Can The Exotic Corvette ZR1 Outdrag The Tesla Model S Plaid?

Properly sorted EVs are ridiculously quick. Electric motors produce maximum torque instantaneously, meaning if the powertrain controllers allow it (and the tires can withstand the abuse), even the heaviest EVs leap off the line with ferocity. That’s certainly the case with the Tesla Model S Plaid, which can accelerate to 60 miles per hour in just under 2 seconds and cross the quarter-mile in 9.3 seconds, according to the manufacturer. Still, if any internal-combustion vehicle can dethrone the Model S, it’s the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1. Making 1,064 horsepower courtesy of its twin-turbocharged 5.5-liter V8 and sending that power to the rear wheels through a quick-shifting eight-speed dual-clutch transmission, the Corvette hits 60 in 2.3 seconds and does the quarter in 9.6 seconds.

The All-American Drag Race No One Saw Coming

Lining them up side-by-side in imperfect conditions and with imperfect drivers, Brooks Weisblat, of the YouTube channel and publication DragTimes, aims to put the gas-versus-EV debate to bed once and for all. The ZR1 comes courtesy of fellow YouTuber Christian Wheeler, from the channel Wheelr; the Model S Plaid in question is one of Weisblat’s personal vehicles. Both come comprehensively equipped for maximum speed, with the ZR1 receiving the ZTK performance package that includes track-oriented Magnetic Selective Ride Control suspension and Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2R tires. The Tesla, meanwhile, is equipped with the accessory Track package: Goodyear F1 Supercar 3R tires, lightweight forged alloy wheels, and carbon-ceramic brakes.

In the video, Weisblat claims his Tesla Model S cost $109,000, although ordering one equipped the same way today would demand $112,130 plus $20,000 for the retailer-installed track package. The ZR1, meanwhile, has a claimed list price of $210,000, although ordering one with the $1,500 ZTK package (and mandatory $8,495 Carbon Fiber Aero package) yields a minimum of $199,190 without any other options. So does the Corvette’s extra $67,060 charge result in a vehicle that can finally unseat the Tesla Model S Plaid atop the American drag racing pantheon? Unfortunately, the answer is no.

Lined Up And Racing For Glory

The friendly race, which took place at Orlando Speed World’s quarter-mile dragstrip, saw Wheeler and Weisblat show down in their respective vehicles. Each driver proved decently matched when it came to reaction times. In the first race, Wheeler’s staggeringly quick 0.075-second RT nosed the Corvette out of the box quicker than Weisblat’s 0.435-second time. But the Tesla immediately caught up and crossed the beams in just 9.243 seconds at 150.4 miles per hour, well ahead of the Corvette’s 9.863 seconds and 140.8 mph. The second race was worse for the Corvette, crossing the finish line a full tick after the Tesla’s 9.285-second run. And in the third showdown, the American supercar still couldn’t catch the American electric sedan, finishing the quarter in 10.235 seconds compared to 9.276 for the Tesla.

Both drivers’ reaction times were reasonably consistent, so it’s a little surprising to see the Corvette’s second and third runs that far behind the swift (though still race-losing) first outing. The twin-turbocharged V8 may have lost a step or two to heat-soak, unsurprising given the hot, humid weather in Orlando this time of year. Electric cars suffer similar performance degradation as their batteries and motors warm up, but the effects are typically only noticeable after minutes of sustained track duty, and a 10-second blast down the quarter doesn’t exact as much of a penalty.

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Although it costs nearly six figures, this car is nevertheless a steal when it comes to the power output you’re getting for the price.

That said, although the Corvette lost all three races, the on-board camera footage shows that it’s gaining on the Model S Plaid by the end of the race. That’s not terribly surprising considering the ZR1 has a top speed of 233 mph, while the Tesla runs out of steam at 200 mph with the performance pack. Still, the Plaid’s ability to sustain at least 0.5 g of accelerative force all the way to 140 mph is rather impressive – performance electric cars typically launch hard but run out of steam relatively quickly. On this track, with these drivers, and in these conditions, the American EV still reigns supreme.

Source: DragTimes on YouTube