2023 Corvette Z06 production feels like it’s about to start any day now. Pricing is finally out, and dealers are busy training themselves to convince how the new C8 variant can rival the likes of Ferrari, McLaren and Porsche. Speaking of, the new 2023 Porsche 911 GT3 RS has finally been revealed, and from our vantage point, it’s a tough sell.
First off, we need to talk about how much horsepower your dollars get you. The 2023 Z06 features a race-proven 5.5L DOHC flat-plane crank V8 that pushes out a whopping 670 horsepower without the need for forced induction, and is also the highest displacement flat-plane V8 ever to make it in a production vehicle. The 911 GT3 RS produces 518 horsepower via its 4.0L flat-six powerplant, which is indeed exotic and sounds the business in its own right. But 150 horses down from the Z06.
The Porsche 911 GT3 RS does have one metric that pops out from the spec sheet, however. 1,896 pounds of corner-carving downforce at 177 mph. The 2023 Corvette Z06 comes in at less than half that: 734 lbs of downforce at 188 mph. So if the Porsche were to out-maneuver the Corvette in the chicanes, the Z06 will use its superior power and top speed to catch it on the straights. It’s the American way.
So, what do you actually get for the money? The revolutionary 2023 Corvette Z06 starts out at just over $100,000 ($106,395) with the most “optioned” version topping out at around $160,000 (convertible, Z07 package, 3LZ trim, all the carbon add-ons). The 2023 Porsche 911 GT3 RS on the other hand starts at $225,250, which includes a fancy wrist watch for free. Perhaps as a way to make Porsche customers feel like they didn’t get ripped off.
Image via Chevrolet
