The German gets off of the line and through the quarter-mile faster but the Corvette dominates everywhere else
- The U-Drag race tests acceleration, braking, and cornering to reveal real-world performance.
- Both competitors have different V8 powertrains, one naturally aspirated, the other turbocharged.
- Weight and braking performance played a major role in how each car approached the course.
Modern sports cars have reached the point where their capabilities are so absurd, you almost wonder if the engineers are in a secret arms race to make every car double as a rocket-powered ego boost. Two excellent examples of that are the Chevrolet Corvette Z06 and the Mercedes-AMG GT 63. Today, they go head to head in a U-Drag race to figure out which one is the quickest. The results are genuinely fascinating to behold.
As a reminder, a U-Drag race is, well, exactly that. The cars begin with a conventional drag race from a standing start but after the quarter mile is over, they have to slow down, turn around, and get back to that start line as quickly as possible. It gives us insight into acceleration, braking, and cornering ability.
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The team at Edmunds does this two times with all of its planned races. In the first,AMG’s $177,050 (or $211,810 as tested) GT 63 leaps out to a lead, with its 577 horsepower (430 kW) twin-turbo V8 and all-wheel-drive system working together to create a multiple-car gap on the $124,345 (or $147,800 as tested) Corvette Z06. Through the quarter mile, it maintains that lead, but then things change. The Corvette brakes later and harder and overtakes the 4,238 lb (1,922 kg) Mercedes.
As the two round the bend and rocket toward the start/finish line, the Chevrolet stretches the lead. By the line, the 670-horsepower (499 kW) American is a couple of bus lengths ahead. Race two is even more lopsided than the first one.
Instead of having to reel the Mercedes in, the naturally aspirated Corvette launches better and harder. This time, the Z06 gets the lead early and never relinquishes it. Interestingly, the Mercedes does a better job of navigating the corner and loses by less than it did the first time around.
Here’s the thing: these cars couldn’t be more different if they tried. The Chevrolet is a track weapon that can also act as a daily for those who don’t mind how extreme it is. Meanwhile, in this form, the Mercedes is a country-crossing cruiser with enough performance to almost keep up with the second most powerful stock C8 Corvette (after the ZR1).
The verdict? Well, it depends on what you want. Need something to obliterate lap times and make you giggle like a kid on a roller coaster? The Z06 is your spirit animal. Prefer a luxury experience with a side of high-speed shenanigans? The GT 63’s your guy. Either way, we all win because cars like this exist in the first place. Now, if you’ll excuse us, we’ll be over here dreaming of how absurdly fast cars will be in another decade.
In the meantime, how about you tell us which one would you pick?