MotorTrend Pits the Corvette Z06, Shelby GT500 and Nissan GT-R Against Each Other

What weights ten tonnes and costs more than US$240,000? If you said, “a gold plated bulldozer”, you’d be close but no cigar. The answer is three sub-100k supercars: the Chevy Corvette Z06, Ford Shelby GT500 and Nissan GT-R. These three industry titans, with nameplates stretching as far back as the 1960s, were the recent subjects of an epic comparison test by MotorTrend. Here are three would-be-supercars – over 500hp and 3 second 0 to 60 mph times – that don’t command the supercar price tag.

The US$55,330 GT500, US$90,950 GT-R and US$98,010 Z06 are all within the budgets of most mid-life crisis suffers (providing you sell the house, the kids and the dog) and offer the sort of performance that was once the sole reserve of great Italians like Ferrari, Lamborghini and Maserati.

And they’re not stripped out racers either. The Z06, for instance, comes with such luxuries as heated leather seats, Bose audio, Bluetooth and sat nav. You can’t buy a second-hand Lamborghini with that sort of equipment for US$98,010.

If you want to find out who wins this legendary battle, you’ll just have to check out the video. Even if you don’t care who wins you should check out the video anyways for a sweet-as drag race between the Z06, GT500 and GT-R. Now that’s something you don’t see everyday...

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Savage Rivale’s Roadyacht GTS gets a Racing Variant

Back in 2009 at the Top Marques Monaco Show, Dutch automaker Savage Rivale blew the lid off the Roadyacht GTS, an eccentric four-door, coupe-convertible supercar. While interesting enough to be worth a second look, one could’ve argued on the chances of the Corvette-based vehicle to become a hit. Still, it seems that it was successful enough to prompt the development of a racing version, aptly called the GTR.

The company says the competition model will have a limited run of 69 units and will make use of the same Corvette underpinnings as the civilian version. However, the road-going model's older LS7 V8 is ditched in favor of the more modern LS9 variant. It also loses 2 doors in the process of becoming a truly hardcore racecar.

The 6.2-liter powerplant is said to deliver around 700HP and is strapped to a steel tubular space frame chassis that tips the scales at just 115 kg or 254 lbs and is complemented by a flat underbody with “suction deck” for improved stability and car control.

Inside, the GTR offers only the bare essentials in the form of a seat, steering wheel and typical racing safety features, but customers can also ask for additional seating for a “multi-person experience”.

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Hennessey Z700: Track-Ready 2010 Corvette ZR1 with 705HP, 775HP or 1000HP

Eager to satisfy those who believe that too much horsepower is never enough, Hennessey Performance Engineering has introduced an uber-Corvette in the form of the 2010 ZR1-based Z700. The American tuner claims that the track-orientated Z700 is to the Corvette what the GT3 RS is to the Porsche 911 and the ACR to the Viper. To be produced in a limited run of 24 units for the 2010MY, the Z700 features an array of performance enhancements including an upgraded version of the ZR1's LS9 V8 engine.

The upgraded supercharger, exhaust and air induction systems help lift output from 638 horsepower to 705 horsepower at 6,400 rpm and peak torque to 717 lb-ft at 3,200 rpm. The result is a zero to 60mph (96km/h) sprint time of just 2.9 seconds while the quarter mile is covered in 10.6 seconds at 134 mph. The standard 2010 Corvette ZR1's times are 3.4 seconds and 11.3 seconds at 131 mph respectively.

And if that ain't enough, Hennessey also offers two optional power kits that boost output to 775HP and a massive 1,000HP.

Additional mods on the Z700 include a set of lightweight carbon fiber wheels wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport Cup tires, which Hennessey says reduce rotating weight by nearly 60 lbs, a lowered suspension and a new aero parts such as the carbon fiber front splitter, canards and rear spoiler that are said to add over 300 lbs of downforce.

Inside, the tuner has upgraded the ZR1's cabin with lightweight carbon fiber seats and Alcantara steering wheel and shift knob.

The price for the basic Z700 including the 2010 ZR1 donor car has been set at $207,150 US or at today's exchange rates, €149,312. That's almost double the price of the factory 2010 Corvette ZR1 638HP that starts from $104,920 and four-times the cost of the basic Corvette Coupe 430HP V8 that begins from $49,515.

HENNESSEY Z700 SPECS

Power:

• 705 hp @ 6,400 rpm
  
• 717 lb-ft Torque @ 3,200 rpm
  

Performance:

• 0 – 60 mph: 2.9 seconds
• 0 – 100 mph: 6.4 seconds
• 1/4 mile: 10.6 @ 134 mph
• Skid pad: 1.08 lateral G
• Note: HPE VBox preliminary test data.

Z700 Package Includes:

• Supercharger Modifications (15 psi boost)
  
• Intercooler System Upgrade
  
• Air Induction System Upgrade
  
• Stainless Steel Exhaust Upgrades
  
• Hennessey Light Weight Carbon Fiber Wheels
  
• Front: 19 x 10.5 inches; Rear: 19 x 12.5 inches
  
• Michelin Pilot Sport Cup Tires
  
• Front: 265/35-YR19; Rear: 325/35-YR19
  
• Sparco Carbon Fiber Seats in Alcantara (Driver & Passenger)
  
• 5-Point Harnesses with Harness Bar
  
• Alcantara Steering wheel & Shift Knob
  
• Lowered Factory Suspension
  
• Corner Weighted with 4-wheel Alignment
  
• Z-Aero ™ Carbon Fiber Body Parts: Front Splitter, Canards, Rear Spoiler, Vented Factory Hood, Vented Front Fenders
  
• Hennessey & ZR700 Interior & Exterior Badges
  
• Limited Edition Serial Numbered Plaque
  
• 1-Day Driving Instruction at Lonestar Motorsports Park
  
• 3 Year / 36,000 Mile Limited Warranty
  

Total Cost Including New 2010 ZR1: $207,150 US Dollars

Optional Upgrades

• Z750 – 755 bhp Upgrade
  
• Z1000 – 1,000 bhp Twin Turbo / Supercharged Upgrade
  
• Custom Exterior Colors
  
• Custom Interior Upgrades & Colors
  
• German Delivery - Nurburgring Delivery & Driving Instruction

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