We successfully picked the hottest day recorded on Earth for our track test session. Despite the brutal sun and wicked track surface conditions, our participants and their test vehicles were ready for battle. Rob kicked off the day in the Lambo, which after intoxicating us with its roar, immediately exposed a problem with its transmission. Despite its shifting woes, the elegance of the bull as it galloped away from the line with all four hooves kicking was mesmerizing. Although it seemed impossible to improve its sound and stationary looks, both escalated indescribably as it opened up to a full roar while racing past mid-track. After the first run, we were surprised with a high 13-second pass. We asked Rob if he attempted to use 'launch control', which supposedly dumps the clutch in effort to maximize launch performance. He declined, and after confirming that the GMHTP budget wouldn't cover the $6,000 for a clutch replacement (required after about a half-dozen of those super launches, according to Rob), we backed off. The F430 prepared to run the gauntlet next. It approached the lights with a nimble grace, distracting us with its gorgeous design, yet launched with the fury and aggression it was built to deliver. Its tightly wound scream and 8,500 rpm shifts had us hoping the run would never end. As the Ferrari crossed the traps at a full roar, it appeared to just be taking off in preparation to deliver more speed. After entertaining us with a few more runs, Rob was able to muster a best in the F430 of 12.98 at 115 mph. With a trans cooldown for the Lambo, it ran a best of 13.11 at 113 mph--still refusing to shift properly, but nonetheless giving us an impressive show. Clearly, the volcanic weather was not agreeing with the engines. With better weather, and a no holds barred launch, we're confident each time would have been improved by around half a second and a few mph. After sandbagging around for the morning to size up the competition, Doug finally rolled up to the lights in the hungry Z06. We'd been mesmerized all morning with exotic and unfamiliar superpower, until the LS7 was lit up. The Vette's thug-like look as it approached the lights flashed in quick reminders of our addiction to muscle. Its savage attack on the asphalt with all 470 ft-lbs twisting through its rubber was second to none, as backed by the killer times and trap speeds. America's supercar was proving to be worthy of its lofty moniker, and more impressively, proving it not only deserved to be on the big-boy field, it was owning the big-boy field. After a few low 12-second passes, Doug ripped a day best and overall test best of 11.82 at 121 mph. Impressive for the conditions, but again, clearly held back by the relentless sun. Doug gave it his all and the Z06 had no problem with a smack-down.
This was a drag-strip war pure and simple, which effectively cancels out the outstanding performance of the Italians when the road gets twisty. On paper, it's hard to pick a clear winner, as each car enjoys a few superior attributes. Each car sent us into a euphoric frenzy: The Z06 has the most powerful mill with the LS7 thumping out 505 hp and 470 ft-lbs of torque. The Gallardo scores second with the 500 hp and 376 ft-lbs from its refined V10. The F430 is at a clear disadvantage in displacement, yet makes a very respectable 490 hp and 343 ft-lbs of torque from only 263 cid. The F430 engine however, makes the most effective power per cid, at a phenomenal 1.86 hp per inch. Each car enjoys a six-speed manual transmission, yet the Z06 is the only one with a clutch pedal. Both the Gallardo and F430 actuate the clutch electronically through paddle shifters mounted on the steering wheel. We'll also note that the A6 found in non-Z06 Vettes is not the same. The A6 in Vettes is an automatic transmission with optional electronic control, while the Italian cars feature true manual transmissions with electronic clutch and shift control. Dimensionally, all three cars are close. The Z06 is the tallest of the group, and has the longest wheelbase. The F430 is the overall longest and widest. The Gallardo is the shortest at only 45.9 inches tall. The Z06 has a near 50 percent front-to-rear weight balance, thanks to its front engine, rear transaxle configuration. The F430 and Gallardo are both around 42/58 in weight distribution. Unbelievably, the biggest displacement engine of the group (LS7) is also the clear winner in fuel economy--the Z06 achieves a miserly 26 mpg on highway! The Corvette blazes its own path with a unique transverse leaf spring suspension both up front and in the rear. All the cars sport double unequal wishbone suspension complete with anti-roll bars front and rear. The Lambo edges the others with a whopping 24 pistons pinching rotors around the car. Each model has its own selection of proprietary electronic controls to enhance launch, braking, and stability. And finally, the price of ownership is easily won by the Z06, which can be had for much less than half the price of the F430 or Gallardo.
Said and done, these cars all kicked ass. Running around E-Town with a half-million dollars worth of supercars was flat out awesome. Each car, in its own right, made blood boil. The pure sex appeal of the Gallardo, exotic race heritage of the F430, and the raw ground-pounding excessive American power of the Z06 made for a magical track day. Owning any one of these cars would be a delight. But with any competition, hard as it may be, a winner must be crowned. A scoring system was defined, awarding two points for each winning performance attribute and one point for each subjective winning attribute. Vehicle cost was only scored once, so "cost per x" categories were not scored. And categories that tied similarly across all three vehicles were not awarded points to any. We're happy to report the 2006 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 won our first GMHTP Supercar Smack-Down with a total score of 23 points. The Ferrari F430 came in a close second with 21 total points. And the Lamborghini Gallardo, suffering partially from transmission woes, followed up strong with only a touch less at 19 total points. USA!
 Unlike domestic iron, you...  Unlike domestic iron, you won't find any cheap cover-up plastic under the hood of a Ferrari. Old-school wrinkle finish in Ferrari red dresses the two upper intake plenums--engine styling is clearly as important as body styling. The push-the-limit 11.3 to 1 compression ratio is possible thanks to slick anti-detonation control, variable valve timing, and a sure bet the owner isn't cheaping-out for Wal-Mart gas. |
 The Lamborghini engine sports...  The Lamborghini engine sports individual intake plenums for each engine bank and finishes them in Lambo-traditional wrinkle finish black. The V-10 is packaged tightly thanks in part to the short bore spacing possible from the 3.25-inch pistons. |
 We were so stupefied by the...  We were so stupefied by the numbers 427 and 505 that we could hardly bother looking at it from an appearance point of view. We'll go with the, "Mine's got more than yours" and leave the looks for another day. |
 Sitting in it was as close...  Sitting in it was as close to a Formula 1 piloting as we'll come. Again, Ferrari's attention to design and style is evident with the race-rich interior. Outside-the-box design places the drivetrain controls on the steering wheel. But the in-your-face yellow tach puts the interior over the top. We also liked the subtle carbon-fiber accents. |
 The Lambo's interior was soft...  The Lambo's interior was soft and round, not the match we'd expect to go with the Gallardo's eye-popping sharp exterior. The paddle shifters can be seen peeking out from behind the steering wheel, and the launch controls are on the center console. |
 The Z06 interior is largely...  The Z06 interior is largely unchanged from base C6 Corvettes. Its interior is all business and will last a lifetime. Call it classy, yet not flashy. Traction and handling controls are on the center console. Unlike the Italian cars, plastic prevails over leather. |
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