2011 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Carbon Edition Unveiled

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