The 2023 Corvette Z06 will get hit with a gas guzzler tax when it reaches the market, reports GM Authority.

GM Authority cites unspecified sources which claim that GM expects the Z06 to attract a $2,600 gas guzzler tax when it launches for the 2023 model year. As per documents published by the EPA, that level of tax applies to vehicles with a combined fuel economy figure of 17.5 to 18.5 mpg.

As with Corvettes that have come before, the new Z06 is available with plenty of fancy aero pieces that help generate additional downforce. These include a front splitter, dive planes, and an aggressive rear wing. While the package offers over 700 pounds of downforce at 186 mph, the additional drag it generates comes with a penalty to fuel economy.

Thus, it's expected that the Z06 with the T0F or T0G aero packs will attract a higher tax of $3,000. The former is the painted version of the aero kit, while the latter is the visible carbon version. This would place the Z06's combined fuel economy in the range of 16.5 to 17.5 mpg when duly equipped.

​​​​​​​It bears noting that the Z07 Performance Package necessitates the choice of one of these aero packs, thus incurring the higher tax. For $8,995, the Z07 package includes carbon ceramic brakes, upgraded suspension, and underbody strakes, along with sticky Michelin Pilot Cup 2R ZP tires. However, this doesn't include the cost of the T0F or T0G aero packs, which come in at $8,495 and $10,495 respectively.

The stated figures are roughly in line with what we'd expect for the Z06. In fact, advertising copy on ValleyChevy.com indicates the Z06 has a combined MPG of about 17 mpg, suggesting the gas guzzler taxes quoted are right on the money.

Pricing for the 2023 Corvette Z06 starts at $106,395 including a $1,395 destination charge. The hefty price jump over the base model is justified by the Z06's power figure, with 670 horsepower on tap from its 5.5L naturally-aspirated V8. Like most cars in its class, this figure increases rapidly if one dips into the options catalog. Highly-optioned models will easily top a sticker price of $150,000.

Fundamentally, with a six-figure pricetag, it's unlikely the gas guzzler tax will deter too many potential customers from purchasing a Corvette Z06. Dealers demanding ridiculous $100,000 markups will likely be a far bigger issue for buyers to deal with.

The all-new C8 Corvette Z06's V8 sounds unlike any other Corvette before it. How could it not? It's the only flat-plane crank V8 in Corvette history and it's the highest-revving Corvette engine ever made. But not only is it unique to Corvettes, it also sounds unlike almost any other supercar engine on the market. This new video show's off the Z06's V8 roaring around Laguna Seca from inside the cabin and it gives me chills.

You might think that because the Z06's 5.5-liter "LT6" engine is a naturally aspirated, flat-plane crank V8 that it would sound like a Ferrari. But it doesn't. It certainly sounds more European, and potentially more Italian than every other Corvette engine before it. However, it has its own unique tone, especially as it reaches its 8,600 rpm redline. As its revs climb, it sounds much higher pitched than a Corvette's typical pushrod V8 but it bellows a bit more than something like a typical Ferrari V8. And don't even get me started on its lift-off throttle and downshift noises. I might swoon.


With 670 horsepower, the Z06's LT6 is the most powerful naturally aspirated V8 on the market. But that wouldn't matter if it wasn't exciting or charismatic to drive. Thankfully, its noise, throttle response, and power delivery seem to deliver on that excitement, as evidenced by this video. The driver wasn't even pushing it at 10/10ths, instead just taking some casual laps around Laguna, and it still seems like an absolute monster of an engine.

There were a lot of questions when Chevy announced that the C8 Corvette Z06 would have a flat-plane crank V8. Chevy had never done anything like it before and there was some worry among the Corvette community that their beloved V8 rumble would be gone. While the latter is true—this new Z06 sounds nothing like the Corvettes of yesteryear—I don't think Corvette fans need to worry. This thing sounds killer and is going to create an entirely new generation of fans and customers.

This thing sounds killer and is going to create an entirely new generation of fans and customers.

Chevrolet Corvette fans have seen the beloved sports car over the years, but the biggest change since the addition of the V8 arguably happened with the current generation. This now rear-mid-engine sports car reset the Corvette’s layout and did away with the manual transmission. While that was big news at the time, the latest ‘Vette is starting to expand to higher performance variants like the Z06. Plus, the folks at Chevy made it clear in a teaser earlier this year that an electrified ‘Vette is coming. Well, keen-eyed fans might have spotted something more.

Apparently, the eighth-generation Corvette hybrid configurator accidentally went live. The now-dead link showed what fans can expect from the electrified sports car. According to the post on the appropriately named Midenginecorvetteforum.com, the upcoming hybrid ‘Vette will carry the E-Ray name. If true, would that mean yet another name will surface if a battery-electric Corvette arrives?

Initially posted by Midenginecorvetteforum user KK87, the whole swath of options and finishes was visible. More importantly, if this turns out to be real, the forum user discovered this will be a 2024 model-year product, available in summer 2023. There will also be an available performance package, which equips this Corvette variant with a set of Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires.

Combining this prematurely launched configurator, the trademark filings for the E-Ray name, and the all-wheel-drive hybrid Corvette testing video certainly point toward this being a genuine article. Though, the only way this becomes truly concrete is when Chevrolet makes an official reveal. If you want to see screen grabs from the configurator, click here.