[VIDEO] 2024 Corvette E-Ray U-Drags Twin-Turbo AWD BMW M8 Competition

The newest member (for now, at least) of the growing C8 Corvette lineup isn’t resting on its laurels while its first natural competitor finishes its gestation period; it’s still out there sharpening its skills and taking on all comers.

This time, the challenger is a BMW M8 Competition, and the arena is one of our favorites, Edmunds U-Drags; the single test that encompasses a hard launch, 0-60, a standing quarter mile, max deceleration, high-g handling, and a roll race back to the start/finish all in one easily consumable segment.

The top-of-the-line BMW coupe features a 617-horsepower 4.4L twin-turbo V8 that makes 554 lb-ft of torque and, like all modern M cars, is more than likely significantly underrated by the factory. The boosted bent eight pairs exclusively with a rear-biased all-wheel-drive system and a fast-shifting automatic transmission. Before writing off the 4,200+ pound luxury coupe as an easy lunch for America’s Electrified Sports Car, it should be noted that Car and Driver praised the big two-door for its “enormous grip, compliant ride, and astonishing nimbleness, and searing acceleration.” The storied publication backed up those compliments with the stopwatch, measuring an M8 Comp at 2.5 seconds to 60, 6.3 to triple-digits, and a genuinely rapid 10.7 quarter at 129 mph. It also tops out at 189, stops from 70 mph in 146 feet, and doesn’t let go of the skidpad until 1.03 g has been exceeded. This thing should be taken as seriously as its $160,000 sticker would suggest!

The world’s first hybrid Corvette uses its 6.2L V8/1.1 kWh battery combo to send 655 HP and 595 lb-ft to all four wheels. It is around 300 pounds easier on the scale, and while its base price meaningly undercuts the Comp, as well, with options, it’s a pretty close fight with the $148,000 Corvette coming within 6% of the Bimmer’s bottom line. For an apples-to-apples comparison before hitting play on the same-track-same-day Edmunds test, C&D clocked the E-Ray at an identical 60-mph sprint of 2.5 before chopping .3 off at the century mark (for an even 6.0). At the 1,320-foot pole, the cars should be shockingly close, with “E’Vette” recording a 10.6 @ 128. Surprisingly, the same test has the Corvette needing an additional six feet (152 total) to stop from 70, but it makes up for it by out gripping the M8 by .05 g (1.08).

So, maybe this one won’t be as comfortable of a sparring session as it appeared at first glance! Hit play below to see how it shakes out!

With this run in the books, we’ve updated our own U-Drags standings:

Source:
Edmunds Cars / YouTube

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