GM files trademark for Z06 name in Australia

UPDATE, JULY 23: General Motors has filed trademark applications for the Z06 name in Australia and New Zealand.

The requests were made on July 13 to IP Australia and the Intellectual Property Office of New Zealand, under the category of “motor land vehicles, namely automobiles”.

Though an as-yet unapproved trademark is far from a guarantee, it’s a solid indication GM plans to bring the top-spec, right-hand-drive C8 to local markets – presumably through the GMSV dealer network.

8

The application was published on the IP Australia website

The story to here

JULY 20: General Motors has teased a video overnight of its upcoming C8 Z06 Corvette featuring the unmistakable sound of a flat-plane crank V8.

This all but confirms the rumours the C8 Z06 will use a version of the 5.5-litre flat-plane crank V8 from the C8.R race car, which according to Motor Authority will develop around 625hp (466kW) and 485 lb-ft of torque (658Nm), up significantly on the C8.R race car which only develops 500hp (373kW) and 480 lb-ft (651Nm) due to racing restrictions.

8

8

C8.R Corvette

The video doesn't show any footage of the actual car, but the vehicle in the audio clip clearly doesn’t use a traditional H pattern manual gearbox, and the Z06 is understood to only have an eight-speed automatic gearbox, with no manual option.

More evidence to affirm the likelihood of a flat-plane crank V8 can be found in the opening titles of the video where it states "crank it up" and "the streets will never sound the same".

8

GM wasn't shy of teasing the flat-plane crank V8 in its latest video

The Z06 is slated for a reveal in autumn of 2023 in the US (spring 2023 for Australia), with Car and Driver reporting prices allegedly starting at US$85,000 (AU$115,830).

It’s not yet clear if the Z06 will be sold here locally through GMSV dealers alongside the C8 Stingray, but with shipments of the Stingray still yet to make it into local buyers hands, any chance of seeing a C8 Z06 on Australian roads will be a long way off.

8

The Corvette C8 Stingray seen in public for the first time in Australia at a Supercars event at The Bend Motorsport Park earlier this year

The reveal of the Z06 will be the second production car in US history to feature a flat-plat plane crank V8, after the S550 Mustang Shelby GT350 and GT350R, which featured a 5.2-litre flat-plane bent eight.

8

Mustang Shelby GT350

It’s a big milestone for GM too, which, unlike Ford, has stuck with its traditional crossplane, push-rod style V8s for decades.

Its small and big-block Chevy V8s, as well as the newer LS and current LT series of engines, are still being used in all kinds of GM products.