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Drag Race: BMW i8 vs Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Convertible

What will happen when two cars with different philosophies behind them go head to head in an awesome drag race? We’re about to show you, thanks to the guys from TFL Car, a BMW i8 and a Chevrolet Corvette Stingray.
BMW i8 vs Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Convertible 1 photo
Photo: Screenshot from Youtube
The two are completely different in the way their manufacturers went about building them. While BMW wanted to show the world that you don’t need huge engines to get proper performance out of a car, Chevy stayed true to its pedigree and used the same old recipe involving a massive V8. Let’s take a look at the specs.

Under the bonnet of the Stingray hides a naturally aspirated 6.2-liter V8 making 455 HP and 460 lb-ft (624 Nm) of torque. This one seems to be the 2015 model, fitted with the new 8-speed automatic transmission that GM claims to be faster than the PDK unit on Porsche’s Turbo S model.

With it, the Corvette Stingray Convertible will do the 100 km/h (62 mph) benchmark speed in 3.9 seconds, 0.5 seconds faster than the i8. However, the BMW has a completely different configuration.

It uses an electric motor up front making 131 HP and 250 Nm (184 lb-ft) of torque coupled with a 1.5-liter, 3-cylinder engine making 231 HP and 320 Nm (236 lb-ft) of torque for a grand total of 362 HP and 570 Nm (420 lb-ft) of torque. It’s down on power, compared to the Chevy (that has basically 4 times the displacement) but it has all-wheel drive and a lighter construction. Being lighter on its feet, could the BMW win it?

Apparently not but the race is extremely close nonetheless. An explanation for the impressive performance of the Bavarian could be the fact that the race took place at 1 mile above sea level. Over there, the air has less oxygen than normal, taking a toll on the naturally aspirated V8 of the Corvette. At the same time, the electric motor on the front axle of the BMW is not affected by the altitude at all. This will be interesting to watch!

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