Official: 2015 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Convertible

Well we revealed it was coming before even the 2015 Corvette Z06 was released and here it is; the brand new 2015 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Convertible. The car’s release follows on from Chevrolet’s recent confirmation that a new variant of the sports car would be debuting at the New York Auto Show 2014.

Created to show European cars like the Porsche 911 Turbo S Cabriolet who is boss, the Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Convertible is a car we definitely saw coming considering the increasing demand for high-performance drop-tops. Importantly, the new 2015 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Convertible looks every bit as good as the coupe and mechanically speaking is essentially identical.

Under the hood, it features the same new LT4 6.2-liter supercharged V8 engine delivering at least 625 hp and 645 lb-ft of torque. Just like the regular Corvette Stingray and Z06, the Z06 Convertible also utilises direct injection, Active Fuel Management (cylinder deactivation) and continuously variable valve timing.

However, the most impressive feature about the 2015 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Convertible is its light curb weight. Traditionally, convertibles weigh significantly more than their coupe counterparts. Just look at the new M4 Convertible for example. It weighs over 250 kg more than the M4 Coupe! However, Chevrolet claims that the Z06 Convertible’s curb weight is nearly identical to the coupe and that compared to the C6 Z06 Coupe, the aluminium structure of the Z06 Convertible is actually 20 per cent stiffer. The roof can be opened and close at speeds of up to 50 km/h.

Official: 2015 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Convertible

Corvette chief engineer Tadge Juechter said, “Until recently it was not possible to create a lightweight, open-roof structure strong enough to cope with the braking, cornering, and acceleration of Corvette’s top performance models. The frame for the Z06 convertible leverages advancements in computer-aided engineering, metallurgy, and manufacturing techniques – many of which were not available just five years ago.”

“We wanted a frame that was lighter than the steel frame of the previous Corvette, yet strong enough for both a 600-horsepower convertible and a 24-hour endurance racer,” said Ed Moss, engineering group manager for Corvette structures. “That would not have been possible without improvements in computer-aided engineering software, which allowed us to model more than 17,000 frame iterations, with each iteration improving strength and stiffness, while reducing mass.”

Official: 2015 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Convertible

Aerodynamically speaking, the new 2015 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Convertible features the same host of upgrades present on the Z06 Coupe. This display car is fitted with the optional Z07 package which adds a massive carbon fiber front splitter and larger carbon ceramic-matrix brake discs which collectively save 23 pounds over the standard discs.

The aforementioned 6.2-liter V8 engine can be mated to eight the brand new 8L90 eight-speed automatic transmission or alternatively, a seven-speed manual with rev-matching technology for upshifts and downshifts.

As mentioned, the 2015 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Convertible will debut at the upcoming New York Auto Show 2014.

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