2006 Chevrolet Corvette Z06

Except for the first 4,100 Corvettes, power has always been supplied by a V8 engine with an exhaust rumble that middle-schoolers have aped for decades as a surefire way to get kicked out of study hall. What these super-Chevies lack in subtlety and sophistication they more than make up with brute power and speed. No other sports car comes close, in terms of performance per dollar.

The Z06 designation is a not-so-secret code for a limited-production, higher-priced Corvette with an extra dose of speed and power. Chevy coined the term in 1963 to designate a Corvette performance package. In 2001, the Z06 label was dusted off and resurrected for a stripped-down, powered-up notchback Corvette coupe. After taking 2005 off, the Z06 is back like Bill Clinton — tanned, rested and ready to administer relief to those hungry for the automotive equivalent of bungee jumping.

The Z06's seven-liter V8 produces a tire-melting 505-horsepower thanks to the application of nearly every racing trick in the hot-rodder's handbook, from larger valves to polished induction passages. To keep the crankshaft from stirring the lubricant into whipped cream, oil is stored in a tank connected to the engine by life lines (this "dry sump" setup is used on race cars).

To save weight, the Z06 frame is a welded amalgam of aluminum tubes, extrusions and castings. The front fenders and floor boards are reinforced with carbon fiber, to trim a few more pounds. Magnesium — which is one-third lighter than aluminum — is also used here and there.

On the debit side of the weight ledger, the Z06's brakes, wheels, tires and exhaust pipes are all larger (and therefore heavier) to rip the standard Corvette's performance envelope the way the Incredible Hulk annihilates a medium-sized T-shirt. Even so, the 3,150-pound Z06's power-to-weight ratio trumps a long list of blue-chip bolides, including Aston Martin's DB9, Ferrari's F430, Ford's GT and Lamborghini's Gallardo.

The Z06's front bumper was wind-tunnel tuned to help keep the nose from lifting at supra-legal speeds and to ram cooling and combustion air into the hungry V8. Fenders are swollen to shroud the broader tires and slotted to route air out of the engine compartment and into the rear brakes.

There's a black tongue sticking up between the taillights to help keep the rear of the car planted. Even the exhaust tips bring a favor to the performance party. The inboard two are closed at low speeds and then snap open at 3,500 rpm to let the exhaust spurt out unimpeded — a tuning trick worth 15 hp.

In stark contrast to the comprehensive mechanical alterations that General Motors used to convert a regular Corvette into the world's only $65,000 supercar, the Z06's cockpit was hardly touched. The bucket seats sport two-tone leather trim and side bolsters that wrap around your torso for a firmer hug in high-g turns. The steering wheel is nearly an inch smaller in diameter, and the engineers' diet plan has eliminated some sound-deadening materials and the passenger-side power seat adjuster. The most obvious clues that this is the real deal are the tachometer's 7,000-rpm redline and kitschy Z06 accents stitched into the headrests.

Behind the Wheel

Slipping into that cockpit, you meet only the Dr. Jekyll half of Z06's split persona. This Corvette feels surprisingly comfortable and accommodating, though not as nicely outfitted as a lengthy list of lower-priced alternatives, including the Audi TT, BMW Z4, Chrysler Crossfire, Mercedes-Benz SLK and Porsche Boxster.

Twisting the key and clicking the shifter into first gear does not prompt Dr. J to disappear. Motoring around at a sedate rate, the Z06 politely rumbles and rides smoothly, just like "normal" Corvettes. There’s more interior noise and harsher reactions to bumps and tar strips, but nothing to dissuade commuters and cross-country travelers from using this car daily.

The Mr. Hyde side is triggered by an indulgent dip into the throttle. Initial acceleration is comparable to riding an elevator smartly up a high-rise. Then the engine hits stride and you wonder if the cable has snapped, because your stomach screams "free fall!" The wild V8, working through stuck-down tires and a fat-free chassis, generates the giddy feelings normally exclusive to jet fighters and amusement park rides.

Most of the commotion blows out the back, so the 505-hp engine isn't especially vociferous as it rockets you to 160 mph in less than 25 seconds. Unlike past muscle cars capable of such acceleration, this one boasts a well-rounded performance portfolio.

The Z06 routinely corners at well over 1 g and stops so short that passengers should be warned before the brake pedal is pressed with maximum intent. In the hands of a skilled driver, this car is a decathlete that relishes road work.

To help ordinary drivers, Z06 offers a full menu of electronic stability aids. Traction control, which is especially handy on slippery pavement, can be disabled by pressing a console button to initiate a "competitive driving" mode. Those who wish to exercise this beast on a racetrack have the option of pressing and holding the button to turn off both traction control and automatic stability control. The anti-lock braking system remains in force no matter what.