Chevrolet Bel Air Reviews

The Detroit motor show may showcase some of the most stylish and extravagant of the world's upcoming automotive models, but the manufacturers also garnish these four-wheeled objects of desire

Chevrolet has a new high-performance hero: the next generation Corvette Z06 has an all-new direct-injection supercharged V8 with a mind-boggling 625 horsepower or 466kW, and the option of a seven-speed manual or an eight-speed automatic transmission.Significantly, the new Z06 has more torque than the previous king of the Corvettes, the ZR1 (also powered by a supercharged 6.2-litre V8, but an older design), which was the fastest Corvette of all time when launched in 2009.Torque is the measure of an engine’s ability to overcome resistance. For the tech heads these numbers mean pure magic: the new Z06 has 861 Nm versus 819Nm for the ZR1.Chevrolet is yet to publish performance times for the new Z06 but the previous ZR1 can reach the speed limit in a Ferrari-like 3.1 seconds and has a top speed of 330km/h.The only clue the company will give about performance is to say that the new Z06 laps faster than the previous ZR1. And to think the next generation ZR1 is still to be developed...Australian performance-car fans waiting for the new Z06’s epic engine -- an all-new direct injection supercharged 6.2-litre V8 called the LT4 -- to arrive under the bonnet of a Holden Special Vehicles GTS will be waiting in vain.Although previous Corvette and Camaro engines have found their way in HSV cars -- including the awesome LSA supercharged 6.2-litre V8 used in the GTS, Australia’s fastest and most powerful car of all time -- Carsguide understands there are no plans to fit the new LT4 to the Commodore.The cost to develop and adapt the LT4 for the Commodore would be too expensive at this stage of the car’s lifecycle, especially as it is due to end production in 2017, say GM insiders.Australians will just have to admire from afar, unless former Holden boss Mark Reuss gets his wish for all GM models to be available in right-hand-drive in future.Mr Reuss, who is now in charge of all global vehicles at General Motors, told Australian media at the Detroit motor show: “On all our products going forward we’re going to try and do right-hand-drive.”Mr Reuss would not speculate which cars in the Chevrolet line-up would make it to Australia, but vehicles that are built in left-hand-drive only for now include the iconic Camaro and Corvette sports cars, and the range of Chevrolet full-size pick-ups and SUVs.At last year’s Detroit motor show, the then boss of General Motors, Dan Akerson, told Carsguide the new Corvette would be made in right-hand-drive for the first time in 50 years.But less than 24 hours later the company made a U-turn on the comments, with GM’s second-in-charge Tim Lee telling News Corp Australia:“I have no idea what said but we have no plan to put a right-hand-drive under that bonnet. The Corvette is a Chevrolet, it’s not a Holden, it never will be, next question.”When pressed on how the boss of the company could get such a key fact wrong during a media presentation, Mr Lee said: “We can spend the entire 20 minutes talking about this. This is a non-story from my point of view. You can write what you want to write, I really don’t give a shit. But it is not in the mainstream plan.”In the meantime, GM is understandably proud of its new Ferrari-challenger. “The new Z06 delivers levels of performance, technology and design that rival the most exotisupercars in the world,” Mr Reuss said in a media statement.“The Z06 leverages the engineering expertise of GM, offering the choice of two world-class transmissions (and) supercar performance without supercar fuel consumption.”Corvette Z06: fast factsPrice: $US80,000 (estimated)Engine: Supercharged 6.2-litre direct injection V8 (LT4)Power: 466kW and 861Nm (compared to 476kW and 819Nm in the ZR1)Transmission: Seven-speed manual, eight-speed automatic.On sale: Late 2015 (US only)

Some of the biggest names in motoring have been renewed at this year's Detroit motor show.

But as the motor capital of the world gears up for the first international car show of the year, the big US brands have their feet on the gas pedal.Buoyed by the best sales in six years -- after 15.6 million new vehicle deliveries in 2013 -- Detroit is back in the fast lane in more ways than one, even if it still trails China as the world’s biggest car market (a title it snatched from the US in 2010).Over the coming days Detroit is poised to unveil more muscle cars, a high-powered version of the Corvette and an all-new Ford F-150; the nation’s top-selling vehicle for 32 years and the most popular “pick-up” for 37 years in a row.If it sounds like North America is yet to join the real world by unveiling such automotive excess, think again.The new Ford F-150 is said to have a lightweight aluminium body, the first such change in the 111-year history of the Ford Motor Company, which is tipped to deliver massive fuel economy savings.And the new high-powered Corvette sports-car from Chevrolet is said to have a new generation super-efficient V8 engine, even if it’s still supercharged.Nevertheless, when the doors to Cobo Hall open Monday local time for the 2014 Detroit motor show (about 1am AEST Tuesday) the industry will be putting on a brave face.The city known as Motown is a shadow of its former self, with only two factories remaining, down from more than two dozen of two decades ago.The population of Detroit is down by more than half, from 1.8 million in 1950 to just over 700,000 today. Unemployment is close to 20 per cent and, last year, Detroit was the largest municipality in US history to go bankrupt.The murder rate is currently 10 times higher than New York City and 70 per cent of murders remain unsolved.Most car factories have shifted to other US states, which have offered incentives for green-field sites established by foreign brands. The Big Three -- General Motors, Ford and Chrysler -- regard them as the enemy from within.Of the 39 car factories in North America, just two are in Detroit and only seven are in its home state of Michigan.Having agreed to more flexible contracts with its workers, with support from the states they're based in, the foreign brands have developed an upper hand by setting up elsewhere across the US.Last year, the Big Three brands built about 7 million vehicles on home soil; foreign brands built more than 5 million vehicles, leaving only about 3 million vehicles imported.Which is why there won’t necessarily be Armageddon when Ford, Holden and (probably) Toyota close their Australian factories.Last year, Australian vehicle production fell to its lowest levels since 1958; it now represents such a small part of the market, the adjustment to the new world order has, largely, already happened.The populations of South Australia and Victoria are still growing, and unemployment is below 6 per cent, not as high as 20 per cent like it is in Detroit. Even if every Ford, Holden and Toyota worker did not find another job, the unemployment rate would rise by about 0.9 per cent.But a study by the University of Adelaide last year found that more than two-thirds of Australia’s displaced automotive manufacturing workers will find new employment quickly.Often overlooked is the fact that, since 2004, Holden alone has let go more than 5000 factory workers; currently there are only 5300 employees on the workshop floors at Ford, Holden and Toyota combined. And Australia appears to have survived the impact so far.Many auto workers have ended up in other related industries, such as aircraft component manufacturing. US giant Boeing employs 1500 workers near Melbourne to make hi-tech wing components for the new 787 Dreamliner, for example, so highly regarded is our expertise.Meanwhile, the closure of Holden’s factory looks set to open up new opportunities for imported models now that, as insiders put it, “we don’t have to put a ring fence around the locally-made models”. That means, hopefully, Australians will have an even bigger selection of new cars from which to choose.So while there will be much sadness about the passing of Australia’s automotive manufacturing capability, and the livelihoods it will affect, the reality is it will, ultimately, provide an opportunity to reinvent ourselves. It’s the unwelcome jolt we had to have.Manufacturers in other countries continue to receive substantial taxpayer support -- but they have much bigger car markets to sell into. Australia happens to be stuck in a corner of the world surrounded by countries with cheaper labour. No amount of government money could compete with that. Game over.

Holden cars and dealerships could be rebadged as Chevrolet once General Motors shuts its Australian manufacturing operations in 2017.Holden has secretly been fighting to protect the Australian icon from extinction for the past decade, say company insiders.But the switch to selling only imported cars — all of which are already sold as Chevrolets overseas — means the iconic Holden badge faces its biggest threat to date.Holden boss Mike Devereux last night told News Corp Australia: "Holden is here to stay. Holden has been a part of Australia's past ... and it will part of its future for decades to come.""We are committed to the brand for the long term. The brand is going to be a part of the fabric of this country for a very long time."There is no plan other than to feed this iconic brand with world-class cars for decades to come."However, General Motors headquarters in Detroit wanted to kill the Holden nameplate during the Global Financial Crisis, along with the Hummer and Pontiac brands, but the then boss of Holden Mark Reuss fought against it."There will now be the biggest fight ever to save the Holden brand from being shelved," a Holden insider told News Corp Australia."Every time there is a new boss of Holden or a new head of General Motors, the question is asked, 'Why do we still have the Holden brand in Australia?'."Now that (Holden) won’t be making cars and there won’t be anything unique about the vehicles, the debate is going to come up again and it will be hard to win. There will be massive implications for the brand."By remaining an orphan brand, Holden misses out on global Chevrolet marketing campaigns, such as the $600 million seven-year sponsorship deal with superstar soccer team Manchester United.The closure of Holden’s test track and the sacking of hundreds of engineers means that future imported Holdens will not be uniquely tuned for Australian driving conditions. One insider said the switch to Chevrolet could happen if General Motors believes the Holden brand image has been damaged by the shutdown of its factories. "There is no emotion in this," he said. "It will all come down to money. If General Motors thinks sales will go down because the Holden brand is on the nose, then they will switch it to Chevrolet."News Corp Australia understands it would cost between $500,000 and $1 million to rebrand each of its 233 dealerships nationwide, and that General Motors would foot half the bill for each showroom, forcing Holden dealers to pick up the rest of the tab or lose the franchise.One insider revealed that Holden has been forced to conduct exhaustive research with Australian car buyers to prove the case to Detroit that the Holden brand is worth saving."The amount of money we’ve spent trying to defend the Holden brand to Detroit is ridiculous," he said."But when executives from North America come out to Australia, they take photos of Chevrolet badges that people have fitted to their Holden utes, and use that against us."The last time Holden won the argument with Detroit to save the proud Lion badge, it got a stay of execution because Holden agreed to "soften" its image and focus on technology.However, since then, Holden has announced multi-million-dollar sponsorship deals in the AFL and NRL football codes."Holden made a promise to General Motors that it would try to modernise the brand because it has a bogan image," the source said."That’s why the (Chevrolet) Volt is being sold as a Holden, even though Holden is losing $1 million a year on it," he said.With a price tag of $60,000 for an electric car the same size as a $20,000 Toyota Corolla, Holden has sold fewer than 200 Volts since it went on sale in Australia last year.Mr Devereux insists the cars will continue to be sold as Holdens once the company becomes solely an importer of vehicles.But Mr Devereux will not be responsible for that decision by 2017; he starts his new international role for General Motors next February."Holden is committed to this country … we expect we will be a thriving brand in this country for many years to come," he said during the announcement of the factory shutdowns.The original Holden "lion and stone wheel" logo was created by sculptor Rayner Hoff in 1928, before GM brought the saddlery turned body builder in 1948.The logo was a tribute to the prehistoric fable that lions rolling stones led to the invention of the wheel.The Holden lion badge has changed only three times since 1928: in 1948 at the launch of the first General Motors Holden car, in 1972 to coincide with the launch of the HQ Kingswood, (which went on to become the biggest selling Holden of all time), and in 1994 as Holden ramped up its marketing push for the Commodore to reclaim top-seller status from the Ford Falcon.This reporter is on Twitter: @JoshuaDowling

General Motors has just rolled the Holden SS-V into US showrooms, badged as a Chevrolet SS. It's already had a good reaction from fans there, and starred at the recent SEMA aftermarket show in Jeff Gordon's Nascar styling pictured above. Now comes news that a senior Chevrolet exec has suggested that success for the SS could lead to them looking at more powerful versions of the car. Chevrolet performance cars marketing chief John Fitzpatrick told Automotive.com that a more powerful variant was a possibility, if the SS sales -- targeted at 2000-3000 per year -- were strong enough to suggest there would be enough volume in another model. If the Chevrolet-badged Holden sells quickly priced from US$44,470 as an auto-only prospect ($47,685, on par with the auto version here) there could be room for something carrying a more powerful engine than its 310kW 6.2-litre V8, and perhaps not necessarily an automatic. People say all the time, 'Why don't we have a six-speed manual? Why just one engine?' Fitzpatrick told Automotive.com. And as Motor Authority points out that leaves room to consider perhaps either the manual version of the SS-V or -- and more attractively in the automatic-heavy but power-focused US market -- something from the HSV line-up. A 325kW/550Nm 6.2-litre V8 Gen-F Clubsport, 340kW/570Nm Gen-F Senator or perhaps the snorting 430kW/740Nm supercharged version in the GTS? My, that does suit you, sir. This reporter is on Twitter: @KarlaPincott  

Put on your blue suede shoes and head on down to Pickles classics auction in Perth on Nov 26 with your money, honey, if you don’t want to end up in Heartbreak Hotel. Because that’s when a prized ‘Elvis Presley’ Chevrolet is going under the hammer. Suspicious minds? Well, that’s all right, because the car, a 1957 pillarless V8 sports coupe, one of the bow-tie brand’s most sought-after collectables, actually belongs to Steve Bumbak, also known as The Chevy Man – and the 54-year-old from Wangara is also one of the world’s best Elvis impersonators. He placed in the top three in an Elvis sing-off in Memphis a few years ago. His love affair with Chevrolets began when he was a toddler and his dad owned a ’55 Chevrolet. ‘I promised myself I’d have it one day,’ he said. And some years later he did track his dad’s old car down, but it had by then been converted to a ute. In more recent times he ended up with a variety of Chevys, one of them with a remarkable history. The ’57 Pillarless was quite a find. It was sourced from Hatillo, a town in Puerto Rico, and although 56 years old, is still almost ‘new’. Its odometer shows a scant 2755 miles (4408km) and Steve was told it belonged to an elderly man who barely had time to drive his big hunk o’ love  on the long, lonely highway before the poor boy went to meet the king of the whole wide world. None of his remaining family drove, so the Chevy remained parked in the garage of his hacienda in Hatillo for the next five decades. But Steve has a lot of other Chevys in his Chevy Man premises in Wangara, and says it’ll be a blue Christmas, but his slightly faded love has to go to someone who’ll take good care of her. ‘Now and then there’s a fool such as I,’ Steve said. If it sells, that’s when the heartache begins.

This is the car on which Holden is pinning its export hopes -- and any chance of a stay of execution for the sole V8 in its line-up.As News Corp Australia exclusively revealed overnight that a top secret SA Government report forecasts a 2016 factory shutdown for Holden and the death of a rear-wheel-drive car -- and therefore a V8  -- the Chevrolet brand unveiled the most exciting version of the export Commodore to date as cars began arriving in showrooms this month.Designed with input from Nascar racing legend and Chevrolet dealer Jeff Gordon, the modified Chevrolet SS was one of the stars of the SEMA car show in Las Vegas, which opened overnight. It was finished in a unique metallic red that is not yet available, and a large mesh bumper insert, Number 24 graphics (Gordon’s racing number), custom-finished 20-inch wheels, and a carbon fibre rear spoiler.Power from the 6.2-litre V8 remains unchanged (309kW and 563Nm if you’re curious) but the automatic transmission does come with "tap shift" levers on the steering, which Australian Commodores do not have yet. The link to NASCAR gives Holden its best chance yet of sales success in North America -- Chevrolet has won more races in the history of the sport than any other brand and NASCAR has one of the nation’s biggest TV audiences, with 70 million viewers annually."When you win races, it lifts the whole brand’s image. Opinions get better and people put you on your shopping list faster," said Jim Campbell, General Motors’ vice president of performance vehicles and motorsports."There’s the old adage if you win on Sunday you sell on Monday … it just depends on which Monday, it might be a week, a month, or a year, but you’ve got to earn it."However, the sales forecasts of the Commodore are much smaller than when it was last sold in North America. John Fitzpatrick, marketing manager for Chevrolet's performance cars, told respected US industry journal Edmunds.com in September that only "around 900" Commodores will be shipped this year. When asked if Chevrolet had targeted between 1700 and 2000 sales annually Mr Fitzpatrick told Edmunds.com: "I would agree"."If you look at its competitors, it’s going up against the Dodge Charger SRT8, the Chrysler 300 SRT8 and the Ford Taurus SHO," Mr Fitzpatrick told Edmunds.com. "If you look at how many cars are in that segment, it is only about 3000 to 5000 cars for the entire calendar year."The Chevrolet marketing man told reporters the US version of the Commodore would likely only be sold in about half of the company’s 3000 dealers nationwide. A figure of 2000 sales of the Chevrolet version of the Commodore would represent only about 2.5 per cent of Holden’s forecast yearly production. The Federal Industry Minister Ian Macfarlane has demanded Holden export 30 per cent of its production in return for an increase in taxpayer funding. If Holden cannot export in sufficient numbers, the future of the Holden factory in Elizabeth is grim.In 2004 and 2005 Holden shipped 31,500 Monaros to the US as a Pontiac GTO -- more than twice the number of Monaros sold locally over four years. More than 41,000 Commodores were exported to North America as Pontiacs between November 2007 and February 2009, almost equivalent to Holden’s annual sales of Commodore at the time -- but the deal ended when the Pontiac brand was axed in the wake of the Global Financial Crisis.At least Jeff Gordon likes the car. When his new Nascar was unveiled at Las Vegas earlier this year, he told News Corp Australia he would like to thank Australia for "keeping the faith" with V8 performance sedans. "Thank you to Australia for making that happen and allowing it to come to us," Gordon told News Corp Australia. "I applaud you guys for that."In recent years NASCARs have not resembled the road cars on which they are based. But new rules for 2013 made the Commodore the ideal candidate and Gordon says the Commodore’s sleek shape "the closest to my race car it’s ever been"."I think the race car should always be a street car on steroids and that’s what we have. I think it’s great for the sport," he said. "This is closest that we’ve ever had a street car to a race car look."Meanwhile, a ‘Commodore’ is leading the 2013 Nascar championship, with Chevrolet SS driver Jimmie Johnson leading the series after 34 races and with two to go. Jeff Gordon was in third place in the series in the lead-up to the last race, the Texas 500, but dropped to sixth after finishing last in Texas with car trouble.This reporter is on Twitter: @JoshuaDowling

The Chevrolet SS is finally about to fire up in the USA with deliveries of more than 1000 Australian-built, left-hand drive Commodores. The SS program was announced nearly a year ago as a halo project for Chevrolet and to provide the basis for the heartland American brand's race program in the high-profile NASCAR championship. But as exports from Adelaide take on a much greater importance following the change of government in Canberra, and new Industry Minister Ian Macfarlane pushing Holden hard to build its overseas efforts, the SS program could be crucial. Chevrolet says the SS has a major role in its marketing plans for the brand, although it is still refusing to confirm a showroom target of more than 5000 sales a year. But Carsguide can reveal early numbers from the USA, direct from global Chevrolet boss - and former head of Holden - Alan Batey. "We have already begun shipping the Chevrolet SS. The first shipments have approximately 1000-plus vehicles and should arrive in dealers by the middle of quarter four," Batey tells Carsguide. Holden has stonewalled on details of the SS program from the start, insisting that any information must come from the USA because that is where the program is based, just as it has on the similar export deal for left-hand drive police cars based on the Holden Caprice. It's a similar approach to Ford Australia, which refuses to discuss any of the overseas projects it is undertaking at Broadmeadows for foreign divisions of the blue oval brand. But Batey is bullish as he provides a broad-brush reply to Carsguide questions. "Yes, we're happy with the way the program is going," he says. "The SS means a lot for Chevrolet as it is the first rear-wheel-drive V8 sedan we have offered since 1996. We are the only original-equipment manufacturer in NASCAR whose street variant is a V8 rear-wheel drive and that helps us build a loyal fan base for the brand. "With Camaro (originally developed as a coupe from the VE Commodore sedan) and Corvette, Chevrolet is already the best selling sports car brand in the US. The SS will add a performance sedan to the portfolio and give us a performance line-up which no other brand can match." Despite his tough talk, Batey is still vague on some crucial details including the first customers and their locations. "We have not announced an on-sale date," he says. But he talks again about the SS pricing, as well as the car's opposition. "The 2014 Chevrolet SS will start at $44,470 ($47,704), including a $995 ($1067) destination charge. Competition includes vehicles like the Dodge Charger SRT8, the Chrysler 300 SRT8 and the Ford Taurus SHO." This reporter Twitter: @PaulWardGover  

This Corvette with the works is perfect to celebrate the birthday of a sportscar star. If you like fast cars, then 2013 has a feast of anniversaries. It's 100 not out for Aston Martin and, against the odds, it looks likelier to notch up another ton than at any time in its past. It's also the centenary of Italian styling house Bertone, the talent behind scores of landmark designs, while former tractor maker Lamborghini turns 50 as does British supercar specialist McLaren.More remarkably, the post-war blossoming of consumption in the 1950s threw up some individual models we still laud today. Two sports cars that between them represent the twin poles of European and American approaches to performance are both celebrating significant numbers: from Germany, the Porsche 911 turns 50; while the Chevrolet Corvette, after six decades, is one of the oldest nameplates still in production.HISTORYIt took a few years for Corvette to establish its identity -- early examples were underpowered and heavy -- but the seventh generation unveiled at the Detroit motor show in January cements its place as the performance star in General Motors' constellation. The C7, as it's known, revives the famous Stingray badge and endorses the formula of front engine, rear-drive.If success is measured by sales, then Corvette wins. With a total of 1.4 million buyers against 820,000 for the 911, it's about 30 per cent more popular. Price has something to do with it: in the US the new Corvette starts at $US52,000 against more than $US85,000 for a 911.RHD CONVERSIONSIn Australia, we are forced to look on in envy. Not just at the price differentials -- 911s begin well over $200,000 here -- but in the case of the Corvette, simple availability. America's finest is built only in left-hand drive. Some right-hand drive markets, notably Britain and Japan, tolerate cars with a wheel on the wrong side but Australia frowns.If you want a Corvette, you must get one converted. Luckily, there are a few operations that do just that. One of the newest is Trofeo Motorsport, based in Victoria. Principal Jim Manolios made his money in blood diagnostics and turned his passion for motorsport into a business. Trofeo runs drive days, a race team and is the national distributor for Pirelli motorsport tyres. For about a year it has been importing and converting Corvettes at its workshop in Hallam, near Dandenong.Trofeo aims to do start-to-finish conversions, Manolios says, sourcing cars from the US and specialising in the notoriously difficult-to-switch Corvette. Components that need to be changed -- about 100 -- are scanned into a computer, flipped, then generated in a 3-D printer. Some low-volume parts can be made directly this way or the 3-D print can be the basis for production tooling.The steering wheel, pedal box and windscreen wipers must swap, but also dozens of unseen bits such as airbags and wiring. In addition, Trofeo offers a range of options, from carbon fibre body kits to upgraded exhausts, suspension and brakes, to superchargers.PRICES AND MODELSPrices start at about $150,000 for the Grand Sport, which is powered by a 321kW 6.2-litre V8. Conversions of the high-performance Z06 model with 376kW 7.0-litre V8 cost more, with options capable of bumping the price to $260,000.Manolios says a Corvette delivers Ferrari performance for a fraction of the price and believes there is plenty of demand. We're after the person who has the money in their pocket for a Porsche and is after a real sports car,'' he says.US production of this outgoing Corvette, the C6, stopped in February to make way for the C7. Trofeo has converted seven C6s so far and will have the new version by the end of the year to work out the process afresh. In the meantime, Manolios says he can still get some Z06s. The eventual goal is to deliver 20 cars a year.TEST CARI drove a Z06 with the works: upgraded suspension, carbon fibre front spoiler and side skirts, special exhaust and -- best of all -- a Harrop supercharger. This V8, called LS7 in General Motors code and displacing 427 cubic inches in old money, is being replaced by a new generation engine in the C7. Manolios believes the LS7 will have sentimental appeal and it's impossible to disagree.Based on the alloy block engine in racing Corvettes, it features dry sump lubrication and lightweight titanium connecting rods and intake valves. It rumbles and rocks the car at idle, roaring under throttle and crackling on overrun, with the whine from the supercharger in perfect counterpoint.The supercharger requires a re-profiled bonnet with a bigger bulge. It's made in carbon fibre, offsetting the modest weight of the supercharger itself. The chassis also comes from motorsport and is constructed in aluminium while many of the body panels, such as the roof, are carbon fibre. So the Z06 weighs only a fraction more than a Porsche 911 at 1450kg, despite being slightly longer and quite a bit wider.So with power boosted to 527kW and torque to a whopping 925Nm, a supercharged Z06 has performance to burn. Manolios believes sub-3.0 second zero-to-100km/h times are possible and it's not difficult to spin the monster Pirellis in more than one gear. Once on the move acceleration is unrelenting and if anything gets more impressive the quicker you go. Few powerplants I've sampled have been this intoxicating.DRIVINGTo drive, the Z06 is like a Lotus that has spent months at Venice Beach. It feels similar, only more muscular. Like a Lotus, the suspension is firm and body rigid, so you constantly get a sense of how the car was constructed from little creaks and groans. Weight is distributed evenly front-rear.The result is a car that feels balanced and nuanced in its movements, with dynamics that can handle the immense power. The controls help. It steers sweetly and precisely, despite a wheel that's slightly on the large side, while the throttle offers millimetre control and brake feel is comparable with the best.The six-speed manual transmission shifts well, although the slightly offset second gate meant I fluffed a few upshifts. With all this ability, a Z06 would be best sampled at a racetrack and I couldn't help wondering what top speed you'd see on the Phillip Island straight.Happily, you would not have to glance down to find out; the Z06 has a head-up display like the one in the latest Holden Commodore Redline, although a previous generation. That's true for all the electronics, which are a measure of the outgoing Corvette's age. It's also true of the interior, which is classic pre-reformation GM.The seats are OK, the cargo area is spacious (but would benefit from tie-down hooks) and there are some delightful ingredients, such as the electronic door release. However, the overall ambience is cheap plastic and lacklustre build. That's no fault of the conversion, which is all but undetectable from the driver's seat. The handbrake stays in its original location, and you need the insurance of first gear when parked, but it doesn't get in the way.The exterior also betrays its GM origins in poor panel fit while the bonnet colour-match in this early Trofeo conversion could be improved. But you don't buy a Corvette for its interior and especially not a Z06. Aside from the engine and the way it drives, there's the gorgeous domed rear glass and round tail-lights to admire. It's a rare sight and gathers admirers everywhere I go.Despite the enormous power of the example I drove, it would be a very easy car to live with -- docile unless you press it and with a ride quality better than expected. For me, it's been a long wait to sample a Corvette but it was worth it. Now I'm impatient for the C7. Happily, Trofeo Motorsport is impatient for it too.VERDICTOld school GM, sorted Aussie-style.Chevrolet Corvette Z06(Trofeo conversion with optional supercharger)Price: from $260,000Vehicle: SportscarEngine: 7.0-litre supercharged V8 petrolOutputs: 527kW at 6300rpm and 952Nm at 4800rpmTransmission: Six-speed manual, rear-wheel drive