When it comes to America's sports car category, there's a significant discrepancy between what lies ahead for the region's sweetheart, aka the C8 Chevy Corvette, and some of its muscle car-style competitors.
The world is not enough for the former with both left and right-hand drive models; Stingray plus Z06 and E-Ray versions have already been released, and a lot more to come. According to the rumor mill, we are about to embark on some speedy supercar-style journeys with the upcoming C8 ZR1 version touted at around 850 horsepower and then top everything up with a potentially electrified 'Zora' flagship worthy of no less than 1,000 (or more) ponies. And that definitely would make it a potential candidate to attack the upcoming reign of the Lambo Revuelto and Ferrari SF90 XX Stradale.
As far as the latter category is concerned, only the Ford Mustang is living a trouble-free ICE-powered lifestyle. In contrast, for example, the Chevy Camaro will be no more after the 2024 model year concludes production in January 2024. Over at Team Mopar, things are even sadder with Stellantis ordaining the 2023 model year to be the last one for the Hemi-powered Charger and Challenger, following a string of seven 'Last Call' special editions. Oh, well, that doesn't mean we will not see them brawl at the local quarter-mile dragstrip anymore – it takes time before everyone gives up on showcasing them in the left or right lanes.
In case you were wondering what some of them have been up to lately, here's the videographer behind the Wheels channel on YouTube, who is a big fan of MRP (aka 'Thunder by the River') and tries never to miss a chance to see the many local brawls. Known as Mission Raceway Park officially, the auto racing facility located in Mission, British Columbia, Canada, is always proud of its 1/4-mile NHRA-sanctioned dragstrip, so everything is always up to snuff. In the latest video feature, embedded below, the main protagonists are initially a black C8 Chevy Corvette (presumably a Stingray) and a blue and black-striped Dodge Charger SRT 392 – but do remain past the action that ends at 0:55 because there are more brawls than meets the eye.
Anyway, the Stingray (6.2-liter naturally aspirated V8 with up to 495 hp) and Charger SRT 392 (Apache 6.4-liter Hemi V8 with 485 hp) seem like they were meant for each other at the dragstrip – despite the apparent differences between a hulking performance sedan and a natural-born sports car. In the end, this was one of those races that were 'close, but not close enough' as the two fought side-by-side for a while before the C8 prevailed and took home the victory with an 11.99s to 12.89s result. Next up, from the 0:55 mark, there's a big chain of events that starts with a C8-on-C8 mutiny followed by the two Corvettes mauling other stuff – including vintage Camaro muscle cars and Ranger trucks!
Aurel has aimed high all his life (literally, at 16 he was flying gliders all by himself) so in 2006 he switched careers and got hired as a writer at his favorite magazine. Since then, his work has been published both by print and online outlets, most recently right here, on autoevolution. Full profile
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