With its new mid-mounted engine, the C8 Corvette is a major departure from tradition. The question is – will it depart from the previous-generation Chevrolet Corvette C7 Stingray in a drag race? To find out, Hennessey Performance arranged a drag race, and documented the results in the following 2-minute, 48-second video.
From the off, it should be mentioned that this particular race isn’t totally “fair.” While the C7 Corvette Stingray is bone stock, the C8 Corvette has been modified with a new Hennessey Performance stainless steel exhaust system, plus lightweight wheels wrapped in Hoosier race tires.
Not only that, but even in factory spec, the C8 Corvette bests the C7 in terms of raw specs, throwing down 490 horsepower and 465 pound-feet of torque from its naturally aspirated 6.2L LT2 V8 engine, as compared to the 455 horsepower and 455 pound-feet of torque from the C7’s naturally aspirated 6.2L LT1 V8.
Throw in the added traction from the C8 Corvette’s new mid-engine platform, not to mention those Hoosier race tires, and it would seem as though the new model has the odds tipped in its favor.
Nevertheless, watching these two performance heroes duke it out on the drag strip is a delight. The video shows several runs, including a few from a dig and a few from a roll, all while the V8s bark and snarl down the straight. There are multiple camera angles provided, including from the exterior of both vehicles, inside both vehicles, and from cameras positioned around the track.
Even though the results aren’t that surprising, it’s still interesting to watch the C8 Corvette claw its way past the C7 under full-throttle acceleration. Hit play to see it all go down for yourself.
Which Corvette were you rooting for, the C8 or the C7? Let us know in the comments, and make sure to subscribe to GM Authority for more mid-engine Corvette news, Corvette C8 news, Corvette news, Chevrolet news, and 24/7 GM news coverage.
Comments
Looks to me like the modified C8 is NOT that much better than the stock C7.
LOLOLOL
What’s it beating the C7 by, a car length or 2?
Puh-lease.
And the C7 is WAAYYYYY better looking to boot.
Not impressed by that more of an embarrassment than anything. I’m a Chevy guy but Ford will chew it up and spit it out. Not good, showing how weak it is.
The C8 corvette is a mid engine master piece sports car and we will start from there its the ultimate. I have a 1964 corvette with a 454 cubic inch 600 horsepower five speed tremec transmission and can’t wait to get a C8 corvette.