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Exterior
The introduction of the massive new braking system, large performance
exhaust system, huge Goodyear Eagles, and enlarged engine have also
introduced extra weight and thus, have created a need for ways to lighten
the Z06 over the base model C6 Corvette. The most efficient change in the
effort to cut weight came by means of the Z06 frame. While the actual
structure of the Z06 is the same as the base model C6, the Z06 framework is
made completely out of aluminum, whereas the base model frame is made out of
steel. The only aluminum frame component on the base model C6 is the engine
cradle, and to further eliminate some weight the Z06 uses magnesium as
opposed to aluminum. To help stiffen the body of the Z06 with the
lightweight framework, the removable top has been done away with, and
replaced with a fixed roofline. With these frame changes, the new Z06 frame
and cradle weighs a featherlike two hundred and eighty seven pounds, from a
base model weight of four hundred and nineteen pounds. The second effort to
lighten the Z06 is the new front fender construction. Where all of the
previous model Corvettes had full fiberglass bodies, the fenders on the new
Z06 are made from molded carbon fiber, this allows for a huge drop in
weight; from just over nine pounds per fender to slightly under three pounds
per fender. While, even with these weight reduction methods, the new Z06
weighs more than the previous Z06. At thirty one hundred and thirty pounds,
it still weighs less than such famous sports cars as the Ferrari Enzo.
While the functionality of the new exterior is nice, it is all done with the
smooth lines and sleek aerodynamics kept in mind. While the new Z06 sits
bumper to bumper almost six inches shorter, it boasts a wheel base just over
and inch longer. The new Z06 also sits exactly two inches longer thanks in
part to the huge Goodyear Eagles, and the new wedge design, while yielding
better aerodynamics sits about an inch and a half higher, at its highest
point, which may be due to the now fixed roof. A center fascia peak leads
way to the well-known Corvette crossed flags, and just beyond that, the
subtle yet super effective air inlet scoop which feeds directly into the
engine air inlet pipe and into the front mounted throttle body. Below the
Corvette crossed flags, a huge lower grille opening helps to get as much air
as possible into the engine compartment without compromising aerodynamics,
and a lower fascia lip along the bottom of the front end helps to keep
unwanted air out from under the new Z06 at high speeds. The middle rear of
the carbon fiber front fenders show large vents which help to displace as
much engine heat as possible. In what little room is left on the outer
edges of the front fascia after the engineers were done perfecting the lower
grille section, large fog lights were mounted to help assist the new
headlight style light the way on dark or foggy roads. Those new headlights,
unlike the standard Corvette hidden style flip up headlights are fixed, with
a hard plastic cover mounted over them. Individual high and low beam
projection units are molded carefully into the fascia and next to them, but
still under the aerodynamically perfect headlight covers are the turn
signals, with an additional side marker light mounted a few inches down and
outside of the headlight assembly. The door handles are recessed into the
rear of the doors, helping to smooth the sides of the Z06 between the front
heat vents and the small molded rear brake cooling scoops. The long front
section of the car gives way to the high, yet smooth windshield and
roofline, then down across the fastback style rear glass to the abbreviated
trunk section. Unlike the C5-R race model, there is no rear spoiler, just a
small lip molded into the trunk over the rear molded third brake light, and
just below that, again, the familiar Corvette crossed flags. The tail lights
are, as have become standard on the late model Corvettes, with four large
lights set in pairs on opposing sides of the squared off rear end, with a
marker light molded flush on the lower rear of the quarter panels. The back
up lights are mounted very low, at the very bottom of the car straddling the
four huge polished exhaust tips which are mounted in a non-body colored rear
air diffuser. All of these aerodynamic adjustments help the new Z06 yield
to a minute coefficient of drag of just 0.31.
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