2023 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 gains centre-exit exhaust, Australia could miss out

Chevrolet will modify the 2023 C8 Corvette Z06 for select international markets, according to a new report.

According to CorvetteBlogger, the Corvette Z06 will be fitted with a petrol particulate filter (PPF) and additional exhaust piping for the Australian and European markets, making it difficult to retain the floating quad centre-exit tailpipes seen on examples bound for North America and the Middle East.

It is important to note Australia’s less-restrictive emissions standards allow the regular C8 Corvette Stingray to exclude a petrol particulate filter, although the Z06 could include the system due to its greater performance, which is bound to impact emissions.

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Instead, pre-production models spotted by the enthusiast website show affected examples will be fitted with a more-traditional corner-exit exhaust system.

“The [current] focus is on the Corvette Z06 for the domestic North American market. Details relating to export versions for markets such as Australia and New Zealand will be released in due course,” said a spokesperson for General Motors.

The quad set of centre-exit exhaust pipes were in development for more than two years, with General Motors working to fine-tune the system to ensure it has the correct sound.

In addition, the fitment of a petrol particulate filter could cause trouble for the naturally-aspirated 5.5-litre V8 found under the bonnet of the C8 Z06, although this is yet to be confirmed.

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North American variants, which exclude the petrol particulate filter and additional exhaust piping, produce 500kW of power and 623Nm of torque.

The addition of a PPF to the regular Corvette Stingray in Europe sees power drop by approximately five per cent, reducing the 369kW output – as seen on North American and Australian units – to 350kW.

The 2023 Chevrolet C8 Corvette Z06 is tipped to arrive in Australia next year, with additional information expected in the coming months.