A most violent Vette: 2015 Corvette Z06 Convertible is a supercar hunter wearing a Chevrolet bowtie

A car nicknamed the “big nasty” had better be good. Or, at the very least, it should be really, really nasty, in all the right ways.
The 2015 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Convertible represents the pinnacle of speed and power when it comes to cars wearing a Chevy bowtie emblem. This is the fastest production Vette the world has ever seen, after all.
Even more to the point, the Z06 is, quite simply, one of the fastest cars anywhere in the world, no matter the pedigree of a badge, or how many commas are in the price-tag.
The Z06 is staggeringly quick. Acceleration from 0 to 60 miles per hour takes about 3.0 seconds – slightly less if you opt for the 8-speed automatic, versus the 7-speed manual transmission. Yes, the automatic is quicker than the manual when it comes time to launch this 650-horsepower and 650 lb.-ft. of torque monster machine down the road.
That’s hardcore and absolutely supercar-levels of fast! It means the Z06 can easily take a straight-line fight to the world’s most exotic machines, like the Lamborghini Aventador and the brand new, twin-turbocharged Ferrari 488 GTB.
Possibly the only car within a shout of the Z06’s combination of performance and price is the hugely capable, turbocharged and all-wheel-drive Nissan GT-R. Even then, the Z06 Convertible starts at $83,995 (including destination fee), versus the more than $100K asking price for the GT-R.

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Nick Kurczewski

The backbone of the Corvette Z06 is a lightweight hydroformed aluminum chassis. Conceived from the outset as a convertible, the Z06 drop-top did not require additional support or bracing when it lost its roof.

Now take a step back, and realize we’re talking about a Corvette in the same breath as Lambos, Ferraris and, well, alright, a Nissan too.
It’s also worth mentioning that top speed of the Z06 is well in excess of 200 miles per hour, though I opted not to achieve terminal velocity with the top down on the highways surrounding New York City.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Palm trees and beaches are pretty, but some cars demand a tougher, grittier, and more come-and-get-it kind of backdrop.
That’s why I took all 3,582 lbs. of thoroughbred 2015 Corvette Z06 Convertible to the streets of Newark, New Jersey, for photos to match this car’s mighty musculature. From the famous ‘Top’s Diner’ (sorry NYC, Jersey has you beat when it comes to diners) and to the heart of the bustling “Ironbound” neighborhood, when it comes to Z06 photos, give me brick walls, graffiti, oil tanks, and perhaps an over-sized veggie omelet.