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C8 Corvette Is Mind Blowing, Says Koenigsegg Founder

Koenigsegg is the builder of some of the most technologically advanced, fastest, most powerful, and most sought-after hypercars of all time. But despite the fact that it counts exclusive automakers like Bugatti and Pagani among its rivals, founder Christian von Koenigsegg says one of the current-day vehicles that he’s most impressed with is the humble Chevy Corvette.

Christian von Koenigsegg (left)

Speaking to The Drive at the recent Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in Monterey, California, the outspoken and well-respected Koenigsegg offered his praise for the C8 Corvette Stingray, calling the sports car a great “bang for the buck.”

“That GM can do that for that kind of money, with that kind of level of performance is mind-blowing,” Koenigsegg said. “And good for them, and good for their customers.”

Despite its approachable starting price, the C8 Corvette Stingray offers supercar levels of performance. With a standard 6.2L LT2 V8 engine producing 495 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque, the mid-engine Vette can hustle from zero to 60 mph in three seconds flat and will top out at roughly 194 mph.

These stats are so impressive that Koenigsegg jokingly expressed relief that his cars, which cost well over $1 million US, can still outrun the modest Chevy. The company’s 1,600 horsepower Jesko Absolut hypercar can hustle from zero to 60 mph in 2.5 seconds and has a theoretical top speed of 330 mph, for reference. Still, we’re left wondering if Koenigsegg is aware that Chevy is cooking up a hybridized C8 Corvette Zora with over 1,000 horsepower on tap. That’s a model that really could step on the Swedish manufacturer’s toes from an acceleration and handling standpoint, although that lofty 300+ mph top speed is probably out of reach for a mass-market brand like Chevy.

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Sam loves to write and has a passion for auto racing, karting and performance driving of all types.

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Comments

  1. To be expected. Alot riding on this. New engine, they are going to be ultra careful.

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  2. call Hollywood, maybe they solve this like they did before.

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  3. …300 miles an hour….Toronto to Montreal in a little over an hour…not too shabby

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    1. I think not. 1,600 hp, assuming that it would tolerate running continuously at that power, would burn 640 pounds of fuel for that hour (at an optimistic 0.4 pounds per hp-hour) or about a 110 gallons. As the Absolut holds about 19 gal (72 litters per supercars.net), six fuel stops would be required, easily adding another hour or more to the trip.
      Even the lowly ‘Vette’s range with its 19 gallon cappacity drops below a hundred miles if one just puts the pedal to the floor and leaves it there.

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    2. There are already idiots doing close to this. The OPP caught a jerk doing a little over 240 KPH a while ago. Car impounded and heavy fines. You cant fix stupid.

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      1. damn that’s crazy… 240kph on the highway where most people are going 100-140. But keep in mind 300mph is around 482kph, double of that 240kph.

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  4. That my friends is Engineering!

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  5. C8 Z51 does 0 to 60 in 2.8 to 2.7 so for over 1 million more dollars you get 0 to 60 in 2.5 I’ll keep my C8. But nice to see the gentleman Koenigsegg giving credit to the C8 he is what I call a respectable man.

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  6. I should not poke the bears…but.. were are my haters? Today you get to be quiet and WE LIKE IT!

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    1. Hehe. Still waiting for biggest bang for the buck. You can either wait over a year or forever for a ZO6, or pay some bloated price for a flipped one. Judging by the number of used c8’s on the market, most new orders were flipped. Availability is a big part of successful.

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  7. Big bang for the buck is only if you can get one

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  8. If your purchasing criteria is truly “Bang for your Buck”, buy any C7. Simple as that.

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    1. Dave,

      You assumed a lot concerning my comment. First of all I already have a 2021 3LT Z51 and a 2019 Z06, and secondly I do think the C8 is a great bang for the buck. My only point was to make light of the fact that the Z06 is becoming very difficult to get.

      Reply
    2. if you want bang for your buck, get a 6th gen Camaro ZL1. Puts out better performance than a base C8, and costs about the same. And probably one of the best handling cars for track performance.

      Reply

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