Watch a C7 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 trashes a BMW 550i on the quarter mile, even as the Vette driver jams on the brakes at the top end.
This drag race video features a quarter mile duel between a C7 Chevrolet Corvette Z07 and a 2016 BMW 550i. We don’t get any details on these specific high performance cars, but we know the basics on these cars in stock form.
The C7 Corvette Z06 is, of course, powered by a new supercharged LT4 which delivers 650 horsepower and 650lb-ft of torque. The BMW 550i is powered by a twin turbocharged 4.4L V8 which delivers 445hp and 480lb-ft of torque. The Corvette has a massive advantage in power and in weight, as the curvy Chevy supercar weighs considerably less than the German luxury sport sedan, but the BMW has the advantage of all-wheel drive, allowing the driver to put the power to the ground right at the start.
As the race begins, the AWD Bavarian stays with the Corvette Z06 for about 60 feet or so, but once the 650hp Chevy gets rolling and the driver can put the pedal to the floor without a concern of roasting the tires – the race is effectively over. Although the BMW does an admirable job of staying within a few car lengths of the Corvette, the supercharged Z06 cruised to an easy victory. In fact, the Corvette driver was far enough ahead that the driver was able to hit the brakes just before the finish line without any real worry of the Bimmer catching up.
As a result, the Corvette “only” ran an 11.45 at 84 miles per hour while the BMW ran a 12.52 at 116 miles per hour. Even on the brakes, the new Z06 beat the twin turbo BMW by more than a second.
"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.
"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.
"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.
"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.
"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.
