Thanks to emissions regulations, a Euro-spec C8 Z06 is noticeably slower than its American cousin.
There’s no doubting how capable the Chevy Corvette Z06 is. As far as sports cars go, the C8 Z06 is right up there with some of the best in the business. In fact, the new-gen Z06 is so good that it even nudges the supercar realm, giving Ferraris and McLarens a run for their money.
The 2023 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 is very much a performance bargain. However, that may not be the case for versions sold across the pond. For instance, a base 2023 C8 Corvette has an MSRP of $64,500 in the U.S. However, pricing is far too inflated in the EU. Starting price for a base Stingray Coupe is €99,650 in France ($105,360 at current exchange rates). In the UK, for example, a Corvette C8 starts from £81,700 (around $97,917).
But unlike the U.S, the base Corvette sold in Europe comes well-equipped (with standard Z51 package). We previously compared a US-Spec Corvette C8 to its UK counterpart. Not only is there a price disparity, but the cars also differ in their outputs. That difference is also evident in the new Euro-spec C8 Corvette Z06. Here’s a closer look.
Euro-Spec C8 Corvette Z06 Produces Noticeably Less Horsepower
Motorsport Magazine shared a video on YouTube showing us a Euro-spec Z06 in the flesh, along with a short clip of its acceleration. But before we dive deep, here’s a quick spec run. The 2023 Chevrolet Corvette C8 Z06 sold in America has 670 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque. However, the 5.5L naturally aspirated V8 screamer in its European avatar produces much less. The C8 Z06 sold across the pond produces 636 horsepower and 439 lb-ft of torque.
Why are the outputs different, you ask? The European Union is pretty strict about emissions. Per the latest norms, all gasoline cars sold (with direct injection) in Europe should feature a particulate filter. Much like DPFs you find in diesel engines. GPFs are designed to remove particulate matter from the exhaust gas. Gasoline filters are particularly common in cars with direct injection as these produce more particulate matter than engines with port fuel injection.
Chevy also redesigned the Z06’s exhaust system. Keen-eyed among you would’ve noticed the Euro-spec Z06 sporting the regular C8’s exhaust layout versus the center-exit quad tips. Again, this is to comply with the EU’s sound and pollution regulations.
Corvette C8 Z06 Euro-spec Vs US-spec: Did The Changes Affect Performance?
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While we don’t have spec sheets to compare, Motorsport Magazine’s video does offer some important information. Although the video does not go into performance stats in detail, they do mention the weight. Additionally, the acceleration run is combined with a shot of the instrument cluster, allowing us to put on our thinking hats and do a bit of investigative analysis.
It’s worth pointing out that we’re unsure of the outside temperature and road surface that the test car was subjected to. It seems as though the conditions were not that ideal for a real-wheel-driven sports car. Nevertheless, from the video, it looks like the Euro-spec Z06 hits the 60 mph mark in around 3.5 seconds. We know that a US-spec 2023 C8 Z06 is capable of hitting 0-60 mph in 2.6 seconds and the quarter-mile in 10.6 seconds.
This translates to a noticeable difference in performance, highlighting the drop in power. Although, as we mentioned, this is not a definitive conclusion. Our estimates could be proven wrong. But for more clarity, though, we’ll have to wait for Chevrolet Europe to release the official figures.
According to Chevrolet, a US-spec 2023 C8 Z06 (with the Z07 package and carbon wheels) weighs 3,434 pounds dry. But the video shows the European spec weighing 1,678 kilograms (around 3,700 pounds). We’re assuming this is the wet weight. However, the weight difference between the two isn’t that significant, as a US-spec C8 Z06 has a wet weight close to 3,650 pounds.
How Much Will The Chevy C8 Corvette Z06 Cost In Europe?
Chevrolet Europe is yet to reveal the 2023 Corvette Z06’s price details. However, per the U.S pricing strategy, we see that the Corvette Z06 is around 1.65 times the price of a base $64,500 C8 Stingray. In other words, the $106,000 Corvette Z06 has a $42,000 (approx 65%) premium over the regular C8. Apply that to its EU pricing, and we estimate the base Corvette C8 Z06 starting from around €164,000 or £135,000 (over $160,000) in Europe and the UK, respectively.
Everything else between the U.S and EU-spec Corvette Z06 is pretty much the same. Unlike the regular C8, the 2023 Z06 has been tested and developed to offer a more reassuring track experience. Engineers at Chevrolet made sure to infuse all the right ingredients for an engaging and involving drive around any racetrack or road.
Sources: YouTube/Motorsport Magazine
