Every automotive maker loves the opportunity to create a rare and special limited edition, and Chevrolet is no exception.
The impending 2016 Corvette Z06 C7.R Edition, featuring 650-horsepower, and of which just 500 will be made, is truly an exceptional example.
The Z06 C7.R Edition more than honors the beloved Corvette Racing C7.R cars with stickers and graphics, jet black leather upholstery, black wheels with a yellow lip, spectra gray metallic exterior grille inserts, Corvette Racing door sill plates and even a serial plate illustrating a sequential VIN listing of the 500 vehicles, with the first one boasting 700001.
That's just the look.
Under the hood is a supercharged 6.2-liter V-8 offering 650 hp and 650 lb-ft of torque. The seven-speed manual transmission, if handled expertly, can get the Z06 C7.R to 60 mph in just 3.2 seconds and 2.95 seconds if the car features an 8-speed auto transmission.
As one report succinctly noted, the 2016 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 C7.R Edition is the closest a non-professional car racer will ever get to driving a Le Mans race car.
The C7.R Edition features Brembo carbon-ceramic brakes, adjustable aerodynamic bits and Michelin Pilot Super Sport Cup 2 tires. The 500 lucky buyers have a choice between the familiar yellow racing color or black.
While the traditional 2015 Z06 Corvette coupe has a starting price of $106,710, those opting for the limited edition C7.R should expect to pay a bit more, likely about 20 percent more.
Another review said the limited edition is only lacking two race car qualities: the towering rear spoiler and side-exit exhaust pipes.
The limited edition has one thing the real racing car doesn't have: an interior plaque denoting which of the C7.R Edition's limited run of 500 units the owner is driving. Chevrolet even tosses in a car cover boasting C7.R graphics.
"Combined with the 650-horsepower supercharged LT4 engine, true aerodynamic downforce and performance technologies ... the Corvette Z06 C7.R Edition offers capability matched only by an elite fraternity of the world's supercars and special-edition exclusivity that is sure to make it an instant collector's item," said Harlan Charles, Corvette product and marketing manager.
Sales of the 500 available, which include coupe and convertible options, will start late in the year.
"Corvette Racing's legacy and technology were significant influences on the development of the Corvette Z06 and the new C7.R Edition honors the direct link between the racecar and the production model," Charles said.
