2001 Chevrolet Corvette Z06

All Z06s come with the rugged new M12 6-speed manual gearbox that features lower ratios in all gears. The clutch, driveshaft and rear transaxle have all been beefed to handle the LS6's additional torque, and the shifter itself has been reworked for shorter throws and a more positive feel.


Simply put, the Z06's performance numbers are awesome. Even on a day when grip on our local drag strip was less than ideal, this firebrand cranked off a blistering 4.7-second 0-60 mph best and streaked through the quarter mile in 12.8 ticks at 112.3 mph. To put that in perspective, Zora's 1963 Z06 went 0-60 in 5.8 seconds and clipped the quarter in 14.5 seconds at 103.0 mph. Chevy says the Z06 has a top end of 171 mph. One of the main reasons why the car is so quick is its stellar 8.09:1 weight-to-horsepower ratio, one of the lowest of any street Vette ever.


Underneath, the Z06's suspension and brake package is the equivalent of an SCCA World Challenge car of just 10 years ago. The basic upper and lower wishbone setup is augmented by the FE4 package, which is unique to the Z06. It consists of a thicker rear transverse spring and beefier anti-roll bars front and rear that go beyond even the already-impressive Z51 setup. The camber settings are also increased to help keep the larger, stickier tires (conventional Goodyear Eagle F1 SC 265/40ZR17 fronts/295/35ZR18 rears versus run-flat Eagle F1 GS 245/45ZR17 fronts/275/40ZR18 rears) in more consistent contact with the road surface. The engineering team also tweaked the ratio in the MagnaSteer rack-and-pinion power steering a bit to compensate for the wider front tires' larger turning circle.


The Z06 shares the 2001 Corvette's second-generation Active Handling system, which has been significantly improved with new computerized algorithms to eliminate the rear brake-proportioning valve. In real-world terms, this mean a less-intrusive sideslip angle rate—or more lenience with rear stability and wheelspin. Experienced drivers will appreciate being able to hang the Z06's tail out without the computer assuming it's out of control. For the novice, Active Handling will merely be seen as an invisible "helping hand" that can ward off trouble before it starts. Furthermore, the system has a "Competitive Mode" that allows the driver to disengage traction control on the fly without losing Active Handling. With the latter engaged, our tester blazed through the slalom course at a true supercar pace of 71.5 mph.


Although Chevrolet admits the Z06 weight-saving program did involve jettisoning a bit of sound deadening material, a slightly elevated interior noise level is about the only thing that indicates its premiere status in the Corvette performance hierarchy. Welcome touches like dual-zone climate control and a Bose AM/FM/CD sound system are standards, as are unique torso-hugging bucket seats with dual-density side bolsters that add extra grip in corners. Although a few less-critical Vette options are not available, living without things like a heads-up display, Twilight Sentinal headlamp control and a power antenna seem like pretty fair tradeoffs given the pursang nature of this noble beast.