What do you do with a Porsche GT2, a Corvette Z06, and an abandoned aircraft runway? That's obvious: you line both cars up, nail the throttle and crown the victor. Thankfully, that's exactly what the chaps at Autocar did when they pitted the new GT2 against the Z06 on a long piece of straight pavement. No timing lights, no start/finish line, just two guys with heavy right feet and a camera crew to capture the action.
To refresh your memory, the GT2 is the hottest car currently in Porsche's inventory. Under its decklid, a 3.6-liter twin-turbo six-cylinder powerplant pumps out an impressive 530 hp and 500 lb.-ft. of torque. The Chevrolet Z06 has been in showrooms a bit longer, but nothing holds back its 7.0-liter eight-cylinder engine packing a 505 hp punch with 470 lb.-ft. of torque. Oh yeah, we should mention (before you all point it out) the German costs about twice as much as the American.
We won't tell you who wins the Porsche vs. Chevrolet battle, but we will say the contest will be significantly more "balanced" when the blokes can bring the upcoming 620 hp 2009 Corvette ZR1 to the tarmac. Thanks for the tip Mike!
[Source: Autocar]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
zamafir @ Mar 28th 2008 2:15PM
Great video, I guess you do get what you pay for.
Sean Flanagan @ Mar 28th 2008 2:16PM
Not for nothing, but it sounded like the Z06 bogged off the line every time. He seemed to be flummoxed by the LHD setup as well. I'm not normally an apologist, but I think this would be a closer race with better drivers.
CMOS @ Mar 28th 2008 2:21PM
Even with a perfect launch from the Z06 the race wouldn't have been close based on the video's. The way the GT2 pulls away from the Z06 with both cars WOT clearly shows who the faster car is.
Sam @ Mar 28th 2008 4:23PM
um..perfect launch the Z06 would eat the GT2. the guy couldn't shift gears for the life of him. That car needs a stage 5 driver mod.
CMOS @ Mar 28th 2008 4:49PM
Sam, I'm curious as to whether you even watched the video. You can clearly see the GT2 pulling away at WOT in every gear. Launch and shift timings require skill for that initial lead, but being in WOT doesn't. After 100mph and the shift from 5th to 6th gear, the GT2 just simply rolls away.
RJ @ Mar 28th 2008 2:19PM
While I completely expect the GT2 to be faster than the Z06, most "journalists" can't seem to drive the Vette properly. They either bog, spin too much, or shift too slow. The Z06 should loose, but not by that much.
Let's see some real numbers. Guys at the track are getting as low as 11.2s in the 1/4 mile, trapping 127 mph. Bt the vid the GT2 should do 11 flat @ 130+ mph?
Angelo @ Mar 29th 2008 4:18PM
guys at the track are modifying their cars with slicks and suspension.
RJ @ Apr 1st 2008 4:06PM
I'm talking about number for a STOCK Z06, maybe slightly lowered rear pressure.
C6 Z06s with drag radials (not slicks) have dipped into the high 10's.
Franz @ Mar 28th 2008 2:21PM
That GT2 is a beast off the line, and absolutely manic through 2nd and 3rd gear. I don't think the 'Vette was performing at it's best, but still don't believe that even on it's best day a Z06 could beat a GT2.
Also, any Corvette owners want to tell me if it's common practice to beat the synchros to 2nd gear, and if 3rd is always tricky to find? Personally I think it's because of the low temperature but I'm just speculating.
And I guess someone will probably bring up why a GT-R wasn't included, so I'll give my two cents: while a GT-R would probably beat both of them to 60, and hang with them in the 1/4 mile, I think the higher horsepower (and lower weight) GT2 and Z06 would walk away from it at higher speeds. There's no substitute for power on the big end.
Derek @ Mar 28th 2008 2:33PM
actually, hp/drag is a far better ratio than hp/weight for high speed acceleration. I have no idea where the GT-R is on drag coefficient and frontal area, but Corvette and Porsche are both typically pretty slick.
why not the LS2LS7? @ Mar 28th 2008 2:37PM
The GT-R has a low drag coefficient, but this seems to be more because it has such a high frontal area than an extraordinarily low amount of drag.
Franz @ Mar 28th 2008 2:57PM
@ Derek:
True, but you also have to remember that along with aerodynamic efficiency, gearing plays a huge part in high speed runs. High hp cars with (slightly) taller gearing like the Z06 and GT2 will generally turn in better top speed numbers because their gearing coupled with prodigious power output help keep them in the meat of their powerband longer. The GT-R has a low cd figure, but at some point all cars run into the wall of aerodynamic efficiency, and only more power can push them past that. They can't just magically get slipperier at speed. That's why I said there's no substitute for power when doing high speed runs.
993C4S @ Mar 28th 2008 3:28PM
At the end of the day, the GT2 is a purpose built car. Of all those "purposes" the least of them is to run in a straight line.
These tests might make interesting video/content, but in the end, just like zero to sixty times, they are simply bragging rights vs. a showcase of true capability.
Ligor @ Mar 28th 2008 2:22PM
ok the GT2 wins,
but the ZR1 is coming adn thing will change quickly.
to Porsche,
the GT-R also has your number, and maybe the Spec V will take care of the GT2 not only in acceleration but the curves, just as the GT-R is taking care of the 911 turbo and GT3
just saying, you have hte ZR1 in one hand, the GT-R spec V and the GT2 - it's some exciting tims coming ahead
but, for the price a Z06 and GT-R will do just fine seeing how you get 2for1 $
daz @ Mar 28th 2008 3:44PM
@Ligor
Good Post.
Pokey @ Mar 28th 2008 2:30PM
The GT2 is an amazing machine indeed, I absolutely love it!
BUT, why compare these two? (who out there really thought the Vette would be faster? Noone!) They are two different beasts, and I doubt the people who shop for a GT2 would even consider a Z06, and vice-versa.
I'm not real familiar with AutoCar, but this seems kind of biased, and it appears as though the guy in the Vette is sandbagging a bit. Not that the Vette had much of a chance of beating the GT2 anyway. Just seams like they didn't just want the Vette to lose, they wanted it to be humiliated.
No matter, these are both amazing machines, it doesn't really matter which one is faster.
Corey W. @ Mar 28th 2008 5:34PM
THANK YOU!!! A voice of common sense, no Vette (Z06) owner would claim they can spank a GT2. What they probably would say is give me the difference in price between them, for modifications, then we can talk.
venomgt1 @ Mar 28th 2008 2:40PM
There is no substitute and will always be the bench mark for others to follow.I wonder how many gt2 nissan has bought to develop there spec v version.
Johnnie @ Mar 28th 2008 2:46PM
People...what you are seeing is not because of driver talent.
the GT2 left the Z06 in the dust on every run even with bad starts. These results have nothing to do with the driver.
"Suspension from a light goods vehicle" LOL.
Golferal @ Mar 28th 2008 3:05PM
I'm a fan of both cars, but as the post mentions the ZR1 is better comparison as the two cars are closer in price. The ZR1's extra 100HP (approx) will probably tilt things in the other direction.
In the end, both cars are aimed at different buyers. Vette owners are "bang for the buck" shoppers and Eurocar buyers are generally interested as much in "status" as in performance.
I would certainly be happy with either of these cars.