[VIDEO] Edmunds U-Drags the C8 Corvette Z06 Against the C8 Stingray

You’ve got to hand it to the folks at Edmunds; they certainly made the most of their time in possession of a 2023 Corvette Z06 presser! After carving America’s Halo Car a thick slice of humble pie by making it run against the most potent – and most half-million-dollar – “regular production” model in McLaren’s stable, they are serving up a redemption “cupcake” for the Z’s second round of dessert.

To make up for our flat-crank hero’s turn as the Washington Generals, Edmunds decided to let it beat up on its little brother for an encore. Stingray vs. Z06 is an interesting matchup that hasn’t been talked about much for some reason. Host Clint Simone even opens this latest U-Drag – a signature test that combines a standing quarter-mile, breaking, high-G cornering, and a rolling quarter into a single race – video by asking the question that should be front-and-center for all value-conscious Z06 customers. We know that the Z will be faster, but want to find out BY HOW MUCH? In other words, if you are one of the thousands of sportscar buyers that really just wants an enjoyable ride and doesn’t necessarily care about rarity, engineering feats, bragging rights, or long-term investment potential, is it actually worth it to spring for the LT6 widebody?

Spec Comparison Time! Starting out in the right lane is the C8 Z06, which enters the ring dressed in gray and features the big-time aero and carbon ceramic brakes of the Z07 performance package, and sports a $10,000 set of carbon fiber wheels. It makes use of a record-setting naturally aspirated 5.5L V8 that makes 670 HP and 460 lb.-ft. of torque on its way to an 8,600 rpm redline. Chevrolet lists its weight as 3,680 lbs. and quotes a 0-60 time of 2.6 seconds to go with 1.22 G of lateral grip. All of this will dent the wallet of a perspective buyer around $160,000 – along with your first-born child at some dealerships.

The Stingray has been on the market since 2020, and many of our readers can quote its specs off the top of their respective heads, but here’s a quick review if you aren’t good at tests. Even though it is lower in the pecking order, the Stingray brings more displacement to the table in its 6.2L LT2 V8. That extra .7 of a liter – and a traditional push rod/cross-plane configuration – brings more torque to the table than the exotic Z06 can muster; 470 lb.-ft. of twist, to be exact. While it is significantly down on power at 495 ponies, the OG mid-engine ‘Vette does get the (ever so slight) nod when it comes to curb weight. It tips the scales at 3,647 lbs. and, like the new kid on the block, it is also capable of breaking the once-unthinkable 3-second barrier in the 60-MPH sprint. The “run-of-the-mill” C8 has been turning heads with acceleration numbers that far outshine what its HP number and RWD powertrain would suggest for years, but it is the “U” portion of the U-Drag where the smart money starts to walk away. Compared to the otherworldly stopping power and grip of the Z07, the Stingray makes do with steel stoppers, and its all-season rubber struggles to get past one lateral G with a high water mark of 1.04. It does all of this for almost exactly half the asking price, with Edmond’s reportedly dropping $80,000 to purchase this particular Rapid Blue beauty in 2020.

On-paper statistics are all well and good (ah, who are we kidding, we love the stats), but, luckily, U-Drags are here to really illustrate the differences and settle the score between these proud members of the Crossed Flag family. As has become our custom around here, we won’t spoil the results, but all of this friendly fire has us hungry for more all-Vette matchups. If you live near Edmunds’ Santa Monica HQ AND also happen to own a Z-branded Corvette from the last two generations, especially a C7 ZR1, we urge you to go across town and challenge those journalist nerds (we can say it!) to a down and back duel, we need to see more of these matchups!

Source:
Edmunds / YouTube

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