Is Ford Benchmarking the C8 Corvette Z06 or Is Something Else Going On Here?

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Just as Chevy kept an eye on Porsche and Ferrari during the development stages of the mid-engine Corvette, Ford may now be doing the same thing with a 2023 Corvette Z06.

At least that’s the opinion of Ford Authority after its photographers captured a heavily optioned Elkhart Lake Blue Z06 convertible leaving a Ford facility this week, outfitted with carbon flash-painted nacelles and roof, carbon/edge red stinger hood stripe, and Z07 performance package.

Ford Authority said the following in their blog post:

Our photographers spotted this Elkhart Lake Blue Corvette Z06 leaving a Ford facility, which is curious because the Z06 hasn’t entered production yet. It is entirely possible that The Blue Oval obtained it through a vehicle swap with General Motors. Either way, Ford has one in its possession.

On paper, the Z06 seems to be comparable numbers-wise to the existing Ford GT. The Chevy’s bespoke flat-plane crank 5.5-liter LT6 V8 produces 670 horsepower and 470 lb-ft of torque, while the Ford answers with a twin-turbo 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 that turns out 660 horsepower and 550 lb-ft of torque. In the real world, however, the Z06 runs 0-to-60 in 2.6 seconds, a lot faster than the 3.0 seconds of the much higher priced GT.

We’ve heard in recent months yet another Ford Thunderbird revival might be in the works, and Ford Authority speculates that the Z06 might be serving as a benchmark for such a vehicle, “though it’s not likely this vehicle will feature a mid-engine layout like the ‘Vette.” Nevertheless, Ford Authority argues that a new Thunderbird “could certainly pose a threat to The Bow Tie’s sports car in terms of power and performance.”

A little competition might prove to be good for both brands, though if you’re like most Corvette enthusiasts, a Ford will never be seen in the same garage as their C8.

Back in 2021, Ford Authority also captured Ford engineers driving a Torch Red C8 Corvette Stingray.

Source:

FordAuthority.com