If you're an out-and-out numbers person, you can't help but be seriously impressed with the Z06. 1.0 g on the skidpad? 60-0 in 105 ft? 0-60 in 4.24 sec, roaring like an old SCCA Trans Am racer all the way? Hello?!?!?! Actually, the Z06 may also be the most sophisticated Vette ever brought to market, with really worthy suspension tuning and componentry. Its styling and materials usage puts it on the beer-and-hot-dog end of the sophistication spectrum, but Chevy never claimed to out-panache Porsche and BMW. Frankly, none of that matters when you fire up the Z06-ified LS1, pick a gear, and pay the redline a visit.
Even though the M3 didn't quite match the maximum-strength Corvette's track performance, you need radar timing gear to tell the difference. And as relevant as lap times are to how we evaluate cars, nobody drives around in a helmet and Nomex every day, even when really cutting up a great road. BMW's limited-edition M3 offers the look, feel, fit, finish, hardware, and performance to make it one of the greatest performance cars of all time. Plus, it delivers a big helping of European raciness that's simply intoxicating. The fact that it's all available for less than $50K and will perform double duty as an everyday ride for four real humans makes it our unanimous victor in this round of performance wars.-M.S.
More Power For '02 Z06!"Power is fundamentally passionate," explained Arv Mueller, vice president in charge of General Motors Powertrain Division, at the introduction of the '02 Corvette Z06, due at dealerships this August. Well, if power is passionate, the '02 Z06 with 405 hp is emoting big-time!
Dave Hill, chief engineer for the Corvette, says the bump in muscle means the Corvette Z06 will now join an ultra-elite spectrum of super cars that will run to 60 mph in "less than 4 seconds and will turn a 12.4 quarter mile at 116 mph." Behind the wheel, you wouldn't think you could feel the 20 horses added to last year's 385-hp Z06. But even our brief drive was enough to note a further edginess to the car's already razor-sharp throttle response; there's enough low-end grunt to fishtail the uprated '02 Z06 through the first three gears-with ease. What we may be feeling the most is the car's additional 15 lb-ft of torque, now upped to 400 at 4800 rpm.
So where does it come from? As usual, it's all about better breathing. But specifically, the big gain comes from a higher-lift camshaft, lighter valves, and a reduction in exhaust backpressure via the removal of two small helper catalytic converters. Apparently, a change in the precious metals content for the large underfloor converter allows sufficient exhaust scrubbing to pass the standards.
Zero to 60 in less than 4.0? We'll let you know, as soon as we can mount up our test gear.-Jack Keebler
Second OpinionsI'm Truly Torn This is a tough one. A big fan of BMW's M cars, I drool over the sinewy lines, silken powertrain, and virtually perfect suspension of the all-new (and way fast) M3. But the musclecar side of my brain loves the tire-smoking sideways-driving roaring-exhaust persona of the incredible Z06. The tough part is that I have to choose my favorite here and now, so I'll rationalize it like this: On a racetrack, the Vette is king. Its monster power, hulking stance, and ravenous demeanor makes the M3 and Boxster S look like fuzzy-lipped pubescents by comparison. It also stomped their gourds in acceleration, handling, road-course laps, and braking, so there! Ironically, however, my vote goes to the opposite corner when it comes to living with any of these cars for a three-year-lease term. I don't really want an all-out gourd stomper as my daily driver, but I do want lightning acceleration, ultra-competent handling, and a whole lot of comfort and utility as well (a bit of exclusivity doesn't hurt, either). That describes the M3 all the way. It's my pick as the best all-around performance car on the market.-C. Van Tune
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