The new Chevrolet Corvette Z06, with its 650 horsepower supercharged 6.2-liter V8 and the new Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat, which also sports a 6.2-liter supercharged V8 making a ludicrous 707 horsepower, are both considered to be at the top of the current American performance food chain.
Despite their substantially different designs (and purposes), this has inevitably led to impromptu match ups between the two, with the first of such races to make the rounds on the Internet showing the Z06 repeatedly trailing the Hellcat with each run. It was a curious outcome because while the Z06 makes less power, it actually sports a better power-to-weight ratio than the Hellcat and a significantly more aerodynamic design that should give it an additional advantage at high speeds, even with the bolstered downforce of the Z07 package. Nevertheless, the Hellcat walked the Z06, again and again.
This time we’re back with a similar match up but under slightly different circumstances. First, while the Challenger in the aforementioned video was equipped with an 8-speed automatic gearbox, the Dodge in this video sports a six-speed manual, as does the Corvette. While this might offer a more apt comparison from a mechanical standpoint, it also makes the driver in each car a bigger factor in exactly how much performance can be squeezed out of their vehicles.
A 2014 Ford Mustang GT500 shows up to do battle as well, and it’s also equipped with a six-speed manual transmission and reportedly stock mechanicals, like the other two. The GT500 may not have the limelight these days, but it’s certainly not slouch either, making 662 horsepower from its supercharged 5.8-liter V8 which helps the GT500 achieve a top speed of over 200 miles per hour.
So, how do things turn out this time around? Watch the video to find out.