© 2026 ABC News

The Corvette community has been \"amazingly supportive\" of the brand's electrified direction, Juechter said, adding that some owners may need more convincing.

\"There are people who have said, 'That's not for me, hope you sell internal combustion engines forever,'\" he explained.

\"PHOTO:
Chevrolet
PHOTO: The team at Chevy benchmarked the track-ready Z06 against the Ferrari 458 and Porsche GT2 RS.
>

Tyson Jominy, vice president of data and analytics at J.D. Power, has a stern message for the doubters: electrification will make the Corvette even better than it is today.

\"The things you can do with electrification far exceeds ICEs in almost every capacity. I don't think that's up for debate,\" he told ABC News. \"I recognize that not everyone thinks that way and it may take a long time for Corvette buyers to come around.\"

The anti-electrification attitude in enthusiast circles may help explain why Porsche and Chevrolet have posted record sales of the 911 and Corvette in the last two years. According to J.D. Power, the midsize sports car segment now accounts for 0.5% of the U.S. auto market, up from 0.3% pre-pandemic.

Jominy expects eager buyers to pay well above the Z06's MSRP of $103,500. Options and performance packages can push the price to $170,000.

\"The Z06 is the spiritual center of Chevy and such an important vehicle,\" he said. \"Chevy is not building a lot of these. I expect demand to be extraordinarily high.\"

\"PHOTO:
Chevrolet
PHOTO: The Z06 nameplate symbolizes the perfect combination of track beast and supercar, according to Chevy.
>

John Pearley Huffman, senior editor at Road & Track, said the aural and tactical satisfaction of the Z06 can't be matched in a hybrid or electric Corvette.

\"It's not just raw acceleration, you can feel the gears grinding in your hands,\" he said. \"It’s stinky rotten fast ... and may be the last, great mechanical Corvette and the most satisfying to drive in the artistic sense. This is a quantum leap for Corvette.\"

For the die-hards who will repent the end of Corvette's famed V8 powerplant, Pearley Huffman said that would be a mistake.

\"You have to embrace the future. Going electric doesn't mean these cars and naturally aspirated engines will go away,\" he noted. \"They'll be artifacts of the time. An electrified Corvette is still something to look forward to.\"

Ivan Drury, director of insights at car-shopping service Edmunds, remembers the backlash when Chevrolet debuted the eighth-generation Stingray in 2019. The engine now sat behind the driver and the manual transmission option was gone.

\"There was a lot of talk about alienation but there has been so much demand for a product that was very polarizing,\" he told ABC News. \"The C8 Stingray has shattered sales records.\"

Drury expects even non-Corvette fans to seek out this Z06, one of the last sports cars on the market with a naturally aspirated engine.

\"People are nostalgic about what's going on in the industry. The Z06 will be seen as an investment,\" he said, adding, \"The car will become a museum piece. I want to see it alive, living and breathing on the tarmac.\"

\"PHOTO:
Chevrolet
PHOTO: Production of the Z06 started in late September at the Bowling Green Assembly facility in Kentucky.
>

Brian Baker, the director of collections and education at the National Corvette Museum and a former GM engineer, said Corvette devotees can view the Z06 up close at the museum, including every Z06 produced since 1963, when Chevrolet introduced the nameplate. The museum, a 501(c), is raffling off a 2023 Z06 on Dec. 15.

Baker said his blood curdled the first time he heard the Z06's engine being revved.

\"It was like the hounds of hell being released,\" he told ABC News. \"The engine has a very different sound ... more akin to what European exotics use. It's a remarkable advancement for Corvette.\"

As for Corvette going electric, Baker said longtime customers have to embrace the future.

\"Corvette is not sitting still,\" he said. \"While we preserve the heritage, it's a moving, living brand. We are moving into the 21st century.\"

\"PHOTO:
Chevrolet
PHOTO: "This Z06 just nails you to the seat," said Brian Baker of the National Corvette Museum.
>

Workers at the Bowling Green Assembly plant, where 1.1 million Corvettes have been built since 1981, are busy filling the \"flood of orders\" for the Z06, Juechter said. Chevrolet capped production this year to meet unprecedented demand following the Z06's reveal.

\"The reaction from our customer base has been astonishing,\" Juechter said. \"Dealers have hoards of people wanting to get a place in line for this car.\"

Even the harshest of critics -- the car aficionados who revere Italian and German supercar performance -- will be impressed with this Z06, Juechter said.

\"The big picture was to emulate the soul of Ferrari but match Porche's clinical speed,\" he said. \"This is the most aggressive aero we've ever done. But the Z06 is still a street car.\"

Juechter pointed to the reaction of a Formula One driver who lapped the Z06 in Pittsburgh last month.

\"He gave me a hug when he got out of the car,\" he said. \"The proof is in the pudding when you drive it.\"

","canonicalUrl":"https://abcnews.com/Business/corvette-z06-breaking-barriers/story?id=90693485","legacySlug":"/news/story/corvette-z06-breaking-barriers-90693485","noIndexNoFollow":false},"publishTime":"15:00","publishDate":"10-03-2022","updatedTime":"15:47","updatedDate":"10-03-2022","socialImage":{"alt":"The 2023 Corvette Z06 has an all-new 5.5L LT6 engine, the highest horsepower and naturally-aspirated V8 to hit the market.","credit":"Chevrolet","ratio":"16x9","url":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/US/orange-corvette-ht-jef-220929_1664465446208_hpMain_2_16x9_1600.jpg","width":992,"height":558},"datePublished":"10/3/2022 15:00:00 GMT","video":{"live":false,"id":90693485,"headline":"Corvette Z06: Street car and track star","mediaAssetTitle":"CORVETTE","description":"GM has said the next generation Corvette will be electrified. ","duration":"1:10","posterImg":{"url":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/default-img-undefined.png","width":608,"height":342},"video":{"feed":"https://service-pkgabcnews.akamaized.net/opp/hls/abcnews/2022/10/221001_vod_corvette_zo6_,500,800,1200,1800,2500,3200,4500,.mp4.csmil/playlist.m3u8"},"playlist":["132055565","131830882","130993584"]},"relatedItems":[{"contentType":"video","date":"April 15, 2026","headline":"American influencer found dead in Tanzania","section":"News","slug":"/video/132055565","id":"132055565","image":{"alt":"VIDEO: American influencer found dead in Tanzania","credit":"ABCNews.com","ratio":"1x1","url":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260415_gma_norwood_ashlee2_732_hpMain_1x1_608.jpg","width":384,"height":384},"images":{"alt":"VIDEO: American influencer found dead in Tanzania","credit":"ABCNews.com","crops":[{"16x9":{"small":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260415_gma_norwood_ashlee2_732_hpMain_16x9_608.jpg","medium":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260415_gma_norwood_ashlee2_732_hpMain_16x9_992.jpg","large":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260415_gma_norwood_ashlee2_732_hpMain_16x9_1600.jpg"}},{"9x16":{"small":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260415_gma_norwood_ashlee2_732_hpMain_9x16_608.jpg","medium":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260415_gma_norwood_ashlee2_732_hpMain_9x16_992.jpg","large":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260415_gma_norwood_ashlee2_732_hpMain_16x9_1600.jpg"}},{"1x1":{"small":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260415_gma_norwood_ashlee2_732_hpMain_1x1_608.jpg","medium":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260415_gma_norwood_ashlee2_732_hpMain_1x1_992.jpg","large":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260415_gma_norwood_ashlee2_732_hpMain_1x1_1600.jpg"}}]}},{"contentType":"video","date":"April 8, 2026","headline":"Ceasefire analysis, unanswered questions ahead","section":"News","slug":"/video/131830882","id":"131830882","image":{"alt":"VIDEO: Ceasefire analysis, unanswered questions ahead","credit":"ABCNews.com","ratio":"1x1","url":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260408_gma_krl1_hpMain_1x1_608.jpg","width":384,"height":384},"images":{"alt":"VIDEO: Ceasefire analysis, unanswered questions ahead","credit":"ABCNews.com","crops":[{"16x9":{"small":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260408_gma_krl1_hpMain_16x9_608.jpg","medium":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260408_gma_krl1_hpMain_16x9_992.jpg","large":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260408_gma_krl1_hpMain_16x9_1600.jpg"}},{"9x16":{"small":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260408_gma_krl1_hpMain_9x16_608.jpg","medium":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260408_gma_krl1_hpMain_9x16_992.jpg","large":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260408_gma_krl1_hpMain_16x9_1600.jpg"}},{"1x1":{"small":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260408_gma_krl1_hpMain_1x1_608.jpg","medium":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260408_gma_krl1_hpMain_1x1_992.jpg","large":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260408_gma_krl1_hpMain_1x1_1600.jpg"}}]}},{"contentType":"video","date":"March 12, 2026","headline":"Winter whiplash plunges temperatures along the East Coast","section":"News","slug":"/video/130993584","id":"130993584","image":{"alt":"VIDEO: Winter whiplash plunges temperatures along the East Coast","credit":"ABCNews.com","ratio":"1x1","url":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260312_gma_zee_storm2_hpMain_1x1_608.jpg","width":384,"height":384},"images":{"alt":"VIDEO: Winter whiplash plunges temperatures along the East Coast","credit":"ABCNews.com","crops":[{"16x9":{"small":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260312_gma_zee_storm2_hpMain_16x9_608.jpg","medium":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260312_gma_zee_storm2_hpMain_16x9_992.jpg","large":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260312_gma_zee_storm2_hpMain_16x9_1600.jpg"}},{"9x16":{"small":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260312_gma_zee_storm2_hpMain_9x16_608.jpg","medium":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260312_gma_zee_storm2_hpMain_9x16_992.jpg","large":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260312_gma_zee_storm2_hpMain_16x9_1600.jpg"}},{"1x1":{"small":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260312_gma_zee_storm2_hpMain_1x1_608.jpg","medium":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260312_gma_zee_storm2_hpMain_1x1_992.jpg","large":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260312_gma_zee_storm2_hpMain_1x1_1600.jpg"}}]}}],"relatedContentSection":"news","schemaContent":{"name":"Corvette Z06: Street car and track star","description":"GM has said the next generation Corvette will be electrified. ","duration":"1:10","uploadDate":"10-03-2022","publication":"10-03-2022","images":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/default-img-undefined.png","url":"https://service-pkgabcnews.akamaized.net/opp/hls/abcnews/2022/10/221001_vod_corvette_zo6_,500,800,1200,1800,2500,3200,4500,.mp4.csmil/playlist.m3u8","contentUrl":"https://service-pkgabcnews.akamaized.net/opp/hls/abcnews/2022/10/221001_vod_corvette_zo6_,500,800,1200,1800,2500,3200,4500,.mp4.csmil/playlist.m3u8","link":"https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/news/story/corvette-z06-breaking-barriers-90693485"}},"playlist":[{"id":"132054443","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"132054798","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"132033010","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131912713","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131830583","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131834976","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131554765","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131554815","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131543053","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131432442","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131121474","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131247079","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131228784","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131178806","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131142257","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131046664","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131048076","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131033212","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"130999943","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"130971027","contentType":"story","section":"news"}],"kvps":{"pgtyp":"article","lang":"en","sp":"goodmorningamerica","programmatic":"true","bundleId":"com.abcnews"}},"analytics":{"accountID":"wdgnewwdgnewgmaweb","ns":"gma","pageName":"gma:news:video","pageType":"video","globalSpecVersion":"v1.08","siteDifferentiator":"gma:site","tagID":"g_page01","userABCookie":"0","section":"news","title":"Corvette Z06: Street car and track star","pubTime":"11:00","pubDate":"10-03-2022","modTime":"11:47","modDate":"10-03-2022","taxonomyTags":"none","id":90693485,"editorialOtherSubjects":"","wordCount":"none","columns":"none","authors":"","authorsUnit":"none","authorsBureau":"none","subBrand":"Good Morning America","provider":"Good Morning America","videoName":"Corvette Z06: Street car and track star","mediaAssetTitle":"CORVETTE","videoId":90693485,"mediaOnPage":"video","legacySlug":"/news/story/corvette-z06-breaking-barriers-90693485"},"taboola":{}},"request":{"headers":{},"httpVersion":"1.1","method":"GET","url":"/video/90693485","vary":{"host":"www.goodmorningamerica.com","cached":true,"path":"/video/90693485","forwarded-proto":"https","device":"desktop","userab":"0"}},"viewport":{"width":1260,"height":0},"user":{}};