“Huge Hit on Our Hands”: 2022 Chevy Corvette Z06 Spy Shots Via Motor Authority

The general consensus over the past year through various blog posts and car aficionado websites is that the Bow-tie brand we love to represent so much here at West Chevy of Knoxville has had a huge hit on our hands with the mid-engine C8 Corvette. There are still models that are coming soon such as the Grand Sport, Z06 and ZR1, and even rumors of new hybrid models that will make their way down the pipeline soon as well.

The bloggers on duty at Motorauthority.com reported this past week that Chevy engineers have been spotted testing a souped-up version of the C8, and based on what past generations have offered up, you are here looking at a new Corvette Z06 that could appear as a 2022 model. At first glance it looks just a bit like previous testers for the Stingray but then you notice the wider rear wheels, which hint at it being a bit more track-tough and ready for even higher hits in the blistering acceleration department. On the Stingray the rear tires max out at about 305 millimetres, but the rear tires on the Z06 are expected to max out at 345 mm.

 

On the latest prototype, the front tires are already a hefty 275 mm and expect a few key changes on the interior as well. An official sketch from last fall had already shown what appeared to be the Z06's cabin, and the layout of the dash matched the design incorporated in the Stingray. The controls on the steering wheel were a bit different and had a giant red button with “Spec Mode” written on it. The instrument cluster displayed the layout of a racetrack, and there was carbon fiber present on many of the surfaces instead of the traditional leather.

The engine onboard is likely to be a close relative of the flat-plane-crank, dual-overhead-cam 5.5-liter V8 that was featured in the C8.R race car. When the overall power factor topic is discussed, we would have to agree that peak output is expected to hover around 600 horsepower. Even though this is a bit less than the 650 hp of the C7 club's supercharged V8, there are going to be plenty out there who have a deep appreciation for naturally aspirated power, even If it means the top end resting a bit lower. For those out there that are among the most power-hungry, there is a twin-turbocharged version of the new V-8 with a bolstered number closer to 800 horsepower expected in the new ZR1, and it promises to deliver the ultimate power needed to command your stance on the track.

At first seating and firing up up the engine, scores of automobile bloggers and enthusiasts have fallen in love with the new Corvette right away. The tightly-wrapped interior, off-the charts handling, and feeling that this is a true competitor against the big-named players such as Ferrari on the track have deemed the coming Corvette models as a perfect choice for anyone itching to spend summer blistering up the track!