which costs $2,995 and brings side skirts, functional front splitter and a larger rear spoiler all made from carbon fiber.
Chevrolet starts shipping the 2015 Corvette Z06 Coupe
Convertible arriving early next year
Chevrolet has announced deliveries of the 2015 Corvette Z06 Coupe will kick off later this week.
The cars are now being transported from Bowling Green Assembly in Kentucky to dealers and some of the early customers who were willing to pay at least the $78,995 starting price will get their cars in the next few days. Those who opted for the $83,995 convertible will have to wait a little bit more as deliveries are programmed to kick off early next year.
Both of them are powered by a 6.2-liter V8 supercharged engine developing a massive 650 bhp (485 kW) and 650 lb-ft (881 Nm) channeled to the wheels through either a standard 7-speed manual or optional 8-speed automatic transmission. It's enough to propel the coupe to 60 mph (96 km/h) in 3.2 seconds with the manual gearbox or in just 2.95 seconds with the automatic.
Since this is an American car, we should mention the quarter mile takes 11.2 seconds with the manual gearbox and 10.95 seconds when equipped with the automatic, with both versions doing 127 mph (204 km/h) at the end of the quarter mile.
We stuck one of the first C7 Z06 Vettes on the dyno to see what kind of power they really put down.
This one made 572rwhp and 589ft.lbs. of torque.
NOTE: The dyno used is a Mustang 1100. Before the pull we ran a parasitic loss test. The dyno also had the weather station hooked up for the weather correction as well as loaded for the C7 weight. The motor was also hot to simulate real world conditions, (no ice on the intake or cooling down to get unrealistic numbers) This is about as accurate as you can get!
Hennessey tests a brand new, stock, 2015 C7 Corvette Stingray equipped with 8-speed automatic transmission. We are very impressed with the quick shifts from this new transmission from the Corvette team.
The 2015 Corvette Z06 takes to the drag strip in what looks to be its the first recorded quarter mile run.
Just outside of Houston, Texas, lies the Royal Purple Raceway, a place that embodies what some may say is the Corvette's natural habitat. The footage you're about to watch comes via HorsepowerPhotos, and it shows the Z06 getting ready for Christmas (tree) by bringing its tires to a drag-suitable temperature and then gunning it towards quarter mile heaven.
The result showed an 11.7 sec run at 120.5 mph (194 km/h), which is about half a second off mark. GM's official quarter mile time for a manual Z06 is 11.2 seconds. And yes, this car is a manual, so we should be willing to forgive the less than perfect run, especially considering all the factors that go into a perfect launch when driving a manual muscle car.
You have to keep in check wheel spin, be surgical with the clutch and the transmission and also pay close attention to your rev meter. Half a second off is not that bad considering all these factors and and the same time, the 650 horse power you're trying to paint the drag strip with.
We can't wait to see the automatic Z06 at work, considering the fact that GM claims it can do a 10.95 second quarter mile.
First 2015 Chevy Corvette Z06 Engine Destroyed With Just 891 Miles On The Clock
All of those reports about power being down on early examples of the 2015 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 due to the ongoing break-in process (with full power to come just a few hundred miles down the road) aside, there are worse things that can happen with a new supercar engine. For example, they can lunch themselves with just 891 miles on the odometer.
Today we mourn the first known 2015 Z06 engine to die.
As reported by the gang over at Corvette Forum, the owner, known to the forum as Lawdogg, was out putting miles on the car to get it properly broken in before a track event scheduled for January 10-11, 2015, at Road Atlanta. Making a pull from 35 mph, the owner says “I shifted short of redline and boom — the car began knocking. I pulled over and popped the hood. I could hear a loud knock coming from the No. 6 cylinder area along with a serious, grinding, metal-on-metal sound coming from the supercharger area.”
In other words, the engine is toast, a fact confirmed by the dealer, which noted a failure in the No. 6 cylinder valvetrain. That’s as far as the dealer got, however, as the engine is being sent back to General Motors for factory-level analysis of the failure.
Right now, it’s not clear what caused the failure, but in a brand new engine with less than 1,000 miles on the odometer, there are only a couple of major possibilities: a manufacturing defect in this particular engine; or a driver error on the upshift (accidentally shifting to first instead of third during the pull, etc.).
Whatever the cause, the outcome is clear: this Z06 needs a new engine. Fortunately, it’s covered under warranty, and will be in the car shortly. For more details, be sure to visit the article at Corvette Forum as well as the original thread.
The first 2015 Z06 engine is dead; long live the (next) 2015 Z06 engine.
Corvette Stingray holds its value the best, Mitsubishi Mirage the worst
The National Automobile Dealers Association has revealed the results of their 2014 retention value report.
Designed to show how well new and heavily redesigned models hold their valve after one year, the report provides an interesting glimpse at how well cars will perform in the used car market.
This year's winner was the 2014 Corvette Stingray Coupe (1LT Automatic) which managed to maintain 84.7% of its MSRP after one year. It was followed closely by the Subaru Forester (i Premium AWD 2.5L H4) which keep 81.8% of its value. Rounding out the top five are the Toyota Highlander (LE 4WD 3.5L V6), the Toyota 4Runner (SR5 4WD 4.0L V6) and the Nissan Rogue (S AWD 2.5L I4).
At the other end of the spectrum, the clear loser was the Mitsubishi Mirage (DE 1.2L I3) which held just 54.5% of its MSRP after one year. Other notable duds were the Fiat 500L (Pop 1.4L I4 Turbo), the Kia Cadenza (Premium 3.3L V6), Chevrolet Impala (LS 2.5L I4) and Kia Forte Sedan (EX 2.0L I4).
Euro-Spec 2015 Corvette Stingray Poses for the Camera [75 Pics]
