Being one of the most famous American sports cars, the Chevrolet Corvette has long has a reputation of providing consumers with great acceleration and exceptional cornering and braking performance, mixed with luxury and style. The Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Coupe certainly does not fall short in any departments. Not a lot has changed from other models, however its seats and steering wheel have been redesigned, so there is extra padding added on the armrest, and the side bolsters are larger. Of course, the body is excruciatingly perfect and it also has a surprisingly large trunk for a sports car. It offers performance and comfort, but it lacks agility, when compared to its competitors. There is also nine-speaker Bose sound system added, which is what you would expect from an American classic, made to blast motivational tunes that keep your foot heavy!
The Z06 Coupe is powered by a 7.0-liter V-8engine that was handmade at General Motors' Performance Build Center in Wixom. It features titanium valves and connecting rods, dry sump lubrication system and a forged steel crankshaft. It delivers 500 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque, which means you will have a hard time finding anyone to keep up you off the line. Compared to other Corvette models, fuel-efficiency do suffer a bit on this model though as it returns 15 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the highway. Special ultra-high performance tires are also a novelty on the 2012 model, adding to performance and aesthetics.
When it comes to value, this is a great deal! MSRP starts at $75,600, which you really can't complain about once you slip behind the wheel and feel this machine in action for yourself. Maintenance costs are not too high, compared to foreign models, and Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Coupe is made to be driven daily, so it is a practical choice. However, many consumers claim that the Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Coupe lacks sophistication compared to other cars such as the BMW M3, Dodge Challenger SRT8, Nissan GT-R and Ford Shelby GT500. If you can overlook the dated cabin, this may not be a big deal to you. There is also the Centennial Special Edition Chevrolet Corvette that was made for Chevrolet's 100th anniversary, with a special black-on-black color theme.
When it comes to safety, the Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Coupe earns more than decent reviews, for a sports car. It manages to stop from 60 mph between 96 and 104 feet, which is unheard of in this segment. Side airbags and antilock disk brakes are standard, but side curtain airbags aren't available. New for 2012 is a change in the stability control system, which provides consumers with a Competition mode. This is intended for experienced drivers, who tend to desire much more aggressive driving dynamics.