When Chevrolet set out to build the C8-generation Corvette Z06, the team knew they had to build a truly legendary vehicle. Zora Arkus-Duntov's dream to have a naturally aspirated, mid-mounted V-8 was planned for decades, but due to internal Chevrolet and external world event setbacks, it simply wasn't in the cards until 2020. Chevrolet acknowledged the fact that time was running out to develop a mid-engined V-8 supercar, as the world collectively made the decision that electrification was the way to go. It just so happened the C7 generation had been engineered to its physical limits, warranting a new generation of Corvette.

There lie the two major reasons that made the dream finally happen, and to send off internal combustion with a Zora-inspired bang. The C8 Stingray that resulted certainly accomplished the overall goal, but the Z06 needed to be the pinnacle of that formula, and to be competitive on a global level. Thanks to its high-powered screamer of a flat-plane crank engine, superior suspension, and just plain clever engineering, the Z06 is absolutely that car. Stingray represents a classic Corvette formula of a pushrod V-8 bruiser that is already a massively capable vehicle in its most base form. Z06 is for those who want something that leans more into the mid-engine exotic flair that the C8 generation brings.

Related: 10 Reasons Why The Corvette Z06 Beats The Ford Mustang Shelby GT500

What’s New for 2024

Colors! We have new exterior colors to choose from for the 2024 model year. This also means we lose a few as well. There are also two new interior tones, and what was just called “two-tone blue” before is now specifically called “Tension Blue,” with matching seatbelts. A brand new interior color theme, including the seatbelt, resembling a greenish gray called “Artemis” has been added. This color is complimentary to the new Cacti Green exterior color, which shares a similar green/gray tone. A red colored engine intake is available as on option.

New available exterior packages

• Jake C8.R Graphics pack: includes all previously available individual “Jake” graphics in one bundle.
• Tech Bronze pack: Includes tech bronze wheels, Dark Stealth corvette badges, and Jake hood graphic with tech bronze accents.

New exterior colors

• Cacti Green
• Riptide Blue Metallic
• Sea Wolf Gray Metallic

Discontinued exterior colors

• Caffeine Metallic
• Elkhart Lake Blue Metallic

2024 Highlights

The Corvette Museum delivery option is available once again to Corvette buyers, as is the Corvette Engine Build Experience. These two options were paused while pandemic social distancing rules were still in effect, but they're back and available for customers to have the full experience and once again, have a real-life part in building and taking delivery of their dream car in a factory environment.

Exterior dimensions

Corvette Z06 with the available Z07 performance pack adds extra aero bits (and another $17,490) to the car, such as front dive-planes and a large rear spoiler to balance things out and keep the car stuck to the track at high speeds. This added aero means Z07 pack cars are just a bit longer in overall length due to some overhang of those aero enhancements.

Engine Specifications And Performance

Performance driving, and the Z06's engine in particular, are where this car shines. The LT6 flat-plane crank V-8 was specifically developed for Z06 to achieve high horsepower through high RPM. It can rev all the way to a redline of 8,600 RPM, and being a (relatively) large 5.5-liter engine for this configuration, even GM admits getting it to run smoothly and reliably was a challenge. The goal was big power and drama, without relying on forced induction.

Performance

"Corvette Z06 means you want to go faster, corner quicker, and stop harder." These are words from Corvette Executive Chief Engineer Tadge Juechter, and by the looks of things it appears he meant what he said. Zero to sixty in well under 3.0 seconds, mind-boggling lateral acceleration, and Z06's big brakes still stop the car incredibly quickly despite the weight transfer to the rear of the car. Z06 performance in one word: Impressive.

Interior Technology And Comfort

Corvette is available with an exclusive Bose “Performance series” 14-speaker audio system (Premium 10-speaker standard). A head-up-display is standard, as is the 12.0-inch driver infotainment screen. HD front and rear vision cameras are standard on 2LZ and 3LZ models while a single rear HD camera is standard on 1LZ. Heated and ventilated seats along with a heated steering wheel are standard on 2LZ and 3LZ and not available on 1LZ.

Confusing seat options include a standard “GT1” seat standard on 1LZ and 2LZ, a “GT2” seat that is available on 2LZ but standard on 3LZ, and finally a “Competition” seat available as an option on all trims. Chevrolet’s Performance Data Recorder is standard on 2LZ and 3LZ, and optional on 1LZ. Rear cross traffic alert and blind zone alert are standard on 2LZ and 3LZ and not available on 1LZ. Rear park assist is standard on all trims. Universal home remote and wireless device charging are standard equipment in 2LZ and 3LZ trims but are not available on 1LZ.

Best Interior Features Of The 2024 Chevrolet Corvette Z06

By far the single best interior feature is still Chevrolet’s impressive Performance Data Recorder (PDR). This system can act either as a daily dash cam keeping you covered in the case of any foul play from other motorists or valet drivers, or as a camera to record laps at the track. PDR can also overlay specific vehicle telemetry on both daily dash cam mode or track mode, with varying levels of viewable info in between. Corvette’s new Artemis Green/gray interior color brings a fresh look to the car’s otherwise very similar interior to last year’s model.

Interior dimensions

Safety And Reliability

The Chevrolet Corvette Z06 does offer four airbags including seat-mounted, side-impact airbags; multiple driver assistance/safety systems; as well as one of the most sophisticated traction and stability programs in the business. Reliability of the Corvette is strong, scoring a 93/100 in JD Power’s Quality & Reliability category.

Driver assistance Features

Chevrolet offers a system of driver assistance features commonly found across other GM products/brands. With supercar levels of performance, it's welcoming to have some safety nets in place to avoid unwanted accidents of any scale.

• Automatic emergency braking
• Following distance indicator
• Forward collision alert
• Front pedestrian and bicyclist braking
• HD backup camera (front included on 2LZ and 3LZ)
• Lane keep assist with lane departure warning
• Rear cross traffic alert (2LZ and 3LZ)
• Side blind zone alert (2LZ and 3LZ)

It's disappointing that rear cross traffic alert and blind zone alert are not available on the base trim level.

IIHS Crash Testing And NHTSA Safety Ratings

These tests and ratings are not available at this time. It is rare for IIHS or NHTSA to test low-volume or specialty cars, and we don't believe either organization has ever crash-tested a Corvette. GM would have had to perform their own crash testing to have it certified for sale, but those results are seldom, if ever, made public.

Warranties

Our Expert Review

The Corvette Z06 is a sensory overloaded experience. From the moment you fire up the 5.5-liter flat-plane crank engine and hear the engine roar to life you know you're in for a wild ride. Where the C8 Stingray is incredibly capable to begin with, it's a softer edged sports car. The Z06 takes things directly into supercar territory. The stiffer ride is immediately apparent, even after driving just a short distance. It doesn't feel jerky or rattly, but rather, provides better feedback through the seat and definitely the steering wheel. The deafening exhaust note, seemingly endless grip, and explosive LT6 flat-plane crank engine make for a driver’s car you’ll never forget.

Driving Stingray and Z06 back to back, you notice more road feel through the steering wheel, and the already strong LT2 V-8 from the base car suddenly feels weak in comparison to Z06's knockout LT6 V-8. Whether it’s just a mile down the road, making quick work of your favorite canyon road, or throwing down ridiculously quick times on track, the Z06 was meant to leave a lasting impression. It does, too. Drive it on a twisty road, and you'll receive enough information through the chassis to really start to push the car hard, more than you might initially feel comfortable with.

Z06 is so capable, and approachable from a driver input standpoint, that you're left with the feeling that, while it is more engaging and more of a raw racecar-like experience compared to Stingray, it still somehow takes care of you. As you drive it harder, you start to understand the genius of the engineers and all the hard work they put into the fantastic traction control system Chevrolet calls PTM (performance traction management), as well as the drive modes. Really, though, in Z06 form the drive modes don't add as much to the driving experience as they would in Stingray, mostly because Z06 even from startup is a raucous machine that instantly attacks your senses, where Stingray shows its character in other scenarios.

This car is dramatic in all the right ways. It may be much more hardcore than the Stingray on which it’s based, but like that car it never really beats you up. There’s a suaveness to the Z06 that gives it an edge over some of its competition. At the end of the day it does the supercar experience justice because the Corvette Z06 allows the driver to achieve unthinkable speeds in nearly any corner, while making you feel like a hero every single time. It feels special and exotic, not only from the outside, but also from behind the wheel. It's still uniquely American, and more importantly, it still feels uniquely Corvette. The fact that it does it all at a price that undercuts nearly all of its competition means you don't feel guilty using it for it's intended purpose, driving.

Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Ride quality

Ride quality has not been significantly sacrificed in the pursuit of higher track performance. Z06 is equipped with a slightly stiffer version of GM’s “MagRide” magnetically charged adaptive suspension that keeps the car flat in corners, but tolerable when passing imperfections out on the open road surface. With MagRide, you get the best of both worlds perfectly striking a balance between performance and comfort.

On-Road Performance

Z06 on-road performance is nothing short of spectacular. The car has more capability than any driver could realistically (and legally) utilize, however the theatrics and drama from the engine still fill in gaps even when abiding by local speed limits (always suggested). For both capability and entertainment purposes, the Corvette Z06 can hang with the very best the world has to offer.

2024 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Versus Its Competitors

The Corvette Z06 splits the power difference between the Porsche 911 GT3 RS and McLaren 750S, but vastly undercuts both in terms of price. When it comes to all-out track time, the less powerful GT3 RS can hold its own against the Z06 despite its power disadvantage, and offers similar drama: You just have to be willing to pay for the Porsche. With the turbocharged McLaren you lose some of the drama when compared to the Z06's naturally aspirated engine, but the 750S makes up for that with pure speed and power. It out-muscles the Corvette, and out-handles it too, but at three times the cost you have to decide for yourself if some time saved on track is worth the extra hundreds of thousands of dollars.

How The Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Compares to The Porsche 911 GT3 RS

• 2024 Corvette

  Model

  Z06

  Engine:

  5.5-Liter Flat-Plane Crank V-8

  Power Output

  670 HP

  Torque

  460 LB-FT

  Transmission

  8-Speed Dual-Clutch Automatic

  Driveline

  RWD

  MSRP

  $108,100

  0-60 MPH

  2.6 Seconds

  Quarter-Mile

  131 MPH @ 10.6-Second ET

• 2024 Porsche 911 GT3

  Model

  RS

  Engine:

  4.0-Liter Flat-Six

  Power Output

  518 HP

  Torque

  342 LB-FT

  Transmission

  7-Speed PDK (Dual-Clutch) Automatic

  Driveline

  RWD

  MSRP

  $241,300

  0-60 MPH

  3.0 Seconds

  Quarter-Mile

  128 MPH @ 10.9 Second ET

While the Chevrolet Corvette Z06 and Porsche 911 GT3 RS are fairly evenly matched in terms of track-capable performance, ultimately it is the Z06 that provides more bang for your buck. With a starting price of $241,300, the GT3 RS ia twice as much as two Corvette Z06s with some options. The simple fact is, that even with its high level of adjustability, including active/controllable aero, the Porsche GT3 RS does not best the Corvette Z06 on track enough to demand more than double the asking price. To be fair, Porsche is introducing a proprietary suspension system allowing the driver to adjust compression and rebound damping in the suspension right from a button on the steering, a feature not yet available on any other supercar.

Rear steering and on-the-fly aero control in conjunction with the adjustable suspension allow Porsche to exploit every bit of performance out of the 992 chassis, a system of features Chevrolet has not implemented on Corvette. This may help explain the GT3 RS's high level of capability despite having only 518 horsepower to work with. Out on the road, the Z06’s engine is equally characterful, and both naturally aspirated engines rev to the moon. You simply have to prefer the way Porsche has gone about producing a track-focused instrument over the way Chevrolet has in order to pick the GT3 RS, and you'll need a spare $133,000, too.

Related: 2023 Porsche 911 GT3 RS: Performance, Price, And Photos

How The Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Compares to The McLaren 750S

• 2024 Corvette

  Model

  Z06

  Engine:

  5.5-Liter Flat-Plane Crank V-8

  Power Output

  670 HP

  Torque

  460 LB-FT

  Transmission

  8-Speed Dual-Clutch Automatic

  Driveline

  RWD

  MSRP

  $108,100

  0-60 MPH

  2.6 Seconds

  Quarter-Mile

  131 MPH @ 10.6-Second ET

• 2024 McLaren 750S

  Model

  750S

  Engine:

  Twin-Turbo 4.0-Liter V-8

  Power Output

  740 HP

  Torque

  590 LB-FT

  Transmission

  7-Speed Dual-Clutch Automatic

  Driveline

  RWD

  MSRP

  $329,500

  0-60 MPH

  2.8 Seconds

  Quarter-Mile

  132 MPH @ 10.1 Second ET

The 750S from McLaren is a true game changer. Actually the older (and slower) 720S, the car on which 750S is based on, was the true game changer. But the new car will shock drivers as McLaren has unlocked an entirely new level of capability with their “super series” cars. While the 750S is significantly more powerful, it’s also significantly more expensive than the Corvette Z06, and its competitors. For 2024 McLaren is launching this car as an upgrade to the 720S with tweaks to the chassis, air intake, styling, and interior, bringing the supercar up to date with current McLaren design language and performance standards.

McLaren has engineered the 750S to such a degree that it can be argued that it sits in a class all its own, and deservedly so. With a starting price of $324,000, the McLaren 750S costs exactly three times the Corvette Z06. A 70 horsepower upper hand and a 130 pound-foot torque advantage get the McLaren to 60 miles per hour no quicker, but it can crack the 200 MPH mark with a 206 MPH top speed. The Z06 tops out at 195 MPH. The 750S is a stronger car, but at a massive price that many might not see as almost exactly three times as much. Ultimately, if you're into it for the numbers game, the McLaren is still king, but the Z06 offers an equal amount of drama, and performance that most of us mortals still won't ever be able to fully explore.

Related: Chevrolet C8 Corvette Z06 Meets The Stingray And The McLaren 600LT On The Track

2024 Corvette Z06 Price

The starting price for the Chevrolet Corvette Z06 is now $108,100 which represents a few thousand more than the 2023 model, and that's if you can even find a dealer honoring the MSRP. The popular Z07 pack will be the single most costly option and forces you to have other options added such as the impressive, but also expensive carbon ceramic brake kit. The Z07 pack will end up adding $8,995, but not without choosing either a carbon flash ground effects pack for $2,995, or a carbon fiber ground effects pack for $3,995, as well as the carbon ceramic brake kit for $5,900. This means if you opt for a Z07 equipped car, you'll be adding no less than $17,890 to the price tag.

Fuel Economy

Is It Worth Buying The 2024 Chevrolet Corvette Z06?

Run, do not walk, to your local Chevrolet dealer and place an order for one immediately. The bold naturally aspirated V-8 Z06 exists in a world of whimpering turbocharged blandness. It’s a rare combination of speed and emotion all packaged in a way that is slowly dying out right before our eyes. Don't forget the Z06 and its powertrain were directly derived from racing, so there is a connection to actual motorsport when driving it. The Corvette Z06 at its $108,100 starting price still represents a massive supercar bargain. If this is in your price range, we repeat, run, do not walk!