Hands-on: Corvette Centennial Edition Z06
A few months ago, we posted an article here at CNB concerning the soon to be released Z06 and ZR1 Centennial Edition packages. These special edition Corvettes were being designed to function as a tribute vehicle to Louis Chevrolet, and to honor the 100th birthday of the automobile company he founded.
Louis Chevrolet, who was a Swiss-born mechanic and race car driver, had worked for Buick for a few years before getting in to designing his own vehicles. This passion for automobiles ultimately lead him to, on November 8th 1911, found the Chevrolet Motor Car Company. Well, it's not officially the 100th birthday yet, but I was the sort of kid who used to peel the corners up on the wrapping of presents to get a sneak peek, so I decided to let that trend continue as an adult and went by my local Chevy dealer the second I heard they had a Centennial Edition Z06 on the lot. I knows the guys there pretty well--I've bought my last six cars there, my wife's last 2, and sent a number of friends their way--and I think they got a little excited when they saw me pull up. I think they thought they had a sucker for a sale; however, I was not there to buy a new Corvette (but, I wouldn't let them know that, would I?), just to check one out.
I was able to recognize the new Centennial edition Z06 immediately. The red-trimmed, powerful looking, Carbon Metallic 'Vette, adorned in sexy Carbon Black wheels to match, is as recognizable as any Corvette I've ever seen. As I got closer, the little touches became obvious as well. The blacked-out Corvette emblems, red caliper covers, unique 100th anniversary badging, and gorgeous hood stripe trim all came together perfectly to make a car that has fewer resemblances to the classic "top-down, fire engine red, highway cruiser" Corvette idea (not that there's anything wrong with this!) than it does to the Batmobile (the good Batmobile, not one of the cheesy or clunky ones). It's a gorgeous 'vette ultimately, and one that takes some bold style choices, and pulls them off with great results.
Of course, that's just the outside of this Corvette--and it's the sort of outside that will strike fear in to the hearts of Porsches and Vipers everywhere. Nobody has ever really had issue with the Corvette exterior. No, it's the Corvette interior that has been much maligned in recent years, and this new package from Chevrolet directly addresses that as well. And when I say address as well, they've actually dressed it up very well!
The interior had a few major highlights for me at first, but upon reflection I realized that it wasn't the highlights, but instead the package as a whole that really impressed. The Alacantra Black fabric is far and away a major improvement over the stock Corvette seats, and the red stitching is a fantastic touch--especially on the dash, where it makes the Vette look 1000x improved in style and quality. The revamped steering wheel looks great, especially in this new blacked out form with Alacantra wrapping, and the new center console lid feels more padded than ever (something that was definitely needed!). All in all, the interior is the real star of this upgrade package, and looks better than any other Corvette I've seen before it (with exception to some of those, all custom leather-wrapped Corvettes of the DSVettes and other company variety).
In conclusion, I must say that I was really impressed with the new package. It felt comfortable while driving, and definitely felt more luxurious than my current Z06. I didn't upgrade, and I'll say right now that that's not because I didn't want to. If I'd had the money (or the wherewithall to come home to the misses with a different Z06 than the one I left in) I would've made the change right then and there. For an almost $5000 upgrade package, this package definitely delivers! Good work Chevrolet, I was very impressed.