Accelerating to 60 mph in less than three seconds is undoubtedly extremely brisk. But while these days a luxury BMW coupe can accelerate to 60 mph in three seconds, it is worth remembering that this benchmark figure wasn’t really broken until very recently. To put it into perspective, the McLaren F1, the fastest car over a quarter mile in the world in the ’90s, could only hit 60 mph in 3.2 seconds.

It took cars like the Bugatti Veyron, equipped with an 8.0-liter W16 engine and four turbochargers, to comfortably get under three seconds for a production car, posting a time of 2.5 seconds – and that is a machine that had a base price of $1,657,700.

So what if we told you that you could buy an American sports car that will also accelerate to 60 mph in less than three seconds, but it will cost less than $60,000? It’s hard to imagine that such performance can be bought so cheap. Throw in the fact that this car has plenty of kit, is relatively new, and has one of the most illustrious names in the business, and we are reaching for the checkbook.

The C7 Corvette Z06 Is The Cheapest American Car To Hit 60 MPH In Three Seconds

2015-2019 Chevrolet Corvette C7 Z06

Starting Price (MSRP)

$78,995 (2015)

Engine/Motor

6.2-Liter Supercharged LT4 OHV V8

Horsepower

650 hp @ 6,400 RPM

Torque

650 lb-ft @ 3,600 RPM

Drivetrain

Rear-Wheel Drive

Transmission

7-Speed Manual or 8-Speed Auto

0-60 MPH

2.95 seconds

Expand

It was no secret that the new C7 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 was up for a fight in the big league when it was announced in 2014. The official Chevrolet announcement was peppered with comparisons with exotic supercars – the V-12-powered Ferrari F12 Berlinetta produces about 28 percent less torque than the Z06, said Chevy and the Porsche 911 Turbo S has less power – proving that the American firm was serious about its new Corvette sports car. Luckily, the Z06 had the stats to back up the big talk.

The C7 Z06 Has Supercar Levels Of Performance

It may not have the ZR1 badge on the back, but the C7 Corvette Z06 is a supercar slayer. Unlike its successor, the C7 still had the engine in the front, and its powerplant came in the form of an LT4 supercharged 6.2-liter V8, rated at 650 horsepower at 6,400 rpm and 650 lb-ft of torque at 3,600 rpm. These figures, as Chevy pointed out, put the new ‘Vette on the same level as the best of Stuttgart and Maranello at the time. The performance was also up there with the quickest and most exotic cars on sale in 2015 too.

The Auto Z06 Was Even Quicker Than The Manual

There were two transmission options available to buyers of C7 Corvette Z06s in 2015. You could choose from either a standard seven-speed manual transmission or an all-new, paddle-shift eight-speed automatic transmission built in Toledo, Ohio. It was the latter of these that allowed the car to accelerate to 60 mph in less than three seconds – GM claimed an astonishing time of 2.95 seconds. Anyone self-shifting would have to wait a fraction longer, with 60 mph arriving in the manual version in 3.2 seconds.

Related

This Is The World’s Fastest Sedan Over The Quarter Mile Ever

This American supersedan is so quick, it makes its quarter-mile time look like a 0-60 mph figure.

Here’s How Much This Amount Of Performance Will Cost You

The Z06 was undoubtedly very good value when it was launched. Ten years ago, the Z06 cost $78,995, which was not a lot of cash considering it was a 185 mph supercar that could hit 60 mph in less than three seconds. These days, the supercharged Z06 hasn’t lost that much of its value, but it’s still a bargain. The Hagerty Valuation Tool prices a good condition 2015 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 coupe at $59,100, whereas a convertible will cost $61,300 in 2025.

The Prices For C7 Z06 Corvettes Are The Same Regardless Of Year

The prices stay the same for 2016, although the special 2016 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 C7.R Edition commands a premium, costing $74,400. The prices for the standard coupe and convertible Z06 are identical to the 2015 model year – $59,100 and $61,300 respectively – and are no different right up to the 2019 model year. This means that you can get a sub-three-second supercar in 2025 that is just six years old for less than $60,000 – pretty cool.

Related

The Only New Car Under $50K That Hits 60 MPH in Under 4 Seconds

This unsuspecting new performance car will put muscle cars to shame for less than 50 grand.

A Closer Look At The C7 Corvette Z06’s Powerplant

Highlights Of The C7 Corvette Z06

• The Z06 has a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 with 625 horsepower and 635 lb-ft of torque
• The car has hypercar levels of performance, hitting 60 mph in 2.95 seconds
• The Z06 was the fastest car ever around GM’s Milford Road Course test track

The Z06 Coupe and Convertible joined the C7 lineup for 2015, with scintillating levels of performance from an all-new supercharged 6.2-liter V8. The ratings are pure supercar levels, with 625 horsepower and 635 lb-ft of torque, but the Corvette was also built for more than just straight-line speed Z06. The coupe can handle too, recording the fastest lap of any production car ever tested at GM’s Milford Road Course test track.

The Supercharger On The Z06 Spins Even Faster Than On The ZR1

The V8 features Rotocast A356T6 aluminum cylinder heads that are stronger than standard aluminum heads, as well as lightweight titanium intake valves and machined and forged powder metal steel connecting rods. There is also a standard dry-sump oiling system with a dual-pressure-control oil pump. A new 1.7-liter supercharger spins at up to 20,000 rpm – 5,000 rpm more than the supercharger on the Corvette ZR1’s engine – and the rotors are smaller in diameter, helping with their higher-rpm capability.

Here’s How The C7 Z06 Corvette Stacks Up Against The C8 Z06

What makes the C7 Corvette extra special is that it was the end of an era. That’s not to say the Corvette stopped, it just changed. The C8 Corvette is, of course, mid-engined, a first for a production ‘Vette, but not quite the first overall. For the C8, Chevrolet also took a different approach to the Z06, fitting it with the all-new LT6 5.5-liter DOHC V8 engine that is naturally aspirated and features a full racing-style dry-sump oiling system. A lightweight, flat-plane crank design enables the engine to rev higher, meaning more power.

C7 Corvette Z06 Vs C8 Corvette Z06

The latest Z06’s hand-built mill can rev to an 8,600-rpm redline and pumps out 670 horsepower at 8,400 rpm and 460 lb-ft, making it the most powerful naturally aspirated V8 engine ever produced. The result is a scorching sprint to 60 mph that is even quicker (it would be a bit awkward if it wasn’t, right?) than the previous generation Corvette with its front-engined supercharged V8. The latest Z06 will hit 60 mph in 2.6 seconds, which is just a fraction slower than the astronomically-priced Bugatti Veyron 16.4.

Sources: Chevrolet.com; Hagerty.com