Behind the Wheel: The C6 Z06 Carbon
Before the ZR1, the true American Bad-Ass was the Z06, and no one could deny that. The Z06 dominated the streets for many years, and even today (with the ZR1) it still wont back down from a fight. Understanding the love and respect that the Z06 has gotten, Chevrolet recently decided to give the Grand Sport's Big Brother a little bit of a tune-up. The Carbon Edition Z06 is a beautiful vehicle that combines the price-tag and engine of the Z06 with many of the ZR1's nicest little touches.
Chevrolet used their Z06 as the base, and what a good base it is to begin from. Starting with a 505 HP 7.0L V8 is always a good place to begin. They then removed the Z06 Wheels, Tires, and Brakes and replaced them with the higher quality and more efficient ZR1 equivalents. Doing this alone, would be reason enough to buy the new Carbon Z06, as the ZR1 wheels and brakes are absolutely fantastic. Of course, Chevrolet didn't stop there. The Carbon Edition gets its name from it's Carbon Fiber body kit. The body kit features a gorgeous Carbon Fiber front splitter, powerful looking Carbon Fiber rocker panels (side skirts), a painted Carbon Fiber raised hood, Black Headlamp Surrounds, Black Mirrors, A ZR1 Style Spoiler, and an optional carbon fiber roof. These pieces not only look fantastic, but they also offer downforce and drag benefits, and lighten the vehicle.
All of these modifications help boost the Z06 Carbon's performance closer to that of the ZR1's. The Z06 Carbon does 0-60 in 3.7 Seconds and tears up a 1/4 Mile of Track in 11.6 seconds at 123.6 MPH. These numbers compare directly to the ZR1's 3.3 0-60 time and 11.2 Second/130.5 MPH 1/4 Mile run. For being 133 Horsepower shy of the ZR1, the Z06 Carbon really holds its own.
Propelling itself forward isn't the Carbon's only specialty, either. The new braking system helps bring the Carbon from 60 to a stop in 93 Feet. This number actually beats the 97 feet stopping time of the ZR1. This can be attributed to the slight weight loss (and much superior weight distribution) provided by the lighter body pieces. This improved distribution and stopping power will also provide the Z06 Carbon driver with a much greater sense of strength when behind the wheel, and they'll need that confidence, because when you punch the accelerator this car goes, and when I say "goes" I really do mean it. I can immediately recall first pressing the accelerator on an open bit of straight road and finding my stomach pushed back against the walls of my Abdominal cavity. If not for the brilliant design features of the human body, I am almost certain the force alone could've pulled my stomach right out the back of me. Of course, I couldn't focus long on this, as the power provided some slipping in the rear end that I had to account for as I rocketed down the road I was on well past the allowed speed limit. What I did was dangerous and stupid (and a lot of fun) so please, never try it.
So, the thing looks great, is a blast to drive, and will re-arrange yours organs on take-off, I suppose you're asking if there's anything wrong with it, then. I have no real complaints, personally. Some people have expressed a distaste for the Z06 interior, but it feels perfect to me. It is not refined, which is a plus so far as I'm concerned. When I have that much raw power beneath my feet, I want an interior that looks nice but not stodgy. I'd rather be hanging out in a clean, cool-looking, sports bar, than a stodgy black-tie requiring piano room of some old debutante's home. Of course, if this were a Debutante's ball, the Corvette Z06 would be the wild man in the leather jacket who spikes the punch and makes sure everyone either lets their wild side go and has an absolute blast (as Porsche's are known to do when in the Corvette's company) or gets scared and walks away (we're looking at you, Mercedes). So, there you have it, the Z06 Carbon. All of the bad-assery of the ZR1 at a Z06 Price Tag, how could you go wrong?
