Popular automotive media collective Hoonigan rounded up two wicked fast GM-powered cars for the latest episode of its ‘This vs. That’ video series: a 755 horsepower C7 Corvette ZR1 and an LS-swapped FD Mazda RX-7.
This close matchup involves two front-engine, GM LS V8-powered vehicles with manual transmissions and rear-wheel-drive, but that’s where the similarities stop. In one corner is a 2019 Corvette ZR1, which, as many GM Authority readers will already know, produces 755 horsepower from its supercharged 6.2L LT5 V8 engine. This car is pretty much bone stock, as it’s still under GM’s factory warranty, but the owner did put some additional aftermarket carbon fiber pieces on it, as well as a set of aftermarket wheels and tires.
In the other corner is a much different offering. This LS-swapped FD Mazda RX-7 features a built 6.2L LS3 V8 engine with some small upgrades, which produces an estimated 500 horsepower at the wheels, and sends power to the rear wheels through a T56 six-speed manual transmission. The owner said that he always liked the body style of the FD Mazda RX-7, but didn’t like the maintenance required for the stock rotary engine, so he wanted to either find one with an LS, or build one himself.
On paper, it seems as though the C7 Corvette ZR1 would easily beat the RX-7. Not only does it have an additional ~250 horsepower on the Mazda, but it may also benefit from its modern-day traction control system. That said, the Mazda tips the scales at just 2,800 pounds, nearly 1,000 pounds less than the 3,664 pound Chevy, which seems like it’d be more than enough to even the playing field here.
Check out the video embedded below to see which of these two GM-powered coupes emerges victorious from this head-to-head fight.
Subscribe to GM Authority for more Corvette news, Chevrolet news, and around-the-clock GM news coverage.
Comments
I shut off the video as soon as I heard the stupid background “music”. Dumb video!
I’m sure that the Miata was a fun project for somebody, but at the end of the day, we’re still talking about a ~$7k Miata vs a ~$200k ZR1 (based on sales trends over the past 1 1/2 years).
To each their own. 🙂
I liked the RX-7 always had. But obviously it was a 2800 lb lightweight with a modded LS3. So technically it was a Chevy 🤷🏼♂️ lol.
Almost had a 1000lb difference and the RX-7 was supposedly putting down 500 to the wheels.. I would say more, but it could be because it was so light it just took off good.
The ZR1 driver was kind of an amateur driver obviously. That and the car wasn’t hooking up good and it should have. It was probably putting down 600-620 to the wheels with an extra 800lbs.