Every C8 Chevrolet Corvette Model Ranked By Its Quarter-Mile Time

Since the first-generation Corvette debuted in 1953, the American sports car has always been Chevrolet’s halo car and the pinnacle of the brand’s performance chops. Its performance numbers improve every generation, with a lineup that goes quicker with every model introduced. And, for the first time, the Corvette has embraced a mid-engine configuration, propelling the current version to unprecedented performance numbers thanks to all that additional grip over the rear axle.

With the top-spec C8 Corvette ZR1 getting ready for its much-anticipated launch this summer, it’s time to compare how fast each C8 Corvette model is over a quarter-mile. We’re only comparing stock Corvettes right off the showroom – unlike this tuned twin-turbo Corvette E-Ray that hit the 9-second mark. Just for reference, we’ll be looking at the 2019 Corvette ZR1 first to see how much of an improvement the mid-engine layout makes.

6

2019 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 Coupe – 10.6 Seconds

All that power and the 2019 ZR1 only manages to beat the entry-level C8 Corvette, which basically costs half as much. There are two reasons why the C8 is so much faster off the line and over a quarter-mile. The first is grip. The previous ZR1 used the old layout, which was engine at the front, all the power going to the rear. Launching it is tricky, and ensuring that you shift at the right times for the best quarter-mile result is even harder. In the C8, you simply pull on a paddle. That being said, the ZR1 wasn’t really built for drag racing, though it does it very well. It was more of a track animal, with carbon-ceramic rotors and some heavy aerodynamic modifications.

5

Chevrolet Corvette Stingray – 11.2 Seconds

Apart from being the first Corvette to have its engine behind the seats, the C8 Corvette is the most powerful production Stingray to date. The naturally aspirated 6.2-liter direct-injection LT2 V8 engine makes up to 495 horsepower and 470 lb-ft of torque when equipped with the available performance exhaust or Z51 Performance Package. All of this is sent to the rear wheels via a standard 8-speed dual-clutch transmission made by Tremec.

In this configuration, Chevrolet claims that the C8 Corvette Stingray can sprint from 0-60 mph in just 2.9 seconds and complete a quarter-mile in 11.2 seconds – an improvement over the C7 Corvette Stingray’s 11.5 seconds.

4

Chevrolet Corvette Z06 – 10.6 Seconds

The C8 Corvette Z06 is more than just a wider version of the Stingray; it also packs a different V8 mill that enables it to produce astronomical numbers compared to its lesser sibling. It’s powered by a new naturally aspirated 5.5-liter LT6 flat-plane crank DOHC V8, churning up to 670 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque. This mill is touted to be the most powerful naturally aspirated production V8, beating the M159 engine of the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series.

It transfers the power to the rear wheels via the same Tremec dual-clutch transmission as the Stingray but with a shorter final drive ratio. That said, Chevrolet claims that the current Corvette Z06 with the Z07 Performance Package (better brakes, aerodynamics, suspension, and tires) can sprint a 0-60 mph run in 2.6 seconds and complete a quarter mile in 10.6 seconds or as quickly as a previous-generation C7 Corvette ZR1.

Add CarBuzz to your Google News feed.

3

Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray – 10.5 Seconds

Besides having a mid-engine configuration for the first time, the C8 Corvette is also the first Corvette with an all-wheel-drive hybrid model in the lineup. The Corvette E-Ray uses the same 6.2-liter LT2 V8 engine as the Stingray, but this time, it works in concert with a permanent-magnet electric motor.

The combined output of the hybrid setup is 655 hp and 592 lb-ft of torque – numbers less than the Corvette Z06, but don’t let the figures fool you. Chevrolet claims that the E-Ray can sprint from 0-60 mph in 2.5 seconds and finish a quarter mile in 10.5 seconds, making it the quickest Corvette ever. That’s, of course, until the ZR1 arrives.

2

Next-Generation Corvette ZR1

Chevrolet has confirmed that the C8 Corvette ZR1 will officially launch this summer, claiming that “the unthinkable is coming.” That’s in a few months from now, but reports about the ZR1’s engine have been doing the rounds. Corvette enthusiasts found a new turbocharged LT7 engine in the GM Parts catalog, which will reportedly be the Z06’s flat-plane crank V8 motor with a pair of turbochargers. It’s expected to produce around 800 hp, making it the most powerful Corvette ever.

We can only assume that the upcoming Corvette ZR1 will be even quicker than the Z06 and the E-Ray. With roughly 800 horses, a quick-shifting dual-clutch transmission, and the grip provided by the mid-engine layout, we estimate it will do the quarter-mile in around 10 seconds. Vin Diesel would be proud. It might even break through the nines, but Chevy may be leaving that for something else.

1

2025 Corvette Zora

Gearheads have been talking about the Zora for more than a decade, but this time it seems like it’s really happening. Named after the father of the Corvette, Zora Arkus-Duntov, it’s only right that this model sits at the top of the pile. Not much is known about the Zora. In fact, we’ve only seen spy images of it so far. But the rumor mill suggests that it will use the twin-turbocharged engine from the ZR1 mentioned above, plus the eAWD system from the E-Ray to produce a combined output of 1,000 hp. It will be stupidly fast in a straight line, because in addition to everyting we’ve mentioned so far, it will have an electric motor pulling from the front and a monstrous V8 pushing from the rear. We expect nothing less than a time in the nines.