When it comes to American sports cars, you probably think of Challengers, Mustangs, and Corvettes. When it comes to Supercars, you probably think of McLarens, Ferraris, and Lamborghini. Somewhere in there, one car got lost in translation, and it seems to be stuck between titles: the Corvette Z06.

While there is a lot of ambiguity when it comes to the title of Supercar, there is a widely accepted set of criteria that a car must meet so join the ranks, and it appears that the Z06 falls just a tad short. Yes, the word Supercar itself is very subjective, but we can’t deny what the majority agrees: the Corvette Z06 just isn’t a real Supercar.

I should preface this article by saying it is OK that the Z06 isn’t a supercar, and I’m very well aware that there are some modified Z06s out there that put down a substantial amount of power. but that isn’t enough to push the Z06 up into the same category as a Ferrari 360 Modena.

Why it could be

There are several obvious reasons why the Corvette Z06 teeters on the line between worlds, after all, it is almost a Supercar. The Z06 is a beautiful, aerodynamic and stylish sports car that has adapted through the ages. Among many generations, the car has been updated and redesigned to keep with the times and maintain a striking appearance, so it definitely doesn’t lose our vote on style points.

It is also, of course, worth mentioning that the Z06 is street legal – this may seem tedious but it is a very important factor when establishing Supercar status. There are many cars that are insanely powerful, have a high top speed and would not disappoint you in a race, and the Z06 is not omitted from that list. So what is it missing exactly?

Why it isn’t

Corvettes overall are far too popular and common to be a Supercar, and the Z06 models have been no different. Their availability makes them great cars to work on, source parts for or connect with other owners over, but it is one major factor that keeps them out of the running for Supercar.

In the C7 generation alone, Chevy produced almost 40,000 Z06s in a mere 5 years, joining the ranks of tens of thousands more built among the previous generations. This high production quantity sets this car apart from other more qualified ideas of Supercars.

Another factor is that the Z06 is in all essence a performance package that is added onto an otherwise standard Corvette, and you would be hard-pressed to find any individual that would argue a standard Corvette is a Supercar.

To the dismay of many Corvette owners out there, the Z06 just doesn’t meet the requirements to classify it as a Supercar, but there is no doubt it will always be ranked as an American classic and fantastic performing sportscar for many more generations to come.