Some people are saying that the new Nissan GT-R is one of the first real Japanese supercars, but how does it stand up against the Chevy Corvette ZR1?

With GM development engineer Jim Mero behind the wheel, the 2009 ZR1 Corvette paced the Nurburgring in a time of 7:26.4.

One hundred years ago, carriage maker William "Billy" Durant placed a big bet on the fledgling auto industry in the early 1900s and created General Motors Corp. Riding America's rise as a superpower, GM went on to dominate the automobile industry for decades, producing some iconic cars and trucks, as well as numerous safety, marketing and technological advances. Explore this special section as we examine GM's first century.
 
Few major companies endure the rigors and shocks of American capitalism for decades - let alone survive long enough to mark their centennial. But GM is no ordinary American company.