This is a pleasant surprise: A new Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Z06 will make its first appearance in a little less than two months. “Start the countdown,” Chevy said in a release this weekend. “The all-new 2023 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 will be revealed on Oct. 26.”
The Z06, in case you need a refresher, is traditionally an ultra-high-performance version of the Corvette, with parts borrowed from Chevy’s racing teams. Since 1963, almost every new generation of ‘Vette has meant a new Z06. And while they’re among the most expensive Corvettes, they often push the car to European supercar speeds for a far lower price tag than anything in the exotic car range.
The 2023 Z06 will likely do that tradition proud. A brief recording Chevy released last month didn’t show the car but did include its sound. It featured what was almost certainly a high-revving flat-plane crank V8. That’s a type of engine we’re used to seeing from Ferrari or McLaren. It loses the traditional rumble of an American V8, replacing it with a high-pitched shriek.
And, while GM engineers have been able to obtain a 0-to-60 mph time of about 3 seconds from a more traditional configuration, a Ferrari-style V8 might put the Z06 into even more exclusive supercar territory.
It will likely, however, be hard to find one. The current Stingray has been among the fastest-selling cars in America all year. Supplier problems have left Chevy struggling to keep up with demand. Many have sold before they left the factory. An even more exclusive edition is likely to mean a waiting list.
We’ll know more on Oct. 26.
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