Corvette’s Engine Build Experience lets customers build their own powerplants

By Alexander Kalogianni January 8, 2015

chevy offers corvette engine build experience to z06 buyers 2015 chevrolet corvettez06 180 — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Sure, drivers may love the evocative, sonorous roars from the powerhouse of an engine housed in their favorite big boy toy, but how many have had an intimate hand in its assembly? Chevrolet announced that customers buying the new Corvette Z06 will have such an opportunity with its exclusive engine build experience.

2015-Chevrolet-CorvetteZ06-016 — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Kicking off in March, those who have put an order down for the high-powered ‘Vette can select the experience off of the same order form for an extra $5,000, regardless of trim level. From there, they’ll be treated to a full day with a Performance Build Center engine assembly technician who will instruct them on how they will build the supercharged 6.2-liter V8 that will end up in their brand new ride.

CorvetteZ06EngineBuild-161 — Image used with permission by copyright holder

The self-built engine will get a personalized plaque with the owner/builder’s name on it once the engine is complete. From there, the power unit moves to the vehicle assembly section of the Bowling Green facility to join the rest of the car.

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Once the Corvette is in one piece, they can choose to pick the 625-horsepower sports car at the adjacent National Corvette Museum.

There are some things to keep in mind, however. First of all, Getting to Kentucky and finding a place to stay is up to the customer, as the $5,000 package doesn’t include travel and lodging. The other thing is they won’t be leaving the plant with a finished ‘Vette the same day as the engine build. “It’s important for customers to understand their engine won’t be installed the day after they built it,” said Harlan Charles, Corvette product manager. “It will flow into the scheduling process for vehicle assembly, which depends on a number of logistical variables.”

With things taken as read, the engine build experience is a wonderful way for someone to literally have a hand in the construction of their car and allow them to personally connect more than ever.

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Alexander Kalogianni

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Alex K is an automotive writer based in New York. When not at his keyboard or behind the wheel of a car, Alex spends a lot of…

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