Performance

Watch: Hennessey Performance drag races a Chevrolet Corvette Z51 vs a Dodge Charger Hellcat

Eileen Falkenberg-Hull
May 14, 2020, 3:11 pm

Hennessey Performance is testing one of the most high-performance sports car engines up against the new V8 in the Corvette.

Photo courtesy of FCA US LLC

The Dodge Hellcat engine is one of the most desirable among sports car power plants. It gurgles, rumble, roars, and achieves the maximum potential of its 707 horsepower in a jiffy. But, can it outmatch the newest generation of the Chevrolet Corvette?

Hennessey Performance recently matched the 2020 Chevrolet Corvette Z51 up against the 2020 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Widebody.

The 2020 Corvette Z51 as tested gets 495 horsepower from its 6.2-liter V8 engine. With the Z71 specialty package, the car has standard manual transmission with active rev matching, a dry sump oil system, electronic limited slip differential, performance exhaust, Brembo performance brakes, and Z51 performance suspension. An eight-speed paddle shift automatic transmission is available. Chevy prices that version of the rear-wheel drive coupe starting at $61,995.

In the video, it appears that Hennessey has opted for the automatic transmission in its tester.

The 2020 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Widebody has the 707-horsepower Hellcat engine that produces 650 pound-feet of torque. Dodge brags that the new Widebody sedan is 2.1 seconds faster than the 2019 Charger SRT on a 2.1-mile road course and that it can get from zero to 60 mph in 3.6 seconds.

For the challenge, both models were bone stock.

The video is broken down into two parts. The first features the two going head to head from a dig. The Corvette pulls out to an early lead and the Charger never really stands a chance, fading into the distance.

The second part features the two cars starting from a 40 mph roll. Here, the race is more evenly matched with the Charger just barely pulling off the win at the end.

495 HP C8 Corvette vs 707 HP Hellcat Charger Widebody | Roll and Drag Race Comparison www.youtube.com

Hennessey has also recently revealed three modded trucks for sale, the 1,000-horsepower Jeep Gladiator-based Hennessey Maximus 1000, the Ford F-150-based supercharged Hennessey Venom 775, and the GMC Sierra 1500 Denali-based Hennessey Goliath700.

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Chevrolet confirms Corvette Z06 and details specs

Chevy confirmed the new Z06 with 670 horsepower.

Chevrolet

After years of speculation, Chevy announced the mid-engine eighth-generation Corvette for the 2020 model year. Almost immediately, a new round of rumors took off around the potential for an even higher performance Z06 model. Chevy finally confirmed the car yesterday with a design and specs that improve on the standard Corvette in almost every way.

2023 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 The new LT6 V8 features a flat-plane crank and an 8,600 rpm redline.Chevrolet

The star of the show is the new 5.5-liter flat-plane crank LT6 V8. The mill churns out an unbelievable 670 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque, and can rev all the way out to 8,600 rpm. Power numbers aside, the sky-high redline lets the engine wail and scream in a way that we've not heard outside of Corvette racing cars. The hand-assembled engines are paired with a single technician through the build process and each unit carries a plaque with the builder's name.

To differentiate the Z06 from "normal" Corvettes, Chevy gave the car unique front and rear fascias, 20-inch front/21-inch rear wheels, and a configurable rear spoiler designed to improve high-speed stability. The Z06 is available with lightweight carbon wheels designed to reduce unsprung weight. The car itself is 9.4 centimeters wider than the Corvette Stingray to accommodate larger wheel sizes and incorporate larger cooling air vents on the side.

2023 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 The Z06's interior features many upgrades over the standard car.Chevrolet

As a more track-focused Corvette, the Z06 comes with tech to improve performance and record drives. When in track mode, the Z06's Performance Traction Management system is activated, which offers five levels of torque reduction and brake intervention, and an electronic limited slip differential helps keep the rear planted.

Inside, the Z06 improves on the Stingray's cabin with seven interior color choices, three seat options, six seatbelt designs, and two interior carbon fiber trim packages. Chevy says that the car's interior has a bespoke and upscale feel that sets it apart from the standard Corvette, which itself already had a gorgeous cabin.

2023 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 The Z06 is wider than the Stingray to accommodate larger wheels and bodywork.Chevrolet

The 2023 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 will be built at the automaker's Bowling Green Assembly plant in Kentucky. Chevy will build the cars in both left- and right-hand drive configurations when production kicks off in summer 2022.

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2023 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 gets reveal date

Chevy draws a line from the Z06 directly to its racing program.

Chevroley

The new Chevrolet Corvettewas a revelation when it was finally announced. The car brought a mid-engine design to the Corvette line for the first time, and put decades of speculation over the shift to bed. We've all known that Chevrolet would eventually release an even higher performance Z06 version of the car, but now we know the date. The automaker just announced that the car will be revealed on October 26.

To build hype for the car's announcement, Chevy released a short teaser video of the Z06 tearing around the Nurburgring. It's clear from the film that the car we'll see in October will be a different beast from its standard predecessor, which mainly comes down to a big change in its powertrain.


2023 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 The new car will be revealed in October.Chevrolet


The new Z06 is expected to feature a flat-plane crank V8 that will allow it to rev to 8500 or 9000 RPM. The car should see in excess of 600 horsepower from its howling V8, which will be sent to the rear wheels through an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission.



As it has done with other Z06 models, Chevy will bolster the Corvette's suspension and brakes to accommodate higher speeds and the jump in power. The car will be able to carry more speed into corners and stop in a shorter distance than its standard counterpart, which will improve its lap times at the track. Various active and fixed aerodynamics components are also expected.

The C8 Corvette's interior is anything but boring, and the Z06 will carry on with that tradition. We'll still see the long center strip of buttons and controls, along with a digital gauge cluster and nicely upholstered sport seats. The Z06 will most likely get more in the way of carbon fiber and race-inspired trim pieces, but the layout won't deviate from the standard car to a great degree.


2023 Chevrolet Corvette The Z06 will be powered by a flat-plane crank V8.Chevrolet

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