You've probably noticed that a horsepower war has been raging throughout the automotive spectrum, much to the chagrin of the Greens-we even have 438-horse hybrids. Naturally, the fighting is most intense among flagship sports cars, but thanks to a trickle-down effect, lesser models benefit, too. For example, after the engineers finished shoveling horsepower and torque into the engine room of the Corvette Z06 last year, there was enough left over to boost the lesser Corvettes, which will doubtless lead to further energizing of some other GM performance models as well.

In a test of an early-production Z51 coupe, equipped with the NPP dual-mode performance exhaust, which reduces back-pressure by a whopping 80 percent at high engine speeds, adding six peak horsepower and four pound-feet, bringing the totals to 436 and 428, respectively. Naturally, equipped with the revised Tremec six-speed manual transaxle creating what is now the second best performance Corvette. Gearing in the Z51 is nine to 14 percent shorter in the first four gears relative to the base manual, and while the base six-speed paddle-shifted automatic matches the Z51's gearing in first, the other gears are 12 to 25 percent taller. Automatic buyers can opt for a slightly shorter axle ratio (2.73:1 versus 2.56:1), which doesn't have much effect on the performance numbers, but improves in-gear passing acceleration. GM reckons the automatics should trail the Z51 stick by about a tenth to 60 mph, two-tenths and two mph in the quarter.

Relatively short gearing makes it easy to generate smoky burnouts, but commands judicious throttle input to achieve the optimal hole-shot. For the first few runs, a 2000-2500-rev clutch drop generated minimal wheelspin with the tires hooked up at around 3500 revs. Because the LS3 is churning out (only) around 250 horses at that point, better results are obtained by launching the LS3 with another 1000 revs (3000-3500) and feathering the throttle to hook up at more like 4200 rpm, when 350 thoroughbreds are pulling hard. That approach paid off with a blistering 4.1-second dash to 60 mph en route to a 12.5-second, 115.0-mph quarter mile. Those figures line up almost perfectly with those of our best 2002 C5-generation Z06. No surprise, really-that car made, ahem, "only" 405 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque.

It's worth noting that the gentler launch technique is easier on the tires, doesn't leave half of your tread on the pavement, and adds only two to three tenths, so it may be worth utilizing against less threatening opponents at the local dragstrip (aka "ricers"). Oh, and bracket-racers, take note: Seven quarter-mile runs using different launch techniques spanned just 0.22 second and 2.03 mph. This is due in no small part to refinements in the gearbox that facilitate smooth quick shifts every time.

In the handling department, the car managed to generate a respectable average of 0.97 g. In the braking department, 110-foot stop from 60 mph fits nicely within the average of all other non-Z06 gen-6 Corvettes. Swapping to a non-run-flat tire with a bit more sidewall compliance and more aggressive tread compound would likely drive that number up above the magic 1.00 g.

Without all the expensive stuff you can duplicate the performance of this Z51 for $48,885 or splurge on a fully loaded one for $61,485, or wait another year for the 650-horse Blue Devil/Stingray to raise the stakes again. Maybe then we'll see 400-horse Impalas and 200-horsepower Aveos.

All in all, a GREAT car, but then again what would you expect from Chevy's Flagship!