Overview The Corvette Z06 is what you would get if you sent America’s sweetheart sports car to study abroad for a semester or two. Of course, it is star-spangled at its core, but its European influence is impossible to deny. With an 8500-rpm, 670-hp flat-plane-crank V-8 mounted amidships, the Z06 clearly spent some time with the Ferrari textbook, and its brilliantly sorted chassis is straight out of a Porsche lesson plan. As a result of the foreign education, the Z06 is just as equipped for a stunningly quick Nürburgring lap time as it is for a 10.5-second quarter-mile run. The Z06 also is more practical than you would think, thanks to its two trunks and comfortable interior. At nearly half the price of its stiffest foreign competition, the Z06 is a value world-beater. What’s New for 2026?The biggest changes to the 2026 Z06 can be found in the cockpit. A new three-panel screen arrangement replaces the two-panel setup in last year’s model. The digital instrument display measures 14.0 inches and is sandwiched by a 12.7-inch infotainment screen to its right and a 6.6-inch auxiliary display to its left. A carbon fiber surround for the instrument display is optional. Now gone is the bank of buttons and driver controls that existed on the spine of the console between the driver and passenger. Instead, the climate-control buttons have been relocated to a space below the central infotainment display, and the newly redesigned drive-mode selector is in line with the gear selector. To accentuate its reworked cabin, the Z06 is available with four new interior color schemes, including a Sky Cool and Medium Ash Gray with Habanero accents, Santorini Blue, Very Dark Atmosphere, and Ultimate Suede. Pricing and Which One to BuyThe price of the 2026 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 is expected to start around $118,000 and go up to $135,000 depending on the trim and options.1LZ Coupe$118,000 (est)2LZ Convertible$122,000 (est)2LZ Coupe$127,000 (est)2LZ Convertible$130,000 (est)3LZ Coupe$132,000 (est)3LZ Convertible$135,000 (est)Even with a six-figure-plus price tag, the Corvette Z06 is a relative performance bargain when compared with the exotic company it keeps. For less than $120,000 the base Z06 1LZ is capable of keeping pace with European near-supercars asking twice that much—and more. Therefore, we’d go with the base 1LZ Coupe to start, and then, if track days are on the agenda, add the firmer-riding Z07 Performance package, which adds track-tuned suspension, Brembo carbon-ceramic brakes, and ultra-grippy Michelin Pilot Cup 2R ZP track tires. Selecting this package also requires the high-downforce Carbon Aero package, which adds various carbon-fiber exterior elements, including a front splitter and a rear spoiler. You can also add the Carbon Aero package to the standard Z06, which comes with more street-friendly Michelin Pilot Sport 4S ZP tires and steel brakes. That’s how we’d probably order ours because it’s still track-capable.Engine, Transmission, and PerformanceIf you’ve been following the C8 Corvette story for any length of time you’ve no doubt heard the term “flat-plane crank” bandied about. You can read the intimate details here, but suffice to say its high-revving, naturally aspirated 5.5-liter V-8 is good for 670 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque. Did we mention it revs to 8500 rpm and shrieks like the supercars it’s trying to dethrone? We’ve written that, at wide-open throttle, the engine “sounds like a Ferrari 458 Italia that hit puberty.” The unconventional V-8 hooks up to an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and rear-wheel drive. A set of wider, stickier tires and more powerful brakes help it corner harder and stop shorter than the standard Vette. Chevy has also transformed the chassis to ensure the Z06’s performance advantages are most obvious at the racetrack. To enhance the track experience even further, a new PTM Pro setting has been added to the Z06’s available drive modes, which turns off electronic stability control and traction control, while leaving ABS on for maximum driver engagement. To unlock its full potential, an optional Z07 package adds aerodynamic elements and further upgrades the brakes and tires. The car comes standard with 20-inch front and 21-inch rear forged aluminum wheels, but a set of lighter and stronger carbon-fiber rollers are optional. Dynamically speaking, the mid-engine Z06 is direct, tenacious, and sharp enough that you can cut yourself if you get in over your head.0–60-MPH TimesPerformance is explosive: at our test track, the Z06 coupe blasted to 60 mph in just 2.6 seconds and sailed through the quarter-mile mark in 10.5 seconds at 131 mph. The convertible Z06 needed just 0.1 second longer to reach 60 mph in our testing. We also tested a 2023 Corvette Z06 as part of a 0-to-150-to-0 speed test where it returned to a stop in just 22.5 seconds, beating its nemesis, a Porsche 911 GT3 RS, by almost two seconds.More on the Z06 Coupe and ConvertibleFuel Economy and Real-World MPGWhile the EPA hasn’t released any fuel economy information for the 2026 Z06 yet, the 2025 model earned ratings of 12 mpg city, 20 mpg highway, and 14 mpg combined. For more information about the Corvette’s fuel economy, visit the EPA’s website.Interior, Comfort, and CargoThe mid-engine C8 Corvette remains a pure two-seater, and the futuristic interior comes outfitted in materials such as leather, real metal trim, and imitation suede; it even has a fancy stitched headliner. Speaking of the roof, it’s removable on the coupe—one person can wrestle it off—just like with previous Corvettes, and it fits inside the trunk just aft of the engine compartment. The driver sits behind a squared-off steering wheel and a 14.0-inch reconfigurable gauge display; a 12.7-inch infotainment touchscreen is angled toward the driver for ease of use, and another 6.6-inch auxiliary display sits to the left of the digital gauge cluster. The interior design takes the driver-focused concept to the max, bisecting the cockpit with a wall-like separator between the driver and passenger. Climate control and drive-mode selection buttons are no longer located on the spine of that separator; the climate control switches now sit under the central infotainment display, and the drive-mode selector now rests ahead of the gear selector. Opting for the top 3LT package gets you upgraded materials, such as sewn leather on most interior surfaces, plus carbon-fiber trim. The Corvette’s two trunk areas, one in the nose and the other behind the engine, offer a total of 13 cubic feet of storage space. Chevrolet says the Corvette can fit two sets of golf clubs stacked on top of each other in the rear compartment. In our testing, we were able to fit our test set of clubs easily, so Chevy’s claim seems valid. When it came time to see if there was room for our carry-on-size suitcases, we were able to fit one in the Corvette’s front trunk and two in the rear compartment.ChevroletThe Car and Driver DifferenceInfotainment and ConnectivityThe new Corvette uses a custom Chevrolet infotainment system, which features a 12.7-inch touchscreen with Bluetooth audio streaming, a 4G LTE mobile hotspot, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability. It also features a wireless smartphone charger below the central infotainment screen. The system is easy to use and quick to respond to commands.How to Buy and Maintain a CarSafety and Driver-Assistance FeaturesThe Corvette comes with several driver-assistance features as standard, but others, including blind-spot monitoring, cost extra. For more information about the Corvette’s crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Key safety features include:
- Standard automated emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection
- Standard lane-departure warning with lane-keeping assist
- Available blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert
Warranty and Maintenance CoverageWhile its performance is amazing, the Corvette’s warranty coverage is strictly average. At least the first maintenance service is covered at no cost.
- Limited warranty covers three years or 36,000 miles
- Powertrain warranty covers five years or 60,000 miles
- Complimentary maintenance is covered for the first visit
SpecificationsSpecifications
2023 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 w/Z07*
Vehicle Type: mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive, 2-passenger, 2-door targa
PRICE
Base/As Tested: $127,185/$166,205
Options: 3LZ equipment group (leather-wrapped interior with microfiber headliner, heated and ventilated GT2 bucket seats, navigation, wireless phone charging), $13,850; visible carbon-fiber wheels, $11,995; carbon-fiber interior trim, $4995; front-axle lift, $2595; visible carbon-fiber targa top, $2495; Bright Red painted calipers, $695; black exhaust tips, $395
ENGINE
DOHC 32-valve V-8, aluminum block and heads, direct fuel injection
Displacement: 333 in3, 5463 cm3
Power: 670 hp @ 8400 rpm
Torque: 460 lb-ft @ 6300 rpm
TRANSMISSION
8-speed dual-clutch automatic
CHASSIS
Suspension, F/R: control arms/control arms
Brakes, F/R: 15.7-in vented, cross-drilled carbon-ceramic disc/15.4-in vented, cross-drilled carbon-ceramic disc
Tires: Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R ZP
F: 275/30ZR-20 (97Y) TPC
R: 345/25ZR-21 (104Y) TPC
DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 107.2 in
Length: 185.9 in
Width: 79.7 in
Height: 48.6 in
Passenger Volume: 51 ft3
Cargo Volume: 13 ft3
Curb Weight: 3666 lb
C/D TEST RESULTS
60 mph: 2.6 sec
100 mph: 5.9 sec
130 mph: 10.3 sec
1/4-Mile: 10.5 sec @ 131 mph
150 mph: 15.2 sec
170 mph: 24.9 sec
Results above omit 1-ft rollout of 0.2 sec.
Rolling Start, 5–60 mph: 3.1 sec
Top Gear, 30–50 mph: 2.0 sec
Top Gear, 50–70 mph: 2.2 sec
Top Speed (mfr’s claim): 189 mph
Braking, 70–0 mph: 139 ft
Braking, 100–0 mph: 274 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft Skidpad: 1.16 g
C/D FUEL ECONOMY
Observed: 12 mpg
EPA FUEL ECONOMY
Combined/City/Highway: 14/12/19 mpg
2023 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Convertible*
Vehicle Type: mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive, 2-passenger, 2-door convertible
PRICE
Base/As Tested: $116,795/$162,510
ENGINE
V-8, aluminum block and heads, direct fuel injection
Displacement: 333 in3, 5463 cm3
Power: 670 hp @ 8400 rpm
Torque: 460 lb-ft @ 6300 rpm
TRANSMISSION
8-speed dual-clutch automatic
CHASSIS
Suspension, F: ind; unequal-length control arms, coil springs, 3-position electronically controlled dampers, anti-roll bar
R: ind; unequal-length control arms, coil springs, 3-position electronically controlled dampers, anti-roll bar
Brakes, F: 15.7 x 1.5-in vented, cross-drilled carbon-ceramic disc; 6-piston fixed caliper R: 15.4 x 1.3-in vented, cross-drilled carbon-ceramic disc; 4-piston fixed caliper
Tires: Michelin Pilot Sport 4S ZP
F: 275/30ZR-20 (97Y) TPC
R: 345/25ZR-21 (104Y) TPC
DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 107.2 in
Length: 185.9 in
Width: 79.7 in
Height: 48.6 in
Passenger Volume: 51 ft3
Cargo Volume: 13 ft3
Curb Weight: 3799 lb
C/D TEST RESULTS
60 mph: 2.7 sec
100 mph: 6.1 sec
1/4-Mile: 10.7 sec @ 129 mph
150 mph: 16.3 sec
170 mph: 27.7 sec
Results above omit 1-ft rollout of 0.3 sec.
Rolling Start, 5–60 mph: 3.1 sec
Top Gear, 30–50 mph: 2.0 sec
Top Gear, 50–70 mph: 2.2 sec
Top Speed (mfr’s claim): 189 mph
Braking, 70–0 mph: 144 ft
Braking, 100–0 mph: 282 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft Skidpad: 1.12 g
C/D FUEL ECONOMY
Observed: 12 mpg
EPA FUEL ECONOMY
Combined/City/Highway: 14/12/19 mpg
C/D TESTING EXPLAINED
* Test results and specs apply to current model year.
Source: caranddriver.com
