The future of gasoline-powered performance cars looks a bit bleak at the moment, with many automakers pouring their resources into researching and developing electric powertrains. But while we’re a bit nervous about what’s to come for our beloved internal combustion engine, there’s no denying that the current crop of gasoline-powered performance cars is hugely impressive and definitely worth celebrating.
Take the Detroit Big Three, for example. Despite the coming electric vehicle onslaught, all three are currently producing hugely powerful pony cars with supercharged V8 engines in the way of the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE, Ford Mustang GT500 and Dodge Challenger Hellcat Redeye.
Car and Driver recently had the opportunity to put these three supercharged pony cars against each other in a quarter-mile drag race – giving American car fans a trustworthy answer to the question they’ve all been asking: which one is the fastest in the real world?
In Car and Driver’s testing, the Mustang GT500 was the fastest in the quarter-mile, completing the 1,320-foot dash in 11.4 seconds and recording a rather high trap speed of 132 mph. The Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE was second with a time of 11.5 seconds at 124 mph, while the heavy Dodge Challenger Hellcat Redeye was last with an 11.6s time and a trap speed of 128 mph.
The magazine says the Camaro recorded the fastest 0-30 mph time at 1.4 seconds, while the Dodge and the Ford were tied from 0-30 mph at 1.7 seconds. The Chevy was also the fastest to 60 mph in its testing at 3.4 seconds, though it begins to call off after this point. The Mustang’s 760 horsepower 5.2-liter V8 engine helps pull it to 100 mph in 7.1 seconds, three-tenths faster than the Camaro, and contributes to its very high trap speed.
It’s worth noting the Camaro ZL1 1LE has more downforce than the standard Camaro ZL1 and therefore has more drag, which may have an effect on its trap speed, though it’s not likely it has any effect on its acceleration times. The Mustang GT500 also has a downforce-producing splitter and rear wing, though, so we’d say the two cars are comparable as tested by Car and Driver. The Hellcat Redeye has the most power, making an incredible 840 horsepower from its supercharged 6.2-liter HEMI V8, though it’s also the heaviest by some margin.

Camaro ZL1 1LE
Be sure to check out the magazine’s full article on these three modern muscle coupes for a more in-depth rundown of their dragstrip performance.
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Comments
Imagine if Chevy put in the LT5 to even out the power. Oof.
Imagine if Chevy put in the C8’s DCT, double OOF.
Just one of these mods would easily put it head & shoulders above.
imagine if the camaro had a nice interior.
It’s hit and miss with the interior. It seems that journalist and reviewers tend to be 55%/45% mustang/camaro respectively. But from people who own the cars, it switches. Long term people says the Camaro holds up better and the hvac systems hold better. But the mustang has the better interior initially. In that respect its more so subjective than objective.
I believe Motor Trend put all these cars together and in the drag time they used the ZL1 instead of the ZL11LE because of the down force. The Camaro was the fastest through the 1/4
All 3 of these vehicles have really nasty and cheap interiors especially compared to new offerings. A 20K Kia/Hyundai does it so much better, it’s shocking.
Minor correction: you wrote that the Redeye has 840 horsepower, but it actually has 797. You’re thinking of the Demon
They say timing is everything and unfortunately for these three cars, they were developed and built in the era of the C8 Corvette which mirrors what these three are capable of doing with less power because the C8 Corvette is more efficient.
Timing is everything and the real issue is these cars are in serious trouble, You can add all the power and better interiors but the bottom line is sales are dangerously low.
All three died once before and they may very well die again if they do not find a formula that better matches todays market.
Years ago these were economy based cars with big engines that sold cheap. Just about anyone from a young secretary to a kid with a job at a gas station could afford one new. Today few can afford a coupe that is limited use anymore as a daily driver. Also most that can afford the high powered versions are over 60 years old.
There are no easy answers here as these cars sell in numbers that are just not sustainable and even Toyota has gone the smaller car route with their small coupes that also do not sell even at lower prices.
Even the performance market if you pay much attention to SEMA is now focused more on trucks and Jeeps as the sale of parts for these new performance cars is down along with the sales. Everyone is trying to hook up with the trucks and Jeeps for bolt on and add on performance. Just look at Edelbrock as they did make a Supercharger kit for the 3.6 V6 but the primary model is for the Colorado and secondary the Camaro.
Women today are flocking to the Wrangler today vs the Mustang as they once did.
While these models are the best they ever have been I am afraid they will soon be gone or radically changed from what they now are. So buy up now boys and enjoy for tomorrow they may die.
The questions is just how long will they be able to keep going and not get the ax from each company?
Just look at the sales numbers today and what they were years ago. They are just a shadow of what they once were. Today’s development cost are so high it makes it difficult to ok Billions on a new car that will only sell 70K or less units per year.
My stock 2016 hellcat challenger does the numbers you gave for the red eye so I’m wondering how accurate your tests are
No it doesn’t, not by you, and not off a drag strip.
I see a Dodge Hellcat/Redeye commercial on TV once in a great while, but when was the last time anybody saw a TV commercial for the Camaro or the Mustang? Or even a print ad for any of the three other than in an automobile/hot rod-related magazine?
Interior is JUST FINE…geez. Don’t raise the cost. Those grocery getters like Hyundai that was mentioned can spend revenue dollars on interiors that appeal to people with 4 and 6 cylinder cars. Knock themselves out. Once they start producing 650 to 800 hp, that stops.
Longer the range, the higher HP will pull close to or pass the lesser one depending on gearing and wheel size and most importantly the weight. Example Tight end vs halfback vs wide receiver in the 40 – 60 – 100 yard dash.
Anyway, I would take anyone of them.
Sure it does? Let me guess your Dodge turns well and gets 40mpg too?
The camaro is about to be discontinued.. again, because its junk and never could really hang with the stang and the dodge weighs a ton, so the gt500 is easily the best baddest american muscle car first on race day baby… blue oval.
I can have sex with butt ugly women at 2 am in the back seat of my 77 plymouth, sure it only goes about 40 mph but i stay too wasted on dope and cheap liquor to drive fast anyhow, plus i have herpes, and genital warts, and no penicillin. So… id like to have a sports car.