If there is one thing we love to see, it’s America’s Favorite Sports Car taking on the German Autobahn!

The famous German Autobahn has sections where there are no speed limits, and it’s on one of these sections where AutoTopNL was able to conduct real-world performance testing of the export-spec C8 Corvette Z06. The instrumented testing shows the Z06 sprinting 0-100 kph, 100-200 kph, as well as making a top speed run where the car topped out at 313 kph (194.5 mph).

The video opens with views just the gauges and timing for the first couple of runs. But stay with it as AutoTopNL conducts several flybys, exhaust revs, and launches. The very last run shows the view from the PDR in a high-speed run to 300 kph (186.4 mph).

Of course, there are two glaring differences in this European C8 Corvette Z06 when compared to the native Z06 models sold here in the States and that’s the power and the sound.

Due to European regulations, the export Z06s are fitted with gas particulate filters (GPF) on the exhaust systems. Because of their size and the heat that is generated from them, Chevy mounts the exhaust on the corners (and while also including a pair of air deflectors underneath to keep those GPFs cooler). By doing so, the sound of the exhaust changes while the Z06’s performance stats drop to 646 hp and 439 lb-ft of torque. In the USA, the Z06 is rated at 670-hp and 460 lb-ft of torque.

But this European-spec Corvette Z06 can still put that rubber to the road as we consistently see it burst past 300 kph (186.4 mph). In fact, a criticism of the Z06 that comes to light is its gearing which many felt limited its speed on the Nurburgring including veteran driver Misha Charoudin. As one commenter stated, “It’s my first time seeing a car with its 5th gear trying to reach the redline for ever, just to upshift to 6th and literally lose speed.”.

After reading that comment, I went back to the video. The fifth gear is notoriously long, and every single time the car shifts from 5th to 6th gear, the speed drops off pretty quickly.

Robocop4Ever replies with the most likely correct answer, “After 4th gear, they’re all overdrives. It’s a waste of 4 gear ratio’s, but they’ve always been this way to make them better at cruising and fuel economy, and to beat gas guzzler taxes (this car doesn’t) and meet terrible EPA regulations. The maximum speed limit in US is 80 mph (128 kph), so they figure as long as the 1/4 mile is great, top speed acceleration doesn’t realistically matter that much.”

It’s still a lot of fun watching (and hearing) the Z06 race up and down the German Autobahn as the 5.5-liter flat-plane crank V8 hits the red line! Give it watch and let us know what you think in the comments below!

Source:
AutoTopNL / YouTube

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