Spy shots and video of the 2022 Chevrolet Corvette Corvette Z06

Chevrolet just unveiled the C8 Corvette, and the general consensus is that the bowtie brand has scored a big hit with its mid-engine marvel.

However, the current Corvette Stingray is only the first phase of the car's performance. Models like the Grand Sport, Z06, and ZR1 are yet to come, and there are rumors of a new hybrid model.

Chevrolet engineers were just spotted testing a hot version of the C8, and based on the product sequence of past Corvette generations, we're probably looking at a new Corvette Z06, which should arrive in early 2021 as a 2022 model.

While the prototype may look like previous Stingray testers, one cannot miss the much wider rear wheels that suggest the prototype is a more hardcore model. The rear fenders also appear wider than on the Stingray, which makes sense given the wider rubber. On the Stingray, the maximum diameter of the rear tires is 305 mm.

In the interior, several elements unique to the Z06 can be expected. The official sketches from last November previewed what looks like the Z06's cabin. The dash layout was consistent with the design used on the Stingray, but the controls on the steering wheel were different and included a giant red button labeled "Spec Mode." The instrument cluster also featured a racetrack layout, and carbon fiber was used for many of the surfaces instead of the usual leather.

As for the car's power source, reports from last summer indicate that the Z06 will be powered by a naturally aspirated V8, and a video posted on Facebook by Jim Lill seems to confirm this report. The engine is most likely related to the flat-plane crank, dual overhead cam 5.5-liter V-8 engine that will be used in the C8.R race car. Chevrolet has confirmed that the race car engine will be a derivative of the one used in the road car, and the Z06 is a perfect starting point.

Peak power is expected to be around 600 hp. That's not quite the 650 hp of the C7 generation's supercharged V-8, but there are plenty of buyers who will appreciate the naturally aspirated power, even if the top end is lower than that of the forced-induction mill.

For those hungry for power, the new Corvette ZR1 is expected to have a new V-8 twin-turbo with close to 800 hp. But it's hard not to love Chevrolet's stunning eight-speed dual-clutch transmission, which debuted in the Stingray.