--- title: "Corvette chief engineer Tony Roma says a Z06X makes sense only at ZR1 money, and GM is not committed to building one" description: "Tony Roma lays out why the C9 will probably keep its dual-clutch gearbox, why a manual is expensive, and why a hybrid Z06X is a hard sell." url: https://cars.skoop.news/gm-is-committed-to-keeping-the-c9-corvette-affordable-chief--c214b6/ published: 2026-10-24T11:28:12.448193-04:00 modified: 2026-10-24T11:28:12.448247-04:00 section: "Cars & EVs" publisher: "skoop.news" language: en keywords: ["Corvette", "Grand Sport X", "Chasing Lamborghini", "Grand Sport", "LS6-engined Stingray", "Tony Roma", "Z06X", "Z06", "ZR1", "cars"] hashtags: ["#GrandSportX", "#ChasingLamborghini", "#GrandSport", "#Car", "#cars"] image: https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9c/TREMEC_Plymouth_Office.jpg/1280px-TREMEC_Plymouth_Office.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail --- # Corvette chief engineer Tony Roma says a Z06X makes sense only at ZR1 money, and GM is not committed to building one > Tony Roma lays out why the C9 will probably keep its dual-clutch gearbox, why a manual is expensive, and why a hybrid Z06X is a hard sell. Published 2026-10-24 · Updated 2026-10-24 · Cars & EVs, [skoop.news](https://skoop.news/) ## In brief - A brand-new Z06 retails at $121,800 in GM's home market, and a hybrid Z06X could theoretically cost no more than $30,000 more, landing at $151,800 before extras [[1]](https://www.autoevolution.com/news/chevrolet-corvette-z06x-would-cost-zr1-money-says-corvette-chief-engineer-tony-roma-277272.html). - An electrified Z06 would be a niche, low-volume special [[1]](https://www.autoevolution.com/news/chevrolet-corvette-z06x-would-cost-zr1-money-says-corvette-chief-engineer-tony-roma-277272.html). - Roma says the C9 needs to be a Corvette at its core [[2]](https://www.thedrive.com/news/gm-is-committed-to-keeping-the-c9-corvette-affordable-chief-engineer-says). ## A Z06X that costs too much to make sense A brand-new Z06 retails at $121,800 in GM's home market, and a hybrid Z06X could theoretically cost no more than $30,000 more, landing at $151,800 before extras [[1]](https://www.autoevolution.com/news/chevrolet-corvette-z06x-would-cost-zr1-money-says-corvette-chief-engineer-tony-roma-277272.html). Corvette chief engineer Tony Roma says the car would make sense only if priced similarly to the ZR1 [[2]](https://www.thedrive.com/news/gm-is-committed-to-keeping-the-c9-corvette-affordable-chief-engineer-says) [[1]](https://www.autoevolution.com/news/chevrolet-corvette-z06x-would-cost-zr1-money-says-corvette-chief-engineer-tony-roma-277272.html). If you are weighing a Corvette purchase, that gap between the two figures is the heart of the issue. The Z06X would be a hybridized Z06 producing close to 860 horsepower [[1]](https://www.autoevolution.com/news/chevrolet-corvette-z06x-would-cost-zr1-money-says-corvette-chief-engineer-tony-roma-277272.html). Roma says GM could easily assemble one but is not committed to building it soon [[1]](https://www.autoevolution.com/news/chevrolet-corvette-z06x-would-cost-zr1-money-says-corvette-chief-engineer-tony-roma-277272.html). ## Why the pricing is tricky An electrified Z06 would be a niche, low-volume special [[1]](https://www.autoevolution.com/news/chevrolet-corvette-z06x-would-cost-zr1-money-says-corvette-chief-engineer-tony-roma-277272.html). Spreading development costs over a thin pool of buyers is the main financial reason GM would not price it near ZR1 money [[1]](https://www.autoevolution.com/news/chevrolet-corvette-z06x-would-cost-zr1-money-says-corvette-chief-engineer-tony-roma-277272.html). Pricing the Z06X near the ZR1 would also cause two Corvette models to compete for the same customer and hurt each other [[1]](https://www.autoevolution.com/news/chevrolet-corvette-z06x-would-cost-zr1-money-says-corvette-chief-engineer-tony-roma-277272.html). The ZR1X starts at $227,800 before destination freight charge, while its non-hybrid ZR1 twin costs $198,000 without that charge [[1]](https://www.autoevolution.com/news/chevrolet-corvette-z06x-would-cost-zr1-money-says-corvette-chief-engineer-tony-roma-277272.html). ## What the C9 needs to be Roma says the C9 needs to be a Corvette at its core [[2]](https://www.thedrive.com/news/gm-is-committed-to-keeping-the-c9-corvette-affordable-chief-engineer-says). He says it should improve performance over the C8 and offer customers more value than their current car [[2]](https://www.thedrive.com/news/gm-is-committed-to-keeping-the-c9-corvette-affordable-chief-engineer-says). He rejects the notion that Corvette needs to target a higher price point to compete [[2]](https://www.thedrive.com/news/gm-is-committed-to-keeping-the-c9-corvette-affordable-chief-engineer-says). Chasing Lamborghini and Ferrari is not the core of what a Corvette is, he says [[2]](https://www.thedrive.com/news/gm-is-committed-to-keeping-the-c9-corvette-affordable-chief-engineer-says). The C8 moved the engine to the back for first-principle physics reasons, putting weight over the drive wheels [[2]](https://www.thedrive.com/news/gm-is-committed-to-keeping-the-c9-corvette-affordable-chief-engineer-says). Roma says it maintained the ride comfort owners expect from previous Corvette generations [[2]](https://www.thedrive.com/news/gm-is-committed-to-keeping-the-c9-corvette-affordable-chief-engineer-says). ## The manual transmission problem Roma says the C9 is likely to keep a dual-clutch transmission [[2]](https://www.thedrive.com/news/gm-is-committed-to-keeping-the-c9-corvette-affordable-chief-engineer-says). He would prefer that the Corvette be offered with a manual [[2]](https://www.thedrive.com/news/gm-is-committed-to-keeping-the-c9-corvette-affordable-chief-engineer-says). He also says transmissions are super expensive [[2]](https://www.thedrive.com/news/gm-is-committed-to-keeping-the-c9-corvette-affordable-chief-engineer-says). For the C5, C6 and C7, GM used a manual architecture that had been developed over about 30 years and was mostly paid for, which kept production costs reasonable [[2]](https://www.thedrive.com/news/gm-is-committed-to-keeping-the-c9-corvette-affordable-chief-engineer-says). With the C8, that investment was discarded [[2]](https://www.thedrive.com/news/gm-is-committed-to-keeping-the-c9-corvette-affordable-chief-engineer-says). Building a new manual for the C8 layout would require developing something new, which Roma calls a really expensive undertaking because there is no off-the-shelf unit [[2]](https://www.thedrive.com/news/gm-is-committed-to-keeping-the-c9-corvette-affordable-chief-engineer-says). He is skeptical that Tremec's aftermarket gearbox is viable for production, and says he has not seen it installed in an actual car [[2]](https://www.thedrive.com/news/gm-is-committed-to-keeping-the-c9-corvette-affordable-chief-engineer-says). A production manual would also need validation and emissions certification before it could be used [[2]](https://www.thedrive.com/news/gm-is-committed-to-keeping-the-c9-corvette-affordable-chief-engineer-says). Roma describes a cyclical trend [[2]](https://www.thedrive.com/news/gm-is-committed-to-keeping-the-c9-corvette-affordable-chief-engineer-says). When most cars had manuals, luxury meant automated manuals, and now that most mainstream cars use DCTs, the manual is the distinctive option [[2]](https://www.thedrive.com/news/gm-is-committed-to-keeping-the-c9-corvette-affordable-chief-engineer-says). The added cost of a manual would be antithetical to Corvette's goal of delivering value, he says [[2]](https://www.thedrive.com/news/gm-is-committed-to-keeping-the-c9-corvette-affordable-chief-engineer-says). ## The current lineup Six variants are available to configure for the 2027 model year, starting with the LS6-engined Stingray [[1]](https://www.autoevolution.com/news/chevrolet-corvette-z06x-would-cost-zr1-money-says-corvette-chief-engineer-tony-roma-277272.html). The Grand Sport X costs $110,000 before taxes and options, which is $23,700 more than the gas-only Grand Sport [[1]](https://www.autoevolution.com/news/chevrolet-corvette-z06x-would-cost-zr1-money-says-corvette-chief-engineer-tony-roma-277272.html). ## What it means for you If you want a manual Corvette, Roma says the C9 is likely to keep a dual-clutch transmission, though he would prefer to offer a manual [[2]](https://www.thedrive.com/news/gm-is-committed-to-keeping-the-c9-corvette-affordable-chief-engineer-says). If you want a hybrid Z06, GM is not committed to building a Z06X soon [[1]](https://www.autoevolution.com/news/chevrolet-corvette-z06x-would-cost-zr1-money-says-corvette-chief-engineer-tony-roma-277272.html). Roma said a Z06X could become an entry in the future if GM decides it is worth the investment [[1]](https://www.autoevolution.com/news/chevrolet-corvette-z06x-would-cost-zr1-money-says-corvette-chief-engineer-tony-roma-277272.html). Until then, the hybrid options on sale are the ZR1X at $227,800 before destination freight charge and the Grand Sport X at $110,000 before taxes and options [[1]](https://www.autoevolution.com/news/chevrolet-corvette-z06x-would-cost-zr1-money-says-corvette-chief-engineer-tony-roma-277272.html). ## Sources 1. [Chevrolet Corvette Z06X Would Cost ZR1 Money, Says Corvette Chief Engineer Tony Roma](https://www.autoevolution.com/news/chevrolet-corvette-z06x-would-cost-zr1-money-says-corvette-chief-engineer-tony-roma-277272.html) — autoevolution 2. [GM Is Committed To Keeping The C9 Corvette Affordable, Chief Engineer Says](https://www.thedrive.com/news/gm-is-committed-to-keeping-the-c9-corvette-affordable-chief-engineer-says) — The Drive Image: Photo: Michael Kvicala / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:TREMEC_Plymouth_Office.jpg) --- Written from the sources above and checked twice (rules and an independent model) before publishing. How we work: https://skoop.news/how-we-work/ · Corrections: https://skoop.news/corrections/