The all-new 2020 Chevrolet Corvette C8 has to be one of the most talked-about cars for 2020. Completely redesigned from the ground up, the all-new C8 marks the first production Corvette to feature a mid-engine layout. Producing 495 horsepower and 470 lb.-ft of torque, the new 6.2-liter LT2 V8 can propel the C8 to a 0-60 mph time of just 2.9-seconds and a top speed of 194 mph. Pretty impressive numbers.
The team over at Hennessey Performance thought it would be a fun experience to pit the new Corvette against another one of America’s most exciting products for the 2020 model year, the new 2020 Dodge Charger SRT HELLCAT Widebody. The Charger is on the complete opposite side of the spectrum of the Corvette. The large four-door muscle car features a 707 horsepower supercharged 6.2-liter HEMI HELLCAT V8, which of course sits in a front-engine rear-drive layout. The larger Charger is also is less aerodynamic than the edgy new C8, however, it can produce a 0-60 mph time of 3.6-seconds and has a top speed of 196 mph.
With the first race being from a standing start, the Corvette has no problem getting the jump on the Charger. The Charger has a hard time putting the power down to the ground without turning its Pirelli 305/35ZR20 tires into a cloud of smoke. But as the Charger gains traction, the four-door can easily have the faster trap speed, even though the 950 lb. lighter Corvette has already beaten it to the line.
The second race is from a 40 mph roll. The race between the Corvette and Charger is much closer this time, now that the Charger has traction. While the Corvette gets the early lead, its no match for the HELLCAT’s 707 horsepower and 650 lb.-ft of torque and the Charger edges out the Vette.
While the video really doesn’t prove much on a scientific level, it does show just how impressive both American cars are. With both vehicles getting higher horsepower variants next year with the 2021 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 and the 2021 Dodge Charger SRT HELLCAT Redeye, it will be interesting to see how both of those models fair in a similar race.
