GM Announces 2016 Corvette Z06 C7.R Edition

General Motors has just announced the 2016 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 C7.R Edition – a loaded, limited edition super-Vette that has been designed to pay tribute to the successful Corvette Racing program, right down to the familiar yellow and black paint scheme.

The C7 Corvette Z06 is the most track capable Corvette of all time and this 650 horsepower beast has worked with the C7 Stingray to make the 2014 and 2015 Corvette the bestselling premium sports car in the US. Even with the early popularity of the 2015 Z06, General Motors understands the need to keep the Corvette lineup fresh, but rather than making significant changes to the mighty Z06, the automaker has come up with a gorgeous limited edition package that draws its inspiration from the Corvette Racing program.

The current Corvette Racing teams that have been frontrunners in this year’s American endurance racing championship are piloting the Corvette C7.R race car so to celebrate the racing program, GM has created the 2016 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 C7.R Edition.

"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," said Harlan Charles, Corvette product and marketing manager. "It also advances Chevrolet's plan to offer special-edition models that offer a unique, personal ownership experiences, which become important parts of Corvette's legacy."

Z06 C7.R Edition
Features of the 2016 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 C7.R Edition begin with the basic features of the Corvette Z06 with the top of the line 3LZ trimline and the high performance Z07 package, which adds the Brembo carbon ceramic braking package and Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires. Basically, the Z06 C7.R edition starts with a Corvette Z06 fitted with every available option, including the 650 horsepower LT4 engine and your choice of either the 7-speed manual transmission or the 8-speed automatic transmission.

"The Z07 Performance Package enhances overall performance to make the Corvette Z06 one of the most track-capable cars you can buy off the dealership floor and still drive it to work every day," said Charles. "Combined with the 650-horsepower supercharged LT4 engine, true aerodynamic downforce and performance technologies such as Magnetic Ride Control, Performance Traction Management and an electronic limited slip differential, 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."

Exterior Design
The actual 2016 Corvette Z06 C7.R Edition package begins on the outside with a new Corvette Racing Yellow Tintcoat paint choice and adds a C7.R Edition graphics package, yellow brake calipers, black wheels with a yellow accent strip and Corvette Racing center caps, Spectra Gray Metallic painted body trim, a new hood with a visible carbon fiber section and a new exposed carbon fiber ground effects package. There is also the option of black exterior paint, but that is nowhere near as gorgeous as the Corvette Racing black and yellow design.

Interior Design
On the inside, the 2016 Corvette Z06 C7.R Edition begins with the Jet Black leather interior package with sueded microfiber on the door panels and dash. There are also sueded microfiber Competition Sport seats and yellow contrasting stitch work, a high gloss carbon fiber interior trim package, Corvette Racing door sill plates and a numbered C7.R Edition dash plaque with the build number of each vehicle.

Finally, each 2016 Corvette Z06 C7.R Edition comes with a unique indoor car cover with the C7.R graphics.

General Motors hasn’t announced how much the 2016 Corvette Z06 C7.R Edition will cost, but when you build a fully loaded 2015 Corvette Z06 coupe on Chevrolet.com, the price easily climbs past $106,000 – so the C7.R Edition will likely start somewhere north of that number. With just 500 examples planned for production, it is likely that these Corvette coupes and convertibles will be hard to get and very expensive for those who do get one. However, there is no question that the C7.R Edition is one stunning American supercar.