If you are a GM enthusiast to any degree, then you likely already know all the details surrounding the new 2006 Corvette Z06. Rather than rehash the specs, lets get straight to the main event; what it's like to drive this 505hp beast!
It seemed like I had waited an eternity for this moment as I slipped into the driver's seat. I depressed the clutch and tapped the center of the green aura surrounding the start button; 427 cubic inches of aluminum and other various alloys came to life and idled nearly as smooth as glass. The exhaust belted out a vicious note, but not something so obscene that women and children hid for shelter--they didn't do that until we tached it up to 7,000 and the extra exhaust routing opened up. It was clear right then and there: This would not be a normal road test. This would be something special, something memorable. With the engine warming up, I took a few seconds to adjust the seat and mirrors and find some good tunes on XM Radio (20 on 20 is always a sure bet) using the factory touch-screen navigation unit. With the formalities out of the way, it was time to do what this car was created to do: drive hard.
As I began to engage the clutch it immediately hit me: "This clutch is so light and responsive, I bet anyone could drive this thing; heck, maybe even for a daily driver!" A split second later the clutch grabbed and we were off. I drove around town for awhile just to feel out the car and get acclimated. As it turns out, this thing is just as happy being driven around town as it is being thrashed around the Nurburgring. The overall demeanor of the Z06 in a city atmosphere is very similar to a normal C6; the cabin is quiet, the ride is actually very compliant, and the car is a pleasure to putt around town in. As I mentioned previously, the clutch is quite light and didn't give me any leg cramps or other ailments when driving it in stop-and-go traffic. But chances are if you are reading this magazine, putting around town is not what you'd like to do with a Z06, and with that in mind I headed for the highway.
Now everyone knows that long, straight freeway on-ramps can be a lot of fun, especially when they are made out of concrete, providing quite a bit of grip. A launch from 2,000 rpm and a small helping of clutch slip and the back tires howled as they strained for traction, as 60 mph came up incredibly fast, in First gear no less! A quick shift into Second at the Z06's 7,000 rpm redline and I was quickly overshooting my merge point--which of course is a fine time to test the brakes. I think the best way to describe the behemoth brakes the Z06 wears is simply, "Imagine throwing the anchor from the Titanic out of the car at speed." This car can very easily induce whiplash with the stab of your foot, be it on the brake or the gas pedal.
At speed this Corvette is just as docile as a regular C6, and it soaks up imperfections in the road quite well; you won't need a visit to the chiropractor after driving it. Passing slower traffic on the freeway is as easy as extending your right foot into the go pedal--just be careful not to go overboard as it's quite easy to let this much power go to your head; triple digit speeds pop up without even trying. I cruised the freeway for a few miles and proceeded to terrorize a few Mustang drivers, then got off on a well-known local back road to test out the cornering abilities. As one would expect, the Z06 soaks up corners like a giant LS7-powered sponge, even with the seemingly soft-for-a-sports-car ride quality, body roll is basically nonexistent. Turn in is very crisp and the car responds to steering inputs like you were one with the wheel; steering feedback is incredible. Of course if steering with the gas is your forte, the Z06 is more than adept at handling that as well. Turn off the stability and traction control and hold on tight; with no computer intervention, you can pitch out the rear end at will with a blip of the gas in the appropriate gear.
As my time with the Z06 was drawing rapidly to a close, it was time to finally see what this Vette was capable of. I grabbed my trusty Beltronics Vector FX2 accelerometer and headed out to the test site. The Beltronics Vector has proven to be nearly dead on every pass at our local drag strip, so I feel comfortable sharing these numbers with you. The Z06 posted a tire-frying 3.9-second jaunt to 60 and covered the quarter-mile in 11.9 seconds at 123 mph. There was quite a bit of wheelspin through the entire run as it was relatively cool outside (55 degrees), so there surely is room for improvement; I can't imagine this car with some sticky tires--it would be downright brutal.
So to recap, the Z06 is a wolf in sheep's clothing that not only could handle daily-driver duties but could also handle almost any competitor on any road course or dragstrip. And you can get all this for around $66,000, a fraction of the price of high-end sports cars the Z06 can outperform. So the obvious question is, "Chevrolet, how on earth do you plan to top this one?" The answer may lie in the LS9...
Special thanks to Jeff Cauley, Joe Cauley and Dave Estes.
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 Unlike its 346-cube predecessors,...  Unlike its 346-cube predecessors, the LS7 harbors a borderline insane 427 cubic inches of Gen IV power. With the shields removed, the only obvious visible changes are the plug in the valve cover where the oil-fill neck usually resides (relocated for the dry-sump system) and the more extreme shape of the intake manifold. A keen eye would also likely detect the different head-casting number, as well as the factory headers. |
 Ample seat side bolstering...  Ample seat side bolstering makes the Z06 a pleasure to pilot around town or on the racetrack, thanks to the perfect blend of support and comfort. |
 Think of it as a 427-powered...  Think of it as a 427-powered entertainment center. |
 If you intend on getting a...  If you intend on getting a Z06, get to know the area on the tachometer shaded in red. After a proper break-in, you'll be getting acquainted with it rather quickly! The instrument panel is not that much different from the regular C6, save for the 7,000-rpm redline and Z06 crest. |
 Nothin' says lovin' like huge...  Nothin' says lovin' like huge meats being drawn to a halt by brakes the size of a Geo Metro's wheel. 14-inch front and 13.4-inch rear brakes bring this rocket back down to earth in a hurry, no special license required. |
 Some quick acceleration tests...  Some quick acceleration tests on an un-prepped surface revealed a 3.9-second sprint to 60 mph, and 11.9 quarter-mile e.t. at 123. As soon as we can wrangle the keys of another test Z06 from GM, we'll head to Englishtown and let fly. Are low 11s in the cards? Stay tuned... |
 The dry-sump reservoir looks...  The dry-sump reservoir looks right at home in the engine bay of the Z06. The lines are neatly and thoughtfully run, and a casual observer may not even notice the system nestled in the bay. |
It's important to point out that at the time this road test was conducted, there were less than 50 Z06 Corvettes delivered to dealerships. Getting a hold of one to test might as well have been the gearhead equivalent of winning the lottery. Luckily for us, Jeff Cauley, owner of Cauley Chevrolet (one of the nation's premier Corvette retailers; www.cauley.net) was kind enough to let us test his brand-new (read 300-mile) menacing black Z06. Without him, this editorial would have likely been a few months longer getting to press. Thanks Jeff!