Car Design News: Corvette Z06 in Depth (Europe)

Page 1: Summary
Page 2: Exterior / Interior
Page 3: Performance
Page 4: Body Structure / Chassis
Page 5: Born on the Track
Page 6: Specifications

Body structure

The Corvette Z06 has a totally different body structure from other production Corvette models, with a unique aluminium fixed-roof body structure combined with advanced lightweight materials. Every design element of Z06 serves a performance function.

For the Corvette Z06, engineers developed a totally unique vehicle that has its own powertrain, body structure and chassis system, distinct from other Corvette models. The Z06 has a unique aluminium structure for optimum stiffness and light weight and the fixed-roof body uses advanced lightweight materials typically found only in the most exotic sports cars.

Perimeter rails are one-piece hydroformed members featuring cast suspension nodes, which replace many welded steel components on other Corvette models. Other castings, stampings and extrusions are combined into this innovative structure with state-of-the-art manufacturing technologies.

This is an instance where the street car uses more advanced material than the racecar. The design team is constrained by rules to run the steel frame in the racecars, but the engineers stretched to bring even more performance technology to the street for the Corvette customers.

Carbon fiber

Advanced structural composites featuring carbon fiber are bonded to the aluminium structure. The wider front wheelhouses, for example, are carbon composites and the passenger compartment floors combine carbon-fiber skins with an ultra-lightweight balsa wood core.

The Corvette Z06 has a new magnesium cradle that serves as the attachment point for the engine and some front suspension components. Magnesium is lighter than aluminium yet incredibly strong. The magnesium cradle helps improve the front-to-rear weight distribution, as do carbon-fiber front fenders and wheelhouses. To further aid weight distribution, the Z06 designers also moved the battery from the engine bay to a position in the rear cargo area, behind one of the rear wheels.

Many of the items required to harness the extra power of the Z06 have inevitably added weight. Dry-sump lubrication, the 76.2 mm exhaust with outlet valves, larger wheels and tires, larger brakes and stiffer roll stabilizers all add mass, yet the curb weight of the Corvette Z06 has been maintained at 1418 kg and weight distribution, critical to the Z06�s agile handling is an optimum 51:49% front to rear.

Safety

The strength of the Z06 body structure is itself a key aspect of the safety of the car, augmented by a range of passive safety items including side airbags for both occupants. Dynamic safety is further assured by traction control and Active Handling systems which are designed to operate in concert to provide a strong, but unobtrusive safety net for spirited driving. Unlike more intrusive systems of some competitors, the Z06 design team developed a calibration philosophy which works in accord with spirited driving.

The engineers felt it was better to calibrate the system around their knowledge of what Corvette customers are going to do, rather than a system that intervenes heavily and slows them down. Their intent was to encourage Corvette drivers to keep the system on. They wanted the Active Handling System to work with the drivers in their spirited driving, rather than against them. The commitment of the design team to continuous improvement has resulted in the industry�s most sporting stability system available.

Chassis, Ride and Handling

The Corvette Z06 builds on the traditional strengths of the overall Corvette design philosophy, with its low-weight backbone structure, cored composite floors, enclosed center tunnel, rear-mounted transmission, short-long arm suspension and transverse leaf spring design. These are combined with the rigid new aluminium body structure, new wheels, tires and brakes, as well as a new rear spring and roll stabilizer, to create true race-bred handling performance.

The Z06 retains the 2686 mm wheelbase of other Corvette models, but upgraded springs and optimized suspension and steering geometry, along with directional control arm bushings, increased caster angle and an added rear roll stabilizer, result in a faster car that is easier to drive, with greater lateral acceleration, more body control, better traction and more stability in corners.

Wheels and tires

The firmer suspension works harmoniously with large 18 x 9.5-inch cast-spun aluminium wheels and 275/35ZR18 tires in the front and 19 x 12-inch cast-spun aluminium wheels with 325/30ZR19 tires in the rear. These are the largest wheel and tire combination ever offered on a Corvette.

The tires use the latest extended-mobility technology from Goodyear to provide a satisfactory ride, but still allow the vehicle to achieve lateral acceleration of more than 1 g. The extended-mobility tires also eliminate the need and weight of a spare tire and jack or inflator kit, as well as reducing the chance of a sudden loss of handling capability.

Complementing the suspension system, is an equally capable four-wheel disc brake system, consisting of 355 mm vented and cross-drilled front discs and 340 mm vented and cross-drilled rear discs, in comparison with the 325 mm and 305 mm front and rear discs on the standard Corvette and 340 mm and 330 mm on the Z51 model. These large brakes bring a high level of stopping capability and with enhanced brake cooling enabled by the Z06�s bespoke bodywork, they provide excellent fade resistance and lining life during track duties.

The front discs are acted upon by huge, red-painted six-piston calipers that use six individual brake pads, used because they deliver more equalized wear compared to what would otherwise be a pair of very long single-piece pads. For the rear brakes, four-piston calipers with four individual brake pads are used. A Delphi four-channel ABS system, as is a very competent active handling system � complete with a Competitive Driving mode.

Unobtrusive safety net for spirited driving

The anti-lock braking, along with traction control and Active Handling form three dynamic chassis control systems which operate in concert to provide a strong, but unobtrusive safety net for spirited driving. The stability controls share sensors for steering angle, wheel speed, and acceleration and deceleration in all directions, but unlike some more intrusive systems, the Corvette team developed a calibration philosophy which works with the drivers in their spirited driving, rather than against them.