New GM product chief Mark Reuss introduces the 2015 Corvette Z06 in Detroit on Monday. Photo credit: General Motors.
General Motors (GM 4.06%) took the wraps off its new "bad boy" 2015 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit on Monday. We -- the Motley Fool's John Rosevear and Rex Moore -- were on the scene as the new Vette rolled out, and we share our first impressions in the video below.
In a nutshell: GM's latest Vette roared onto the stage with a deep, mean exhaust note that sounded track-ready. That's no coincidence: The Z06 builds on last year's acclaimed new Corvette Stingray with a series of enhancements that should raise the new car's performance by a significant margin.
The new Z06 is powered by a new supercharged 6.2-liter V8. It's similar to the engine that powered the last-generation Corvette ZR1, but built on GM's latest V8 architecture, introduced last year. GM didn't release exact power ratings, but new global product chief Mark Reuss told reporters that the Z06's engine would make "at least" 625 horsepower in final tune.
GM revived the "LT4" name for the Z06's supercharged 6.2-liter V8. It'll make at least 625 horsepower in production trim. Photo credit: General Motors.
That's serious power, enough to make the new Z06 a no-excuses supercar -- just as the ZR1 was. Already, Reuss said, the new Z06 has beaten the old ZR1's track times, and the development team continues to fine-tune the new Vette's suspension settings.
We don't yet know how much the Z06 will cost, or what kind of fuel economy to expect. But while we miss the old naturally aspirated 7.0-liter engine that powered the last-generation Z06, we do think that GM has put together a package that should excite track-oriented sports car buyers.
Check out our video report from the show floor in Detroit, and then scroll down to leave a comment with your thoughts. Is the new Z06 a winner, or did GM need to make a bigger leap from the Stingray? Let us know what you think.
