News report: Though spy shots of the Z06 version of the C6 Corvette don't appear to reveal much, we can discern that engineer David Hill's latest high-performance creation may come with a first-ever-for-Z06 removable hardtop. Reports of a possible air scoop at the leading edge of the hood, however, appear unfounded. The car also sports typical Z06 features, such as wider tires tucked behind flared front and rear fenders, and lighter-weight, two-piece 10-spoke wheels. We also note red Brembo brake calipers tucked behind the wheels. The 2006 model Z06 reportedly packs a 7.0-liter 500-hp V8, and debuts at the Detroit auto show in January. -- End of report
NoOp Comment: It's no secret Ford intends to continue targeting the "Big Dawgs" -- like Chevy's Z06 'Vette -- with their Cobra. (Note: In '03, the Terminator Cobra ran trap speeds very similar to the Z06's.) So now that the garden-variety 'Vettes are making 400 horsepower with
6-liter motors, and the upcoming Z06 is rumored to sport a 7-liter motor producing a solid 500 ponies, it really makes you wonder what Ford will do with the next generation Cobras.All the reports say it'll be the current blown 4.6, but with "substantially more" horsepower for at least the first model year. But what's "substantially more"? 50-60 more? Because 50-60 more won't cut it against a Z06 which will no doubt be at least 700 pounds lighter than the next [heavier] Cobra. And anything less than an increase of 100 more ponies under the Cobra's hood, won't make a drag race between the two interesting. And I'm skeptical they can squeeze another 100 ponies out of the old 4.6 and still have a non-peaky horsepower/torque curve, plus easy 100K plus mile reliability. I just don't know... but I do know if I was Ford I'd be quickly moving ahead with the development of their 6.2-liter "Hurricane" V8, because this modern horsepower war shows signs of nothing but more escalation.
Patrick '93 Cobra '83 LTD