Art of Gears
Fansided

GM’s CEO Mary Barra Orders Up A 2015 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Convertible

By Paulo Acoba

facebooktwitterreddit

A CEO after our hearts, GM’s Mary Barra gone up and ordered herself a 2015 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 convertible.

Click here to check out actual factory floor photos of her convertible! 

The 2015 Corvette Z06 will deliver unprecedented levels of aerodynamic downforce, at least 625 horsepower from an all-new supercharged engine, and an all-new, high-performance eight-speed automatic transmission, and the suite of advanced driver technologies introduced on the Corvette Stingray.

Thanks to some intrepid eyes that work in Bowling Green, Kentucky (a.k.a. the home of the Chevrolet Corvette), some of the assembly line workers were surprised to see their very own CEO’s name pop up on the work order list when assignments for the day where handed out.

More from Art of Gears

According to Corvette Blogger who first broke the news,

"…the Convertible is outfitted with both the Z07 Performance Package and the new 8-speed automatic transmission."

So what exactly did Ms. Barra order?

First, she gingerly stepped up to the Z06 package. That means the stock LT1 was passed over in favor of the screaming supercharged V8 pumping out a generous 650 HP and 650 lbs-ft of torque. All that power is routed through GM’s all-new 8-speed automatic transmission.

The 2015 Corvette Z06 features an all-new LT4 engine. The supercharged, 6.2L V-8 will deliver more than 625 horsepower, and 635 lb-ft of torque.

GM has been granted more than 24 patents related to the all-new eight-speed automatic transmission that will be offered on the new Corvette Z06. Designed and built by GM, the transmission is more than 8 pounds (4 kg) lighter and five-percent more fuel efficient than the six-speed automatic.

According to GM,

"There’s no trade-off in drivability with the new 8L90 eight-speed automatic transmission – it was designed to deliver performance on par with dual-clutch designs, but without sacrificing refinement. It is also the highest-capacity automatic transmission ever offered in a Chevrolet car."

And what exactly does the Z07 performance package entail? For starters, the Z06 brake rotors are upgraded to carbon ceramic rotors. The tires are upgraded to Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires and the front end aero receives larger winglets as well as a see-through adjustable spoiler in the rear. All this downforce garners it the title of having the most production downforce of any GM car in history.

The 2015 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Convertible, shot by Nico Sforza from the School of Visual Arts, as part of a student-photography competition for the New York Auto Show. Sforza’s concept for the shoot was to portray the birth of a new car, driving out of a ray of light.

But all that engineering pretty much goes out the window (literally and figuratively) since Ms. Barra opted for the boulevard cruising convertible option too.

You’ve got to hand it to Mary Barra for weathering the storm that is GM’s management. Afterall, she’s been the company’s 5th CEO in 6 years. This convertible is well deserved and hopefully passerby’s will notice whose behind the wheel of that all black Z06 convertible when she blasts down Woodward Avenue.

Check out The Fast Lane’s take on Barra’s new ride below.

H/T – Corvette Blogger

Home/Car News