DETROIT – Do you want a Corvette with even more power? Then take a look at the all new Z06.
Chevrolet showed off the new, high-performance version of the Corvette Monday at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.
Chevrolet used the same show last year to unveil the latest generation of Corvette. This year, they're turning up the dial on performance with a 625-horsepower engine that also churns out 635 pound-feet of torque.
By comparison, 200 to 300 horsepower is considered quite potent in most other cars.
All that power will run through a seven-speed manual transmission or a new eight-speed automatic. The automatic transmission may seem a bit unusual in a high-performance car, but this one is tuned for extremely quick shifts.
"There's no trade-off in drivability with the new 8L90 eight-speed automatic transmission – it was designed to deliver performance on par with dual-clutch designs, but without sacrificing refinement," said Bill Goodrich, assistant chief engineer for eight-speed automatic transmissions.
Everything else about the car is about speed and performance. It has bigger air inlets to help cool its 6.2-liter supercharged V-8 engine, it has larger wheels and tires and the aerodynamics of the car were adjusted to increase downforce. Buyers even have a choice of seats: conventional GT seats or special sport seats with extra side bolstering.
The Z06 will go on sale in early 2015 and specific performance information will be made available closer to that time.