Weight is typically the enemy of the performance car, so the news that the 2015 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 is heavier than its predecessor isn't exactly fantastic. And given that the Corvette has a new aluminum structure beneath its body panels, it's surprising news too.

According to the 2015 Corvette's Order Guide (via Corvette Blogger), the 2015 Z06's curb weight is 3,524 lbs and the convertible version a full 3,582 lbs. Compared to the previous generation Z06 that's quite a significant increase, up from 3,175 lbs. That's 349 lbs in one generation. It's even quite a jump over the last Corvette's ultimate performance model, the ZR1—a car which weighed in at 3,333 lbs.

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It isn't so hard to see where the extra mass might originate from, though. For one, the 2015 Corvette's new interior is more substantial than the old model and filled with more equipment. That equipment also extends to options like Magnetic Selective Ride Control and Performance Traction Management—the kind of features which demand more electronics packed away within the car. A more significant change is the engine: More powerful yet equally more economical it may be, but its advancements come at a weight penalty. The new LT4 in the 2015 Z06 has direct injection, cylinder deactivation, variable valve timing and more, and both manual and automatic transmissions add extra ratios over their predecessors.

Then there's the Z06's new supercharger, previously only the preserve of the ZR1. The Eaton 'charger and its associated ancillaries will certainly contribute to the increase in curb weight. Whether it will concern drivers though is a different matter. With 650 horses and 650 lb-ft of torque to call upon, the Z06 may be heavier than before but it's hardly short of punch. Due in showrooms in early 2015, the new Z06 shows that weight is only part of the story when it comes to high-performance sports cars.

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