Confirmed: Australia will miss the center exhaust of the 2023 Chevrolet Corvette Z06

The 2023 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 will miss the mid-exit exhaust system from the hero of North America in Australia – and add an emissions-suppressing gasoline particulate filter – this has been confirmed.

General Motors confirmed US reports earlier this year that Corvette Z06s sold in most export markets – including Australia – will use a unique exhaust system with outboard tips, rather than North America’s bespoke mid-exit arrangement.

The system would have been developed by Chevrolet to meet strict European emission standards (Euro 6d), according to a presentation presented at North American media – and reports suggest an emissions-suppressing gasoline particulate filter.

But despite Australia having no such emissions standards – and the standard Corvette Stingray having an exhaust system closer to the US market design – local Z06s will be fitted with the European exhaust.

A spokesperson for General Motors Specialty Vehicles could not confirm the reasoning behind the decision – but it’s possible it’s related to vehicle noise regulations, which are stricter in Australia than in the US. United and closer to European standards.

While the Corvette Stingray is not sold with a Gasoline Particulate Filter fitted exhaust in Australia – and matches US market outputs of 369kW / 637Nm, rather than the 354kW / 613Nm of Europe – the Z06’s unique 5.5-litre V8 may have pushed it past the noise limits for new vehicles in Australia.

american publication Car and driver reports that US-market Z06s are “essentially” as loud as exterior Stingrays, as both cars are “at the limit of pass-by noise requirements” – but it’s unclear if this would apply also to Australian noise tests.

Power and torque outputs for the Corvette Z06 in the European and Australian markets are yet to be confirmed; in the US they are rated at 500kW and 624Nm. Applying the 15kW/14Nm power cut seen in the Stingray between markets would suggest around 485kW and 610Nm for our market.

“Some markets outside of North America, including Australia, will have outboard exhausts,” a local General Motors Specialty Vehicles (GMSV) spokesperson said in a statement. Conduct.

When asked to confirm the reasoning behind fitting the European exhaust for Australia, the spokesperson said in a statement: “More details regarding the Z06 will be released later this year, along with additional information upon completion of local testing and validation.”

Official photos of the Corvette Z06 with the outboard exhaust system have not been released, but test cars have been spied on the road in the United States, with exhaust tips similar to those on the Stingray (although GM says production cars will have unique “big Z06” outings).

The Corvette Z06 isn’t the first GM performance car to require a different exhaust for Australia; The supercharged Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 muscle car sold by GMSV’s predecessor in Australia, Holden Special Vehicles, needed modifications to its exhaust to comply with local regulations when it was launched in 2019.