The C8 Corvette impressed when it first launched because of how close to a supercar the sub-$60k sports car came. The new BMW M4 Competition has impressed with its size and power, though, so how do they compete in the quarter-mile?
To find out, Edmunds pitted the two cars against one another on the front straight at Willow Springs in a standing quarter-mile drag race and a rolling race from 40 mph (64 km/h).
Despite looking more like a supercar, the Corvette‘s numbers are smaller than the BMW’s. Starting at $59,995 (all prices with destination), the version tested here was sold for $80,660. That’s just $5,000 more than the M4’s base price, but the Competition version pushes the German coupe’s price up to $101,995.
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Along with its lofty price comes a power advantage, too. According to Chevrolet, the Corvette makes a respectable 495 hp (501 PS/369 kW) and 470 lb-ft (637 Nm) of torque from its 6.2-liter naturally aspirated V8. BMW claims that the the M4 Competition makes 503 hp (509 PS/375 kW) and 479 lb-ft (649 Nm) of torque from its twin-turbo, 3.0-liter straight-six.
There are some questions as to just how reliable BMW’s dyno is, though. Independent tests have shown a regular M4 making considerably more than 503 hp and this video’s rolling race would suggest that the power difference between these cars is greater than just 8 horsepower (8.1 PS/5.9 kW).
Indeed, the M4 Competition beats the Corvette in two rolling races, though it struggles to do the same in the quarter-mile run. Likely as a result of its mid-engined layout, the Corvette gets better traction off the line, beating the BMW by a nose when they have a fair start.