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photos courtesy Chevrolet

Still Z One

Drop the proverbial hammer on the fastest, most powerful and most technologically advanced American supercar under six figures—the 2008 Z06 Corvette—and you just began the driving thrill of a lifetime. Just make sure those driving gloves are pulled on tight and the smile muscles well-toned before turning the key.

There’s nothing else with a blue bow-tie that comes close to the instant turn-on factor the newest iteration of American musclecar lore delivers than this sweet ride. With 505-well-bred ponies from 427 cubic-inches of American big-block at your wish and whim, you have the ability to rip to 60 mph in 3.7 seconds while still in first gear, run more than triple the average Interstate speed limit, and turn every head within eyesight. The 2008 Z06 is a dream ride.

But for all its race-inspired functionality, the truth is the Z06 is designed to be a daily-driver—a quick daily-driver, but one nonetheless. This Corvette has all the creature comforts of a luxury car mixed with a few high-tech features of a race car.

It’s invitingly comfortable around town or on long drives. The heated deep bucket seats are leather, the interior quiet, the Bose stereo rich and powerful like the car. And this unbelievably fun coupe delivers 24 mpg on the road and 15 in town.

Such good fuel economy comes from a superbly designed engine and the use of such production vehicle exotic materials as a carbon-fiber body, aluminum frame and magnesium structural and chassis components.

When those elements are wrapped in the Corvette Z06 package you get a phenomenal American sports car that is light in weight and heavy in strength.

Lest I forget to mention, it has the most state-of-the-art suspension, handling and safety features found in any GM product. It even allows the driver to dial-in the level of traction and handling management required of the computer. If you are at the track, switch to “competition” mode. On slippery streets, let the computer and active traction control system do all the work.

The Corvette Z06 is truly the best of both worlds. Dollar-for-dollar it’s the best performance ride on the road.

—Bruce W. Smith