C8 Corvette Z06s Spotted on the Road!

CorvetteForum member spies camo’d C8 Corvette going for a test drive on the road. Is it the upcoming C8 Z06? Take a look and a listen. 

After Chevrolet released the C8 Corvette, everyone started wondering if and when we’d see a Z06. We do know that the Z06 is expected to debut later this year; with some sources claiming it may arrive in July. We also know that the C8 Corvette Z06 is going to be a monster of performance. It is going to run a naturally aspirated 5.5 liter flat-plane crank V8, and should be pumping out 615 to  625 horses and 480 pound-feet of torque, with a 9,000 rpm redline.

C8 Z06 test mules have been spotted, albeit few and far between. But one member of our Forums happened upon an incredible sight. In a thread entitled “Pretty Sure I Just Saw and Heard the New Z06” member Shooter aka Edward Bowling captured a Z06 mule on camera and video. The C8 Z06 was covered and followed by a pair of C8s … and probably a few Corvette engineers.

Even better, he actually captured two Z06 mules in the video.

“Didn’t notice the covered car at first, was too busy looking at the yellow one,” he writes. “When they were leaving I noticed how wide the tires were. I swear it sounded like a manual transmission. The yellow car had computers set up for monitoring. Didn’t really think about it being a Z06 ’til I heard it leave.”

Members of the forums were quick to break it down. From the shots, it appears that there are side skirts, a center exhaust with three exhaust tips, and the covered wheels possibly hiding carbon fiber rims.

We know that the Z06 will borrow a lot of styling and aero design from the C8.R, and will have Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires.

Bottom line: The 2022 C8 Corvette Z06 is going to be a savage. Though interestingly, it will offer less power than the C7 Corvette Z06. The C7 Z06 has a 6.2 liter supercharged and intercooled LT4 V8 engine which produces a scorching 650 hp at 6,400 rpm and 650 lb⋅ft at 3,600.

There are some questions about that exhaust, however….

The forum has a lot of thoughts, and many are conflicting. It is hard to say with any certainty what we’re looking at. However this Corvette is consistent with the information we have as well as other spy shots of the Z06.

The video has a very cool surprise. When the Corvette is stopped at the light, another C8 mule is spotted across the street! A busy day for C8 testing.

As for the performance, there is a little confusion about the exhaust note. Some think they heard a manual. And that is a distinct possibility.

Others found the engine lacking in proper Z06 fire. It is possible that Chevy was testing a different aspect of the Z06, which explains the lack of Ferrari-inspired growl that the C8 Corvette Z06 is inspired by.

Check out the video and let us know your thoughts!

Photos: CorvetteForum/Edward Bowling

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