Australian versions of the new Corvette Z06 will be sold without North America’s centre-exit exhaust system – and are expected to add further emissions controls in line with European models.
The 2023 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 will miss out on North America’s hero centre-exit exhaust system in Australia – and add an emissions-busting petrol particulate filter – it has been confirmed.
General Motors has confirmed US reports earlier this year that Corvette Z06s sold in most export markets – including Australia – will use a unique exhaust system with outboard tips, rather than North America’s bespoke centre-exit arrangement.
The system is believed to have been developed by Chevrolet to meet strict European emission standards (Euro 6d), according to a presentation shown to North American media – and reports suggest features an emissions-busting petrol particulate filter.
But despite there being no such emissions standards in force in Australia – and the standard Corvette Stingray featuring an exhaust system closer to the US market’s design – local Z06s will be fitted with the European exhaust.
A spokesperson for General Motors Specialty Vehicles could not confirm the reasoning behind the decision – however it is possible it may relate to vehicle noise regulations, which are stricter in Australia than the US, and closer to European standards.
While the Corvette Stingray is not sold with a petrol particulate filter-equipped exhaust in Australia – and matches the US market’s 369kW/637Nm outputs, rather than Europe’s 354kW/613Nm – the Z06’s unique 5.5-litre V8 may have pushed it beyond noise limits for new vehicles in Australia.
US publication Car and Driver reports US-market Z06s are “essentially” as loud as Stingrays from the outside, as both cars are “at the limits of noise pass-by requirements” – however it’s unclear if this would apply to Australian noise testing as well.
Power and torque outputs for the European and Australian-market Corvette Z06 are yet to be confirmed; in the US, they are rated at 500kW and 624Nm. Applying the 15kW/14Nm power cut seen in the Stingray between markets would suggest approximately 485kW and 610Nm for our market.
“Some markets outside of North America, including Australia, will have outboard exhausts,” a local General Motors Specialty Vehicles (GMSV) spokesperson said in a statement to Drive.
When asked to confirm the reasoning behind the fitment of the European exhaust for Australia, the spokesperson said in a statement: “’More details regarding Z06 will be released later this year, as well as additional information at the conclusion of local testing and validation.”
Official photos of the Corvette Z06 with the outboard exhaust system have not been released, however test cars have been spied on the road in the US, with similar exhaust tips to the Stingray (though GM says production cars will have unique “large Z06” outlets).
The Corvette Z06 is not the first GM performance car to require a different exhaust for Australia; the supercharged Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 muscle car sold through GMSV’s predecessor in Australia, Holden Special Vehicles, needed changes to its exhaust to meet local regulations when launched in 2019.
Presentation slide via The Straight Pipes on YouTube.
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