Corvette C6 Z06
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Production period: | 2005-2013 |
Class : | sports car |
Body versions : | Coupe , convertible |
Engines: | Gasoline engines : 6.0-7.0 liters |
Length: | 4435-4459 mm |
Width: | 1844-1927 mm |
Height: | 1246 mm |
Wheelbase : | 2686 mm |
Curb weight : | 1418-1538 kg |
The Corvette C6 Z06 is the sixth edition of the US sports car Corvette produced by General Motors , which was manufactured from January 2005 to February 2013.
History
In 2005, the successor to the already successful since the model year 2001 Corvette Z06 was presented on the basis of the sixth generation (C6) . The then-released C6 Z06 was the fastest, most powerful, and most powerful Corvette ever released until the launch of the new C6 ZR1 in 2008. The Corvette Z06 became parallel to the Corvette C6.R racing car for enthusiastic riders looking for a high-performance, everyday vehicle developed. With its 512 hp (377 kW) 7.0-liter LS7 engine, the racing chassis , the aluminum frame produced by hydroforming and the body with CFRP elements, the Z06 was the fastest, most technically advanced model in the then 53-year-old Corvette History.
As a descendant of the Corvette racing car program, the new C6 Z06 is an absolutely independent vehicle with its own drivetrain, a different body structure and chassis control, which already sets itself apart from the normal Corvette coupe or convertible. The Z06 combines the characteristics of the sixth-generation Corvettes racing successes around the world, and also makes it clear with its aggressive design, which should radiate power, endurance and the know-how of a race track winner.
The C6 Z06 comes as standard with a Bose audio system with six-disc CD changer integrated in the dashboard, telescopic steering wheel, side airbags and a GPS navigation system. Corvette typical missing neither two-zone air conditioning nor cabin air filter in the lush equipment list as well as the head-up display (HUD) with standard track mode and g value display. The heated seats are available with leather upholstery in two shades and with embroidered Z06 logo. They also feature strong, side-facing side cushions that help keep the driver in the seat when cornering. The silencer package has been redesigned to reduce weight, and now also allows better monitoring of powertrain noise.
The Corvette Z06 has a unique body design with a hardtop and an aluminum frame that combines low vehicle weight with optimal rigidity. In contrast to the normal C6 can be because of this special construction in the Z06 not remove the roof and stowed in the trunk (see: Targa roof ). The frame outer beams are one-piece hydroformed beams with castings, stampings and stampings that replace many welded steel components of other Corvette models. In key areas, the aluminum structure is reinforced with bonded composite carbon fiber mats .
The Z06 carries in contrast to the normal C6 a front bumper with a larger cooling air inlet and a separate air intake. In addition, there are large vents behind the front wheels. In addition there are special side skirts, a rear spoiler and two Z06 emblems on the front fenders with the naming of the 505HP to US standard. To ensure that the lush tires also find space in the wheel arches, they have been widened by a total of around 76 millimeters at the rear.
The striking front air intake, the large forced air outlets behind the front wheels and the air intakes for cooling the brakes on the rear axle are all functional features that only the Corvette Z06 has. The noticeably wider rear fenders with overhangs unlike the base Corvette cover the massive rear wheels, while the additional rear spoiler accommodates the different and larger brake light and provides enough downforce to balance the front air divider without compromising aerodynamics. The drag coefficient of the Corvette Z06 is 0.31. Another distinguishing feature are the four large diameter stainless steel tailpipes.
The front spoiler and pronounced rear spoiler provide the necessary downforce for improved stability at high speeds: The top speed of the Z06 is finally 320 km / h. Even the roof has been specifically designed to maximize stiffness and aerodynamics while reducing weight - the Z06 is therefore available in a hardtop version only. In other words, in contrast to the normal C6, the roof of the Z06 (and also of the ZR1) can not be removed.
The wheel arches made of carbon fiber reinforced plastic (KFK) are also used to reduce weight and increase rigidity . The front subframe and the fixed roof are made of magnesium, the 1400 gram KFK fenders. The body floor is a sandwich construction with KFK cover layers on a balsa wood core .
The Corvette Z06 has the same wheelbase of 2686 mm as the other C6 models, but has completely new rims, tires, brakes, rear springs and a special stabilizer to suppress rolling movements. The characteristic 9.5 × 18-inch alloy cast-aluminum rims with ten spokes carry front tires of size 275/35 ZR18, the identical 12 × 19-inch rear wheels of size 325/30 ZR19 tires. With tires from the "Goodyear Extended Mobility Runflat"Technology, it was the largest ever offered for a Corvette rim-tire combination until the release of the ZR1. The large rims make room for the 355-mm front disc brakes with transverse ventilation holes and six brake pistons or the same design 340-mm rear wheel disc brakes with four pistons.
Also this Corvette has leaf springs at the back - exact half axles, which hang on transverse leaf springs. This design requires less maintenance and achieves a longer service life than classic spring-damper designs. A disadvantage of this design is the wavy slope less accurate wheel compared to a multi-link axle.
The aluminum chassis is an in-house development for the Z06. This special chassis is not manufactured at the Corvette plant in Bowling Green , but at Dana Technologies in Maumee . Instead of steel (as in the normal Corvette), the frame is made entirely of aluminum. With even increased stiffness, the aluminum frame weighs just under 130 kg, about 62 kg less than the steel frame of the other C6 Corvettes.
The extra charge "F55- Magnetic-Selective-Ride-Control- Fahrwerk" of the normal Corvette is not available for the Z06, because a special sports suspension is installed. Despite stronger suspension components weighs the Z06 about 40 to 50 kilos less than a normal Corvette C6. Thus, the empty weight of the Z06 is only about 1400 kg. The percentage weight distribution of the front and rear axles of the Z06 is almost perfect at 50.7 / 49.3.
The handcrafted LS7 -V8 aluminum engine has a displacement of 7.0 liters and a dry sump lubrication , which allows the engine to be installed deeper.
The power is 376 kW (512 hp) at 6300 rpm and a maximum torque of 637 Newton meters at 4800 rpm. For a maximum speed of 7000 rpm, sodium-cooled exhaust valves as well as connecting rods and valve springs made of titanium are used, which are exclusively manufactured by a renowned company in Switzerland.
In contrast to the previous engine with a large engine block ( "Bigblock") and 6997 cm 3 (427 cubic inches) displacement is the LS7 to the displacement largest V8 engine of the "Small Block" series that has ever been produced by GM. The unit can be easily recognized by its red covers with black lettering under the bonnet. This new LS7 engine is already considered the pinnacle of engine development in General Motors' 50-year history and is also a favorite item for tuning companies or used in various racing teams in their vehicles.
Clear examples of LS7 racing technology include Titan connecting rods, flat piston aluminum forged pistons, CNC-milled cylinder heads borrowed from racing with titanium inlet valves and sodium-filled exhaust valves, and titanium bumpers and valve springs. In addition, in the production of the cylinder, the method of Deckplatten honing is applied, as is usual otherwise only in racing engine production.
The LS7 has a dry sump lubrication system that lubricates the engine even when cornering. From an expansion tank mounted in the engine compartment, the oil pump continues to deliver oil at a constant pressure even when loads of over 1 g (9.81 m / s²) occur in the curve . At the rear end of the LS7 engine sits a single-mass flywheel and a lightweight high-performance clutch. The six-speed manual transmission with improved limited slip differential is mounted in the rear. ( Transaxle ) The driving force is transmitted to the rear wheels by stronger axle half shafts with higher loadable universal joints.
The Z06 is only supplied with the manual 6-speed gearbox and is not available with the 6-speed automatic transmission of the normal C6.
Performance
The Z06 reaches a top speed of 320 km / h. From 0 to 100 km / h, it accelerates in 3.9 seconds, from 0 to 200 km / h, it is 11.9 seconds. It takes less than twelve seconds for the famous quarter mile . The small course in Hockenheim is circumnavigated in 1: 08.7 minutes. The Nordschleife circled Jim Mero in a 2012 model with Ultimate Performance Package in 7: 22.68 minutes. The maximum lateral acceleration is with standard tires at 1.3 g . Thus, the Z06 is in the range of other supercars . The typical opponents are for example Ferrari 430 , Porsche 911 Turbo ,Lamborghini Gallardo and Nissan GTR . The Z06 also leads since 2007, the list of the best braking performance of sports car , they needed for the mandatory measurement 100 to 0 km / h 31.0 m.
C6 Z06 "Ron Fellows Edition"
The first special series of the C6 Z06 was named " Ron Fellows " - after the most successful Corvette racer ever. The Z06 "Ron Fellows Edition" (short: "RF Edition") was produced exclusively in 2007, a total of 399 copies were made. 300 units were delivered in the United States, 66 in Canada and the remaining 33 vehicles to various countries. Thus, this limited edition is a very rare version of the Corvette Z06.
This special edition can be recognized by the color white, because up to the facelift model of the Corvette C6 of the year 2008 the paint "Arctic White" was only available on the normal C6. Red fender flags were also included, with Ron Fellows' successes in the ALMS GT1 (2001-2006) including the Canadian maple leaf and his name being shown on both left . The buyer could stick these special red sticker strips on the mudguards. Thus, the RF edition is immediately visible from the outside.
The interior was also adapted to the Canadian champion, it is decorated in black and red, with red dominating. In addition, an imitated center console made of carbon fiber reinforced plastic was installed as standard for the first time. In addition, under each armrest, the edition number and signature of Ron Fellows.
In terms of engine technology, the Z06 "RF-Edition" continues to be based on the LS7 engine of the standard Z06 with a displacement of 7.0 liters and a power output of 376 kW (512 hp). However, in were chassis already some changes from the later facelift model integrated, such as the revised steering, other triangle wishbone and rear shock absorbers with a different pressure level.
