Corvette Z06, Nissan GT-R and Shelby GT500 head to head

The guys at Motor Trend have done it again, comparing cars that, at first glance, seem so different: the Nissan GT-R, the Corvette Z06 and the Shelby GT500, three models that share only one requirement: a power output above 500 horsepower and a price below $100,000.

As you well know, these models have little or nothing in common, and they’re not even aimed at the same market. Take the Shelby GT500, for example: we’re talking about a legendary muscle car, or a supercharged pony car for the purists, a vehicle that in its current version stands out above all for its supercharged 5.4-liter V8 producing 550 horsepower. Despite being the most powerful of the trio, its price doesn’t exceed $56,000.

On the other hand, we have the Nissan GT-R, a car known to everyone, whose twin-turbocharged 3.8-liter V6 producing 530 horsepower is quite a feat next to the enormous 7.0-liter V8 producing 505 horsepower in the last of the rivals, the Corvette Z06. In its favor, the Corvette in the video is equipped with the Ultimate Performance Package, which basically gives you a Corvette ZR1 with the LS7 engine for just $98,000.

In the pair of videos published by Motor Trend, we can see that in the drag test the Nissan GT-R wins, but only just, and by the skin of its teeth. The Japanese car gains a huge advantage at the start thanks to its all-wheel drive, but gradually loses it as the Corvette starts to gain speed. Perhaps if the track had been longer…

Now, what happens if we put the three cars on a circuit? Well, as we would probably all expect, according to the test driver the GT-R is simply from another planet, a precision machine that lets you do things you can only imagine in other vehicles. The driver also talks about the Corvette, a much more complicated and rough car that requires superhuman concentration to set good lap times.

Finally, the driver tells us about the magnificent Shelby GT500, a car that lets you experience what used to be possible to feel inside a car, especially on straights when you floor the accelerator.

Now, after seeing and reading everything discussed here, which one would you choose?

Via | autoblog