Watching American purebred muscle cars going at it down the quarter-mile is one thing, but a domestic versus import drag race is an entirely different beast. And speaking of beasts, in this race, we're watching the all-American Chevrolet Corvette C8 Stingray try to prove automotive American superiority over European models like the BMW M3, M8 Competition Convertible, and Audi's RS Q8 SUV.
When the Stingray fought the BMW M3 on Canada's Mission Raceway Park Titanium drag strip, the latter was off to a late start with the Vette in the lead, but by the time the dust settled, the European M3 won. It did 11.13 seconds at 128.98 mph or 207.57 kilometers per hour, while the Chevy sports car crossed the finish line in 12 seconds flat at 116.55 miles per hour or 187.56 kph.
Next, the Wheels Plus YouTube channel videographers captured the battle between the Corvette and the BMW M8. The Stingray won in 12.42 seconds, and the M8 crossed the line in 13.40 seconds. The Audi RS Q8 was the Corvette's next victim, finishing in 12.52 seconds at 110.19 miles per hour (177.33 kph), while the Chevy did it in 11.72 seconds, going 118.20 mph or 190.22 kilometers per hour.
The 2024 Chevy Corvette C8 Stingray has a mid-mounted 6.2-liter V8 powerplant capable of outputting 495 horsepower and 470 lb-ft (637 Nm) of torque, albeit with the Z51 Performance Package. The 8-speed dual-clutch transmission sends that power to the rear wheels. It can hit 60 mph in 2.9 seconds and a top speed of 194 miles per hour or 312 kph. Not too shabby for such an amazing car that starts at $70,000.
Photo: Wheels Plus
If that's not enough and your wallet can handle it, its more powerful sibling, the Corvette Z06 starts at around $112,000 and has a 5.5L V8 mill with 670 hp and 460 lb-ft (624 Nm) on tap. If you opt for the Z07 Performance Package, you should get from 0 to 60 miles per hour in just 2.6 seconds.
As for the Beamer that defeated the Stingray, it isn't anything to scoff at, either. The RWD sedan version costs $76,000 and comes with a 3.0-liter BMW M TwinPower Turbo inline 6-cylinder engine, which delivers 473 hp and can hit 60 mph in 4.1 seconds, BMW claims. The top-of-the-line $84,300 BMW M3 Competition xDrive Sedan produces 503 hp and 479 lb-ft of torque, reaching 60 mph in 3.4 seconds.
The M8 Competition Convertible starts at around $150,000 and has a 4.4-liter V8 engine that can deliver 617 hp, and reaches 60 mph in 3.1 seconds.
Lastly, the $125,800 2024 Audi RS Q8 SUV has a 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 engine with 591 hp and 590 lb-ft (800 Nm) on tap. Its 8-speed Tiptronic automatic transmission sends that power to all four wheels, enabling it to go from 0 to 60 mph in 3.7 seconds.
Codrin just loves American classics, from the 1940s and ‘50s, all the way to the muscle cars of the '60s and '70s. In his perfect world, we'll still see Hudsons and Road Runners roaming the streets for years to come (even in EV form, if that's what it takes to keep the aesthetic alive). Full profile
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