Flagship edition’s sticker almost puts blue collar with blue bloods and shares with another Stingray price lift.

POTENTIALLY only 0.4 seconds faster to 100kmh than the regular type and $146,000 pricier for the privilege - and that’s before a Clean Car penalty and on-road costs.

General Motors Speciality Vehicles’ announcement today of a $346,000 tag for the Corvette ZO6 confirms it as the fastest and most expensive General Motors car ever sold here.

The new derivative stands out from the 2LT and 3LT Corvette Stingray editions that have been here since the start of 2022 by being more exclusive and even more track-ready.

GMSV has made clear the Z-rated model will be a rare sight, even moreso than the regular Stingray, which is so far represented nationally by fewer than 40 NZ-new examples.

In addition to gaining competition-ready brakes, suspension and aero enhancements, the flagship divests the regular cars’ 370kW/637Nm 6.2-litre V8 for a 5.5-litre type than has less torque but more power.

Controversially, though, the Z06 in Australasian tune is less potent than how it supplies in North America - so how the performance lift translates locally will be eagerly anticipated.

ZO6s coming here have a different exhaust system with emissions- and noise-reducing petrol particulate filters shared with versions sold in Europe. The US model, pictured here, has a quad exhaust. Ours do not.

That refit means it makes 475kW and 595Nm here, whereas the same car on home turf delivers 500kW and 624Nm.

At full Stateside strength, the Z06 and standard LT editions have both been found to be both capable of hitting just over 300kmh.

The 3LT is officially rated as being good for 0-100kmh in 2.9 seconds; a startling accomplishment for a Corvette - and independent tests say it’s actually quicker.

The Z06? GMSV hasn’t offered an official time, but a sprint-off between the two conducted by Motor Trend magazine found the US-spec could crack the legal limit from a standing start in a supercar-slaying 2.5 seconds.

As rich as the Z06’s pricing might seem, GMSV hasn’t been brave enough to site it quite in the same league as some European and English performance fare with richer heritages and similar power outputs and performance credentials. The McLaren Atura and Maserati MC20 are over $400,000. A Ferrari with similar spirit is over half a million. But then, purists and brand snobs might argue it’s a matter of blue collar versus blue blood.

The sticker announcement arrives with GMSV also saying the Stingrays are to undergo another price increase, what appears to be the third since stickers were first settled at the start of 2022.

GMSV today said those 6.2-litre V8 derivatives will bump up another $5000 in their 2024 model year formats, arriving from year-end.

That means the 3LT Coupe, from which the ZO6 derives, becomes a $200,000 choice, while the convertible version will rise to $215,000.

The 2LT models in the same formats rise to $185,000 and $200,000.

When pricing for NZ-market Corvette was initially announced, the 2LT and 3LT Coupes were $154,990 and $169,990 respectively, with the convertibles carrying a $15,000 premium.

The latest prices do not include the Government’s Clean Car penalty, which adds $6700 at time of purchase.

GMSV also has to tackle another impost tied to that emissions’ reduction legislation, the Clean Car Standard, which is designed to hit the distributor and also threatens to add thousands of dollars.

Stingray specifications alter with the MY2024, mainly in respective to active safety ingredients, with minor amendments to the instruments.

The cars achieve forward collision alert with low-speed AEB, lane keep assist and lane departure warning, front pedestrian braking and a following distance indicator.

The Z06 has six-piston 370mm front and 380mm rear Brembo brakes, adaptive Magnetic Ride Control suspension, and 20-inch front and 21-inch rear forged alloy wheels in a 'Spider' design.

NZ and Australia trim is to 3LZ level, which delivers a carbon-fibre steering wheel, carbon-fibre shift paddles, microfibre interior accents, leather-wrapped door and instrument panels, and GT2 sports bucket seats with Nappa leather upholstery and carbon-fibre accents.

Optional is a Z07 Performance Pack, which adds carbon-fibre wheels built by Geelong-based company Carbon Revolution, Michelin track-day tyres, larger brakes with carbon-ceramic discs, retuned suspension, and a carbon-fibre aerodynamics package with a front splitter, front bumper 'dive planes', and a tall rear spoiler. GMSV has not said how much that will cost.

The Z06’s reign as top dog might last just a year. GM has already said the first electric-assisted Corvette, the E-Ray, will be faster, with a 0-100kmh time of 2.2 seconds cited.

The battery-fed derivative (below) goes into production next year and GMSV has indicated it will have more to say about New Zealand availability then. It has already confirmed it will take the type.

GMSV already has a Z06 here for display and has indicated the first customer examples will be here by year-end.