BRIAN SILVESTRO
With C8 Chevy Corvettes finally getting into customer's hands, we've seen no shortage of dyno testing, modifications, and general shenanigans going on lately with the car. This latest video pits a new Z51-equipped Corvette against a 640-horsepower Cadillac CTS-V, and the results are more surprising than we'd expect.
This generation of CTS-V came from the factory with a supercharged 6.2-liter V-8—the same motor from the last-gen Z06, minus the dry-sump lubrication system. It makes a massive 640 horsepower and 630 lb-ft of torque—a lot more than the 495 horsepower and 470 lb-ft of torque coming from the 'Vette's naturally aspirated LT2 engine. But as these series of races show, horsepower isn't everything.
This showdown happens on a closed makeshift drag strip that has a bunch of dirt and other loose material on the ground, making traction for both cars a struggle. But the Corvette's mid-engine layout means more weight on the driven wheels, allowing for better launches off the line. It's enough to beat out the Cadillac in one drag—damn impressive considering the horsepower gap.
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