2014 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Convertible 6.2L V8 7MT RWD (659 HP)

Vehicle Overview

Chevrolet introduced the seventh generation of the Corvette in 2014, and one of its most powerful versions was the Z06, which was available as a coupe and a convertible, threatening the dominance of Italian supercars on U.S. soil.

It was the last generation for the front-engined Corvettes, and the American automaker put a lot of effort into creating the best of this nameplate. As a result, the car was improved in every aspect and, moreover, it provided not just excellent performance but also a more attractive exterior and interior. In September 2013, Chevrolet introduced the seventh generation of this beloved nameplate. In the following year, and at the 2014 North American International Auto Show, the Corvette family grew with the addition of the Z06 version for the 2015 model year.

The open-top version of the Z06 carried over most of its components from its coupe sibling. As a result, the front fascia sported swept-back headlights adorned with LED daytime running lights on their lower side in a boomerang shape. The bumper featured a broad black grille in the air dam and a splitter underneath it, which enhanced the car’s aerodynamics. Moreover, the hood had vents on it in front of a bulged area, suggesting that there was a bigger powerplant underneath, or at least a supercharger. From its profile, the functional vents behind the front wheel arches extracted the air trapped inside the wheel wells and decreased the aerodynamic lift of the car. Its raked windshield featured thick A-pillars that served as roll-over protection. Thanks to extensive usage of high-strength aluminum elements, the car was 20 percent stiffer than the C6 Z06 Coupe, meaning that there were no concerns regarding road holding. To cover or uncover the cabin, the driver didn’t need to stop the car; it could do that at the flick of a switch at speeds of up to 30 mph (50 kph). In addition, it could do that by pressing a button on the key fob when the vehicle was parked.

Corvette was often criticized for its poorly built interiors, but the C7 was different. GM asked Chevrolet to create a highly competitive vehicle in all aspects, and that included the cabin. As a result, the C7 Z06 featured a Mullan or Nappa leather-wrapped interior (depending on the grade) with high-bolstered bucket seats that could keep their occupants in place during high-speed cornering. The dashboard layout was similar to its siblings and featured a wide rev counter in the middle flanked by a speedometer on the left and the fuel and temperature gauges on the right. On the center stack, Chevrolet added a touchscreen for the infotainment system, which didn’t look like it was an off-the-shelf product. Furthermore, the center console housed a rotary dial that controlled it.

Still, customers were mostly attracted by what happened under the hood. There, Chevy dropped the LT4 supercharged engine that produced 650 HP (659 PS) and a massive torque of 650 lb-ft (850 Nm) paired to either an eight-speed automatic transmission or an unusual Tremec seven-speed manual gearbox. All the oomph went to the rear wheels via an electronically controlled limited-slip differential.