Corvette C6 Uses Secret Ace Up Its Sleeve Trying to Hit 200 MPH

This brave seven-year-old from the village came over to my house yesterday and asked, "What's the fastest you've ever gone in your car?" He was very disappointed when he heard I hadn't gone much faster than 100 mph (160 kph) in it. He left under the impression that the best the FC RX-7 can do. But in reality, I didn't want to push it further than that without making sure everything worked perfectly.

I haven't had the opportunity to test it at a longer racetrack anyway, and doing that on public roads is out of the question. Things would have been different if I lived in Germany, next to the Autobahn. It's one of many cult locations for automotive enthusiasts worldwide. While some would argue that Japan's Wangan is a much more thrilling section of the highway due to its history, you can genuinely push the pedal to the metal on the Autobahn without worrying that you'll break the speed limit.

We've all seen people going at it repeatedly ever since YouTube became a thing. I can't remember if anyone hit 248 mph (400 kph) while driving there, but it would probably be way too risky anyway. Still, it's always fun to see people pushing their cars up to 200 mph. It feels much safer from the comfort of your home, and it's considerably more exciting than watching soccer (at least that's what I think).

The main hero for today's Autobahn challenge is a Chevrolet Corvette C6. It debuted some 20 years ago but still looks as impressive as ever. The early model featured a 6.0-liter V8 with 400 hp and 400 lb-ft (542 Nm) of torque, but that was just an appetizer. The Z06 came forth with over 500 hp, and the ZR1 used a supercharged to reach 638 hp.

While the latter could theoretically get a 205 mph (330 kph) top speed, C6 owners must be content with going as fast as 190 mph (306 kph). The C6 in this video has an ace: the P-1SC1 Procharger. And with it, it should have about as much power as a ZR1. That doesn't necessarily mean it will be just as fast, as there are other things to consider in the long run.

The driver uses onboard telemetry to see accurate speed readings and acceleration times, and the C6 just falls short of reaching that magic 200 mph marker. It does churn out a decent 62 mph to 124 mph time of 7.47 seconds. That means it's faster than a 2010 Ferrari 458 Italia and a 2020 Dode Charger Hellcat, among other cars. But it's slower than a 2023 Porsche Taycan Turbo S Sport Turismo and a 2015 Nissan GT-R NISMO. I'd still fancy a go in it, regardless!