Zac Quinn 
The C8 Corvette is the first model in the legendary nameplate’s history to directly offer a right-hand drive configuration from the factory. This has provided all of the strange marketplaces that use right-hand drives the opportunity to get their hands on the legendary American Sports car at a time when it’s seeing unprecedented innovations. But if you’re from Japan and planning to purchase a C8 Z06, you may want to budget for a wrap as well as every single one of these cars heading to the island will carry the same trim package and color combination.
C8 Corvette Z06 Japan-Spec: Details
According to Road & Track, the information comes directly from GM Japan executives Yoshiaki Uehara and Satoshi Nakano, who recently discussed the Japanese-spec Z06. It appears that every C8 Corvette Z06 being ordered by GM Japan will be a loaded-up 3LZ coupe, complete with black exterior paint and a red interior. All cars will also feature black wheels and red brake calipers to keep the color theme. Unfortunately, the track-oriented Z07 package won’t be available for customers. At least, not at the time that sales begin. The executives noted that this is currently the most popular configuration with Z06 customers in the United States and one that fits the car nicely, so they’ve opted to take this route.
Uehara noted that if customers overseas were given the same access to the Z06 configurator as here in the States, the cars might never get built. GM has had difficulties with getting C8s to customers over the past few years, and with high interest in the Z06, that’s only made things more difficult. So, this at least ensures Japan receives the C8 Corvette Z06s.
Unfortunately, Japanese-market Z06 models will be among the vehicles without a center-exit exhaust system. This comes from the country’s more stringent emissions and sound requirements for cars, which the glorious straight pipes on the Z06 don’t meet. This naturally results in a drop in horsepower, limiting these particular units to 636 horsepower as opposed to the 670 found in US-spec cars.
