Corvette due next year

New Zealand and Australia will be among the right-hand-drive (RHD) markets to receive the all-new 2023 model-year Corvette Z06.

Joanne Stogiannis, director of GMSV, says: “The Z06 will be manufactured in both left and RHD, and we’re incredibly excited to confirm GMSV in Australia and New Zealand will be part of the global programme.

“News that the C8 was available as RHD was reason enough to make Corvette enthusiasts cheer, but this is phenomenal.”

LHD production of the Z06 will commence in the North American summer of 2022, with RHD slated to start some months later.

An all-new naturally aspirated LT6 5.5-litre DOHC V8 engine will make its debut in the Corvette. It features a flat-plane crankshaft design that allows it to rev to 8,600rpm.

The LT6 is hand-assembled by at the performance build centre within Bowling Green Assembly Plant in Kentucky.  

Each engine features a plaque on the intake manifold with the signature of the technician who crafted it from start to finish.

Performance credentials of the Z06, pictured here in LHD configuration, build on foundations laid by the Stingray. 

For example, the former delivers greater braking capability with larger 14.6-inch-diameter front and 15-inch-diameter rear Brembo rotors compared to the Stingray.

It also features six-piston front calipers compared to the Stingray’s four-piston calipers.

The Z06 comes in 9.4cm wider than the Stingray, accommodating 345-series rear tyres and more airflow through side air vents.

Unique front and rear fascias are a first for the Z06. The front fascia is designed to optimise its cooling needs, including shifting air to a centre heat exchanger, which is one of five for maximum cooling performance.

A unique, standard reconfigurable rear spoiler with adjustable wicker-bill elements is designed to improve high-speed stability and cornering capability on a racetrack.

Standard 20-inch front and 21-inch rear forged-aluminium “spider” wheels, with five available finishes, are the largest ever available on a production Corvette.

“Details such as price, anticipated arrival timing and number of vehicles allocated to our market will be revealed next year,” says Stogiannis.

“In the meantime, we’re looking forward to the first C8 customer cars shipping to Australia and New Zealand.”