- Chevrolet just dropped two more parts in the long running Corvette Academy series. The want for the Z06 is growing.
- Conquer the Air
- Beauty Within the Beast
- Steering ‘Wheel’
Chevrolet just dropped two more parts in the long running Corvette Academy series. The want for the Z06 is growing.
Come on Chevrolet you are killing us. We already want the new Corvette Z06. Badly. But that is not stopping them from rolling out more installments of the “Corvette Academy” on their YouTube channel. The latest episodes to drop focus on the unique aerodynamics as well as the interior found on the 2023 Z06. Each clip is about 3 minutes long and it makes the wait to get behind the wheel of a Z06 all the more excruciating.
We know the Z06 is special, but these videos really show exactly what makes a Z06 a Z06. It is obviously still a Corvette. But the changes, while some may seem subtle have a dramatic effect on the car’s performance and design. Every aspect of the car was obsessed over. Corvette racing driver, Tommy Milner explains that he loves the Z06 because it takes everything that is great about the Corvette and just amplifies it. Let’s checkout the videos below to see exactly what Milner is referring to.
Conquer the Air
This video focuses on the aerodynamic changes on the Z06. Kirk Bennion, exterior design manager, Corvette states that “What’s neat about the Z06 is that it is basically the same width as the racecar.” He wanted an edgier design that made the car look like it was ready to pounce. He worked the car front to back. The reason the side inlets are so large is that they needed them to reach out and grab more air. When you get to the rear of the car, the Z06 tail lamps are pushed further outward than they are on the Stingray.
Downforce
A car a fast as the Corvette needs to pay special attention to downforce. Most people think of rear spoilers when they hear downforce. And that certainly was a consideration on the Z06. However, what some folks may not realize is that getting air extracted out from under the car and through the wheel openings also improves downforce. The Z07 performance package enables the Corvette Z06 to generate 734 pounds of downforce at 186 mph. Watch the full video below to see how the car manages this.
Beauty Within the Beast
The next video in the Corvette Academy series focuses on the interior of the Z06. If there was a weak point in Corvettes of the past it was the interior. The C8 went a long way toward rectifying that shortcoming. The Z06 takes it a step further. Steve Haener, senior marketing manager, performance vehicles begins the video explaining why the interior is so important. “Getting behind the wheel of a Corvette is a visceral experience. The cockpit is literally designed and envelopes you. It’s wrapped around the driver.” This is further enhanced by the ability for a customer to customize. Brett Goliff, global design manager, color and materials states that there are over 11,000 color combinations when considering wheel, seat, seatbelt and exterior color. We might all want a Z06, but chances are all of ours will look very different.
Steering ‘Wheel’
Can we really call it a wheel if it is not round? No matter what we call it, the Corvette steering wheel is shaped like it is so the driver can clearly see all the gauges. If you think that sounds like a no brainer, take a seat in a modern Porsche 911. The outer two gauges are completely obscured from view by the steering wheel. There is also extensive use of carbon fiber on the steering wheel and around the cabin. This gives the car a more upscale and racier look. Watch the video below to see all the thought that went into the interior of this car. It might make the wait for your Z06 harder, but it shows how worth that wait will be.
Keyword: ‘Corvette Academy’ Continues with a Closer Look at the Aerodynamics and Interior of the 2023 Corvette Z06