With a mid-mounted powertrain and supercar levels of performance, the 2020 Corvette was made for the track. That said, there’s some competition out there that could give Chevy’s newest performance superstar a run for its money. Take the Ford Mustang Shelby GT500, a supercharged muscle car monster with all the right stuff to challenge the C8. The question is – which is quicker around a race track?
As it turns out, MotorTrend sought to answer that very question, sending racing driver Randy Pobst out to Virginia International Raceway to put in some hot laps in both vehicles. The experience is documented in the following three-minute, 19-second video.
Before we get to the hot laps, a spec sheet rundown is in order. Over in the orange corner is the 2020 Corvette, which comes packing the naturally aspirated 6.2L V8 LT2 engine. Upgraded with a new exhaust from the optional Z51 Performance Package, the Vette throws down with 495 horsepower, sprinting to 60 mph in just 2.8 seconds. The package also includes new aero, heavy-duty cooling, upgraded suspension, an Electronic Limited Slip Differential, and several other bits and bobs perfectly suited for track-day duty. Price as tested is listed at $88,305.
In the opposing red corner we have the 2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500, which lays it on thick thanks to its blown 5.2L V8 engine and 760 horsepower. The run to 60 mph in the Mustang takes 3.7 seconds, while the price as tested is listed at $80,785.
In terms of raw numbers and specs, these two machines are quite different. The Corvette is lighter and more balanced, weighing around 3,600 pounds to the Mustang’s nose-heavy 4,200 pounds. The Vette should also have better traction off the corners. However, the Mustang packs an extra 265 ponies compared to the 2020 Corvette, so picking a winner isn’t immediately clear.
The track test shows in-car footage for both vehicles, as well as a track map with progress as both vehicles run their hot lap. As expected, the 2020 Corvette shows promise in the corners, while the Mustang brings it back on the straights. Watch the whole thing to see which car takes home the W.
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Comments
I like both cars, but the Natural aspirating Corvette Stingray is a much better day to day car. The Ford engine in the Mustang GT will be too much of a gasoline consumer. Since racing is a single event while we need more of an every day driver car, the Corvette wins.
Next time, compare the basic Corvette Stingray with an equivalent priced Mustang Mach-E GT model which doesn’t burn gasoline at all.
The C8 Corvette is faster off-the-line and this is simple physics, this is why the C7 Corvette Z06 despite having a huge horsepower advantage couldn’t out-accelerate mid-engine cars; but what Chevrolet needs to do is consider swapping out the LT2 with the new revised LS7 7.0L V8 that give the grunt needed to allow the C8 Corvette to continue it’s acceleration pass 185 mph and hit 200.
Everyone continues to take shots across the bow of the base model C8 with higher horsepower cars.
Take your “cheap” meritless shots while you can, in the end all you will have done is to awaken a sleeping giant (The King of the Hill) and fill him with a terrible resolve, REVENGE!
I have respect for the Shelby, but the Corvette is better in almost every way (regardless of who crossed the finish line first). 760HP is alot for a base C8 to deal with. The Z06 will tip the scale in GM’s favor…