C8 Corvette ‘outstanding’
General Motors has announced upgrades to the 2024 C8 Corvette and more details are emerging about the eagerly anticipated Z06.
“The additions will make an already phenomenal performance vehicle all the more outstanding,” says Greg Rowe, director of GMSV.
There’s also more information about the new Z06, pictured above. It’s a rear-wheel-drive, mid-engine supercar manufactured in right-hand drive and featuring a powerplant hand-assembled at the home of Corvette, GM’s Bowling Green plant in Kentucky.
The new model-year 2024 C8 Corvette now offers safety features, such as forward-collision alert with low-speed AEB, lane-keep assist with lane-departure warning, following distance indicator, front-pedestrian braking and automatic high-beam assist.
From an aesthetics perspective, its rear will be distinguishable from the current model courtesy of a Z51 spoiler design..
Two new five-split spoke wheel options will be available along with three new exterior colours – cacti green, riptide blue and sea-wolf grey – with carbon flash now a regular colour on all models.
From the cockpit, new driver model-selector animations make an appearance on the large, driver-oriented info screen. Extra visual cues include a wider, full length carbon flash-stripe design with five colour options – silver, red, blue, yellow and orange. Rounding out the updates is a new front trunk power soft-close latch.
Customer deliveries for the new C8 Corvette will start on October 1 and, as part of model-year changes, the recommended retail price will increase $5,000 across the range.
The C8 Corvette Stingray will start from $180,000 for the two-litre coupe. Pricing increases to $215,000 for the three-litre convertible, including GST but excluding dealer delivery and on-road costs. The Z06 3LZ Coup starts at $346,000.
The Corvette Z06
The first 2024 Z06 is due to arrive in GMSV showrooms in Australia and New Zealand late this year.
This Corvette features a naturally aspirated LT6 5.5-litre DOHC V8 with a new flat-plane crankshaft design, which allows the engine to rev to 8,600rpm.
Capable of producing 475kW of power and 595Nm of torque, when combined with the Z07 performance package, it is capable of 1.22g of road-hugging grip in track-prepared configuration. Braking is via 14.6-inch diameter front and 15-inch diameter rear Brembo rotors.
The Z06 has six-piston front callipers compared to four-piston callipers on the Stingray. Power comes via an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission. A unique Z06-specific suspension tuning is a standard feature and is complemented by magnetic ride control.
The largest wheels ever available on a production Corvette, 20-inch forged aluminium Spiders at the front and 21-inch at the rear, provide grip.
All Z06s will come with a carbon-fibre steering wheel with shift, sueded microfibre on the upper-interior trim, leather-wrapped interior door panels and instrument panel, and GT2 nappa bucket seats.
An optional Z07 performance pack is available. This includes larger brakes with carbon-ceramic rotors, carbon-fibre aerodynamic elements including air strikes, larger front splitter, front dive planes and carbon-fibre high wing spoiler, unique suspension tuning, ultra-performance tyres and carbon-fibre wheels.
“Due to incredible global demand, the Z06 is a measured volume proposition,” says Rowe. “In keeping with its exclusive nature, availability will be very controlled.
“We appreciate this may disappoint many performance enthusiasts, but at the same time it will ensure those who do become owners know they possess a special piece of automotive folklore.”
The Corvette E-Ray
GMSV has previously confirmed New Zealand and Australia will be part of the upcoming E-Ray programme.
This innovative model is the first electrified Corvette and will feature an e-AWD system that works in tandem with its LT2 V8 to give it the fastest 0-100kph time ever for the nameplate.
The E-Ray features a host of functional design elements, adding wider fenders, quarter panels and fascias. The result is a sculpted presence with aerodynamic and performance benefits. More details about the E-Ray will be available in 2024.
