The most powerful convertible to wear the bowtie.
Chevrolet is celebrating the start of spring with a big unveiling – the 2015 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Convertible. This isn’t your average Corvette drop-top either. The 2015 Corvette Z06 Convertible is the first Z06 Convertible offered since 1963 and it’s also the most powerful convertible ever produced by Chevrolet. That in itself is special, but making it even better is the fact that the new Corvette Z06 Convertible is incredibly similar to its Coupe sibling.
“The Z06 Convertible is a world-class supercar in every sense,” said Mark Reuss, executive vice president, Global Product Development. “Only a handful of convertibles in the world bring more than 600 horsepower and 600 pound-feet of torque. Even fewer can match the advanced technologies, aerodynamic design, and visceral driving experience of the Z06 Convertible.”
Advancements in technology and materials have helped to make the new 2015 Corvette Z06 Convertible just about as stiff and lightweight as the Z06 Coupe. The aluminum structure is 20-percent stiffer than the previous-generation Z06 Coupe, negating the need for any additional supports or reinforcements. The same chassis, powertrain, electronics, and even the optional Z07 performance package are available for the Z06 Convertible.
“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,” said Corvette chief engineer Tadge Juechter. “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.”
More than four years of engineering and development have been poured into the lightweight all-aluminum structure of the seventh-generation Corvette, providing the perfect starting point for the Z06 Convertible. The structure itself is designed after the Stingray, Z06 Coupe, and Corvette C7.R racer. The only differences between the Z06 Convertible and Coupe are the mountings for the folding top and repositioned safety belt mounts.
“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.”
To keep weight low, Chevrolet chose to use a folding thick fabric top that’s offered in four colors. The top utilizes sound-absorbing padding for a quiet interior with the top up, and an integrated glass window. The 2015 Corvette Z06 Convertible’s top can be operated at speeds of 30 mph and even lowered remotely using the key fob. The power-folding top required that the differential and transmission cooling ducts be moved from the rear fenders to the underbody of the Corvette Z06 Convertible.
The same incredible performance of the Z06 Coupe is still present in the Z06 Convertible. The supercharged 6.2-liter LT4 engine pounds out a mighty 625 horsepower and 635 lb-ft. of torque while also utilizing lots of fuel-saving technologies to keep that wallet fat. The engine can be paired up with a rev-matching seven-speed manual or fast-shifting 8L90 eight-speed automatic gearbox.
The third-generation Magnetic Selective Ride Control dampers that make the sports car so nimble come standard as well as the SLA-type front and rear suspension design. An electronic limited-slip differential (eLSD) comes standard along with all the go-fast driving electronic aids.
Under the wider fenders, the 2015 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Convertible sports a set of 19 x 10 front and 20 x 12 rear lightweight spin-cast aluminum wheels with Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires. Behind those lightweight wheels sit two-piece, 14.6 x 1.3-inch front and 14.4 x 1.0-inch rear rotors with six- and four-piston front and rear calipers, respectively. Those can be upgraded to carbon ceramic matrix motors in the Z07 package along with other carbon fiber aerodynamic parts.
The new 2015 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Convertible may not have the same roof as its Coupe sibling, but it still packs quite the performance punch without having to sacrifice for that open-top experience.
The official pricing and availability of the 2015 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Convertible will be available at a later date.
2015 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Convertible Specifications
Engine:
Displacement: 6.2 liters
Number of Cylinders: V-8
Aspiration: Supercharged
Maximum Horsepower: 625
Maximum Torque: 635 lb-ft.
Transmission:
Type: Seven-speed manual or eight-speed automatic
Drive: Rear-wheel
Differential: Electronic limited slip differential
2015 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Convertible Gallery
Source: Chevrolet
Being that the Chevrolet Z06 Convertible has virtually the same stiffness as the Z06 Coupe, would you choose it over the fixed-roof model?
