In 2009 Chevrolet will launch a limited edition Corvette with an output of 600 hp. The announcement came after Dodge launched the 600-hp Dodge Viper last month at the Detroit auto show.

"There is a distinct appetite for something beyond the Z06 in performance, beyond the Z06 in exclusivity and beyond the Z06 in price," Lutz said in an interview last week. The car is expected to have styling cues that separate it from other Corvette models.

The 2007 Corvette coupe and convertible is powered by a 6.0-liter V8 engine with an output of 400-hp, while the Z06 has a 505-hp, 7.0-liter V-8.