2002 Z06 Corvette

Automotive Industries, July, 2001 by John Peter

The first question you'll probably ask is can you feel the extra 20 hp? Well, ask Captain Janeway of the starship Voyager if she can tell the difference between warp five and warp six. Chevrolet's screaming fast sports car is now screaming faster For 2002, the LS6 V-8 makes 405 hp at 6,000 rpm. And torque, now 400 pounds-feet at 4,800 rpm, is up 15 on the 2001 model.

Horsepower is increased largely due to better breathing. A higher lift camshaft allows for more air in and more exhaust out. To accommodate the increase in airflow, GM engineers have widened the opening in the air box, pulled the pre-sensor grid work out of the MAF sensor and re-designed the intake manifold for better air flow. On the back end, they eliminated the PUP converters while still meeting emissions. Liquid-sodium-alloy-filled hollow stem exhaust valves reduce valve train weight and allow the valves to keep more precise contact with the cam at high rpm.

While you may not feel the Z06's extra speed, the numbers prove it's there. Claimed zero-to-60 times are now less than four seconds (3.8), and a quarter-mile is covered in 12.4 seconds at 116 mph -- that's two-tenths and two mph faster than last year.

GM's engine guys tell us that the LS6 is purposely over-engineered and is capable of putting out 425 hp.

With Corvette chief engineer Dave Hill's admission that a special car is being done for the model's 50th anniversary in 2003, and that a C6 is definitely in the works, all I can say is, watch out Viper.