If you had the choice between driving a Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and a Chevrolet Corvette Z06 for a half-mile drag race, which would you opt for?
It’s a tough choice. Both of these performance cars are powered by 6.2-liter supercharged V8 engines. However, the Hellcat has a power advantage with 707 hp, while the Z06 makes do with 650 hp.
While the Hellcat has the horsepower edge, the Corvette Z06 is much lighter. In fact, the Hellcat can weigh almost 1,000 lbs (453 kg) more than the Z06, depending on options and the fluids on board, which sort of negates its power advantage.
Two vehicles doing the American car industry proud
In an effort to see which of the two is the quickest in a half-mile drag race, the Track Day TV channel on YouTube pitted the two together. In the first race, the Corvette got off the line slightly ahead of the Hellcat but, unfortunately, the driver botched the shift into second gear. This allowed the Hellcat to creep ahead and it maintained a lead for the rest of the race, stretching its legs down the half mile to 154 mph (247 km/h).
To give the Z06 a second chance, another race was held between the two. This time, the Corvette driver shifted smoothly but did get a slight head start off the line. As the Hellcat span up its rear tires, the Corvette galloped away into the distance.
If we can draw any conclusion, it’s that this pair, despite being completely different in concept, are both excellent performers and the results could easily vary, especially when you take into account the human factor. We’d still pick the ‘Vette, however, if for its heritage and design; how about you?