The 2019 Corvette ZR1 may be one fast supercar killer but Tesla’s little ol’ four-door sedan can still beat it to 60 MPH and maybe even down the quarter mile.
755 HP and 715 lb-ft of torque courtesy of GM’s supercharged 6.2L LT5 V-8. Big deal! It’s not like the average ZR1 owner is going to be using all that torque anyways. According to Corvette Product Manager Harlan Charles during a ZR1 walkaround from earlier last week (Mar. 23 ,2018), we got news that the 2019 Corvette ZR1 will hit 60 MPH in just 2.85 seconds, 100 MPH in six seconds flat, and will cross the quarter mile in 10.5 seconds at 136 MPH. All well and good, but how sobering is it that a four-door sedan with two electric motors can absolutely annihilate the ZR1?
Let’s go to the tale of the tape. The ZR1 boasts 755 HP at 6300 RPM and 715 lb-ft at 4400 RPM. When Road and Track dyno tested a Tesla P100D, the car made 588 HP and 920 lb-ft with all that torque coming in at practically zero rpm.
Motor Trend was able to hustle the Tesla Model S P100D to a cracking 0-60 MPH run of 2.27 seconds, 100 MPH in six seconds flat and the quarter mile in 10.5 seconds in 125 MPH. Not bad for an electric car not meant to slay a budget supercar killer.
The new Corvette ZR1 will probably cost you at least $100,000 while the Tesla Model S P100D will cost you about $30,000 more.
Honestly, the comparison is a bit of an apples to oranges situation. That being said, the ZR1 should represent the top tier of what gasoline engines are capable of. Electric motor technology, while being as equally as old as internal combustion technology if not older, has yet to scratch the surface of its capabilities.
On the track, it’ll probably be no comparison between the two with the ZR1 handily trouncing the Tesla Model S P100D after a couple of laps.
But on the open road, even though the ZR1 might be the top tier Corvette, if you pull up next to a Tesla Model S, you’ll have to check the rear badge before laying down the hammer.
Feel free to leave a comment on how this comparison doesn’t make sense. I’m just saying! Even the best Corvette can’t dominate electric motors when it comes to pure acceleration.
These “specs” never play out in the real world. I have a 2017 zl1 Camaro and have raced 20 Tesla’s on the street;they seem to be everywhere were I live in California. I’ve never been beaten by one of them, a few have come close but never beaten me. The real world, cars are always in motion and you don’t get time to set up your perfect launch. This is all hype to sell Tesla’s. Yes- I have driven the a Tesla s 90d, it was quick, but not “insane” as I see stated everywhere. Additionally, Tesla’s are very expensive for what you get.
Very well stated John. Also I can modify my c7 to step up to any challenger out there and I love when lazy stock Tesla owners assume they can beat my c7 they have no clue has been modded lol! I work on these bad boys and I can squeeze way more power and performance out of my car. Tesla owners assume that my ICE “old school” ride suffers from lag and traction issues. Think again! Custom suspension, supercharger and enhanced air vents my c7 is a lowkey beast!