- Chevy is introducing a new edition of the 2011 Corvette Z06 in a limited run of 500 units.
- The Carbon edition bundles Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 tires with carbon brakes and special paint.
- Two additional packages, the Z07 and CFZ Z06 will also be offered for 2011.
DETROIT — You know what the Chevrolet Corvette Z06 needs more than any other single thing? No, not a high-class interior, although that wouldn't hurt. What the Z06 needs more than anything else in the world is a set of Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 tires. With the introduction of the 2011 Z06 Carbon edition and the late-summer availability of an optional performance package called the Z07, the car will finally get a proper set of tires and much, much more.
Chevrolet will build 500 of these special Z06 Carbon editions, and in addition to the set of PS2s, the car will come equipped with the excellent Brembo carbon-ceramic brakes from the ZR1. For the Carbon edition, the brake calipers will be painted metallic gray instead of the ZR1's blue units. The tires will come mounted on black 20-spoke wheels (19s in front and 20s in the back). The Carbon model also comes with the Magnetic Selective Ride Control damping system, which should smooth the car's ride.
You can have your Carbon edition in either Inferno Orange or Supersonic Blue. The Carbon's body kit includes black headlamp surrounds and black mirrors along with a ZR1-style body-color spoiler, a carbon-fiber raised hood, black carbon-fiber rockers and front splitter. The company claims that on technical tracks such as Laguna Seca, the Carbon version will be 3 seconds a lap faster than a standard Z06. We're guessing a bunch of that improvement is due to the tires, although those monster brakes surely don't hurt either.
Chevy is decorating the Carbon interior with suede bits and, of course, emblems. Despite the leather and suede seats (with orange or blue stitching, depending on paint color), you're still going to want to install a proper seat in the Carbon, since the seat is apparently based on the familiar, and not nearly supportive enough, standard Corvette seats.
The Carbon edition will no doubt make Corvette collectors happy. But Chevy is also offering two packages for all 2011 Z06s that bring many of the same pieces with unlimited availability, for guys who might just want a better Z06. The Z07 performance package includes all of the mechanical/chassis upgrades of the Carbon model, including the adjustable magnetic shocks, Michelins and Brembos. Its 20-spoke wheels will be finished in Competition Gray, though.
If it's the carbon, and not the mechanical improvements that gets you all excited, you could opt for the CFZ Z06 package, which includes the same body kit pieces as the Carbon edition. It can be had in combination with a Z07-package car or on a regular Z06.
Inside Line says: With all the attention paid to the ZR1, it's nice to see that Chevrolet isn't ignoring the Z06. We think a black car with the Z07 package might just be the new Corvette to get. — Daniel Pund, Senior Editor, Detroit
Add A Comment »
dapackard76 says:
09:43 PM, 04/20/2010
I heard today from a customer that in 2012 chevy corvette is going to be discontinued has anyone heard of this yet.
giantkiller says:
12:55 PM, 03/18/2010
"Great car. As for the tire issue; The Yokohama tires have never been any good. I had a set on a car and they never would balance right. Bridgestone tires on a Vette? NEVER! Like buying a KIA and getting racing strpes on it and a fart can ricer muffler on it, to make it go faster"
I didnt know they have a limited edition Chevrol.et COBALT!? Good taste for a car Debra. You really love this re-incarnation of the Chevy Cobalt 2 door with a fart can behind.
racerx1320 says:
10:05 AM, 03/11/2010
Another special edition Vette for collectors to store away and never drive.
I LOVE IT.
aburke3 says:
09:13 AM, 03/11/2010
Corvette needs also a paddle shift gear-box, and then let's go back to Laguna Seca and Nurburgring to see the numbers...
debbaranko says:
12:26 AM, 03/11/2010
Great car. As for the tire issue; The Yokohama tires have never been any good. I had a set on a car and they never would balance right. Bridgestone tires on a Vette? NEVER! Like buying a KIA and getting racing strpes on it and a fart can ricer muffler on it, to make it go faster.
eldaino2 says:
08:28 PM, 03/10/2010
chavis10: the press is not exagerating. if vw can get a slick interior into bascially every car they make thats under 30k, i.e. the gti, why cant cheverolet do the same? they are capable of it, they just ignore it. unacceptable imo for a car of that price.
mptlptr says:
03:52 PM, 03/10/2010
This thing should run the Nurburgring in the low 7:30s if not dip into the high 7:20s. Remember that the current C6 Z06 time of 7:42 was done on a 2006 car with the crappy Goodyears and a STANDING START.
don_83 says:
12:10 PM, 03/10/2010
I 'd like one in black
Chevy, please design a decent steering wheel for the vette. I can fit in the seats just fine and I can understand why you use cheap plastic but I cant stand the steering. hey if you can design one look at porsche wheel or C63 wheel or even a Golf gti
chavis10 says:
11:07 AM, 03/10/2010
"Is the interior still made out of cheap plastic with green 1990s dials?"
I've never found to Vette's interior to be cheap. I think the press greatly exaggerates this aspect of the car. Are the seats thin, yes. Are the plastics objectionable, no.
iskch says:
08:34 AM, 03/10/2010
The magnetic ride suspension is fine with me. The rest is just if you are doing a whole lot of track time. The ZO6 is one of my favorites but the stock suspension will punish you if you have bouncy or pot holed roads. I bet the price is going to be close to $ 90K
wikiwiki says:
08:28 AM, 03/10/2010
This should sell out like hotcakes! At least our bailout money is being well spent. Such a treasure.
elducko says:
07:37 AM, 03/10/2010
Great now the same ass-clowns that bought Indy 500 pace cars in the 80's and sat on 'em will have another chance to subject another car to dry rot waiting for their investment to appreciate.
gmhl10 says:
06:36 AM, 03/10/2010
They should've made the mirrors and headlamp surrounds in carbon fiber too instead of black. Would fit the "carbon" moniker better.
Plus, stickier tires would've been nicer (like Michelin PS Cup).
I've raced with PS2s before, and I can name a few others with way better grip and similar price that I've also tried with. Yokohama Neova AD07 (upgraded to AD08 now), Bridgestone RE-01R (replaced with RE11... is this better? IDK).
mrryte says:
06:36 AM, 03/10/2010
"you're still going to want to install a proper seat in the Carbon, since the seat is apparently based on the familiar, and not nearly supportive enough, standard Corvette seats."
Chevy STILL hasn't figured this out yet????
chavis10 says:
06:20 AM, 03/10/2010
As I have said before- the tires are the MAIN difference in handling between the universally loved ZR1 and the loathed Z06. Throw PS2s on the Z06 even without the MR shocks and it should settle down and be more composed like the ZR1 (which is 200 lbs heavier- most of it in the nose).
sgude says:
04:49 AM, 03/10/2010
The Z07 is the Vette I'd love to have. Make mine black, though.
cz75 says:
11:48 PM, 03/09/2010
Minimizes the need to go to the ZR1 for the performance goodies and more livable handling. If I could afford a ZR1, I'd ditch the standard hood for the one on this car.
f1ndler says:
11:24 PM, 03/09/2010
Is the interior still made out of cheap plastic with green 1990s dials?
wrinklebump says:
10:19 PM, 03/09/2010
Other than the ghastly decal and ugly wheels, that's a tight-looking Vette. Love the hood bulge minus the window.
Those 7 liters really just roar. It's quite the motor.