2023 Corvette Z06 Filmed On The Nurburgring With Estimated Lap Time: Video

Hype is building for the arrival of the new 2023 Corvette Z06, and while GM Authority has covered every aspect of the go-faster mid-engine Vette available to cover, the question of exactly how fast it can lap a racetrack remains somewhat vague. Now, however, we’re gathering new clues thanks to a prototype model recently spotted at the infamous Nurburgring.

The 2023 Corvette Z06 was captured on the Nurburgring in full black-and-white camouflage, pushing hard on the tricky racing circuit and slicing through traffic with ease. General Motors was reportedly on track to set a new lap record with the 2023 Corvette Z06 prototype, but the automaker’s plans were derailed following a heavy crash by a Tesla Model S Plaid.

Nevertheless, spectators managed to time the 2023 Corvette Z06 lap in traffic at 7:12.64. A time like that puts it in the same spectrum as the previous-generation C7 Chevy Corvette Z06, as well as the Porsche 911 GT3 (991.2 generation) and Dodge Viper ACR. However, with the traffic gone and a clear track ahead of it, we would expect a substantially quicker time, possibly breaking into the sub-7-minute timeframe.

It should also be noted that the time above was set by a 2023 Corvette Z06 prototype fitted with the optional Z07 performance package, which will include a variety of track-worthy upgrades, such as new aero with a large rear wing, stiffer suspension, better brakes, and stickier tires.

Critically, the 2023 Corvette Z06 is also equipped with the naturally aspirated 5.5-liter V8 LT6 gasoline engine, which is expected to produce more than 600 horsepower and nearly 500 pound-feet of torque. Standout features for the engine include a flat-plane crankshaft, dual overhead cams, and a soaring redline that could spin as high as 9,000 rpm, blessing the new Z06 with a very exotic exhaust note, as evidenced in the new spy video.

SOURCE: GM AUTHORITY