Photo: Sam CarLegion
It's been a while since any same-class car managed to beat a BMW M in a standard quarter-mile drag race, but things are about to change today. We're witnessing what some might even call "history in the making." It's an all-out tarmac showdown between a 2023 BMW M3 and a gorgeous 2023 Chevy Camaro ZL1.
Before we get to it, let's meet our four-wheeled warriors and see what they'll face in the wild, treacherous, and wet Canadian-based drag strip.
Sounding like a rabid beast straight out the gates of Hell, we have the American way of living, the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1. This RWD monster isn't equipped with the 10-speed automatic transmission, but it's the 6-speed version.
This baby can purr to the tune of a 6.2-liter V8 that can deliver up to 650 hp with 479 lb-ft or 650 Nm of torque. It should reach 60 mph in just 3.6 seconds, with a top speed of 198 mph (319 kph).
A fun little fact about this Camaro's family tree: its sibling, the ZL1 LE, scored a respectable 7m16s04 on the old Nurburgring track, becoming the fastest ever Camaro to do so. It's not too shabby for an American purebred performing overseas.
The ZL1 faces a BMW M3 (G80), but not the Competition model, making things a bit uneven in the sportsmanship department. The M3 has a 3.0-liter inline-six twin-turbo powerplant that produces 473 hp (480 ps) with 406 lb-ft (550 Nm) of torque.
The catch is that the BMW M3 G80 isn't your "garden variety" sportscar. It's been fitted with a race chip that should theoretically pump those rookie numbers with 60 bonus horsepower, meaning 533 ponies ready to roll out of the gates.
After the customary sound check, it was off to the races with "Sam CarLegion" behind the wheel of the Camaro ZL1.
The first roll race they attempted started at 32 mph (51.5 kph) in second gear, where the only moment the Camaro saw the BMW was in its rearview mirror. They went at it from 42 mph (67.6 kph) in second gear during the second attempt. This didn't make things better for the BMW. The ZL1 blasted away, winning by a landslide.
Now, this is where things get heavy. After switching from roll racing to drag racing, the BMW started to get the upper hand after the start of the first race. Sadly for the German car brand, this only lasted briefly before the Camaro won again.
However, during the second race, the "turntables have turned" again, to quote the great Michael Scott, and the BMW got the advantage, finishing in first position. It was close for a while during the third race, but the Camaro stepped up to the plate and demolished the M3 like it was nothing.
So, what are the times for these two excellent vehicles? For the 0-60 mph stretch of the road, it was a tie at 3.8 seconds. As for the 1/4-mile, the Chevy did it in 12.2 seconds, while the BMW finished in 12.5 seconds.
Performance is critical, sure, but what about pricing? Well, the 2023 BMW M3 cost around $75k when it came out, while the Camaro ZL1 was just under $70,000. This price difference paints the entire picture for potential buyers as clear as daylight.
Unless you're an avid "must-have" fan of the German car manufacturer, any logical creature would go for the cheaper and way stronger Chevy Camaro, at least in theory.
Sounding like a rabid beast straight out the gates of Hell, we have the American way of living, the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1. This RWD monster isn't equipped with the 10-speed automatic transmission, but it's the 6-speed version.
This baby can purr to the tune of a 6.2-liter V8 that can deliver up to 650 hp with 479 lb-ft or 650 Nm of torque. It should reach 60 mph in just 3.6 seconds, with a top speed of 198 mph (319 kph).
A fun little fact about this Camaro's family tree: its sibling, the ZL1 LE, scored a respectable 7m16s04 on the old Nurburgring track, becoming the fastest ever Camaro to do so. It's not too shabby for an American purebred performing overseas.
The ZL1 faces a BMW M3 (G80), but not the Competition model, making things a bit uneven in the sportsmanship department. The M3 has a 3.0-liter inline-six twin-turbo powerplant that produces 473 hp (480 ps) with 406 lb-ft (550 Nm) of torque.
The catch is that the BMW M3 G80 isn't your "garden variety" sportscar. It's been fitted with a race chip that should theoretically pump those rookie numbers with 60 bonus horsepower, meaning 533 ponies ready to roll out of the gates.
After the customary sound check, it was off to the races with "Sam CarLegion" behind the wheel of the Camaro ZL1.
The first roll race they attempted started at 32 mph (51.5 kph) in second gear, where the only moment the Camaro saw the BMW was in its rearview mirror. They went at it from 42 mph (67.6 kph) in second gear during the second attempt. This didn't make things better for the BMW. The ZL1 blasted away, winning by a landslide.
Now, this is where things get heavy. After switching from roll racing to drag racing, the BMW started to get the upper hand after the start of the first race. Sadly for the German car brand, this only lasted briefly before the Camaro won again.
However, during the second race, the "turntables have turned" again, to quote the great Michael Scott, and the BMW got the advantage, finishing in first position. It was close for a while during the third race, but the Camaro stepped up to the plate and demolished the M3 like it was nothing.
So, what are the times for these two excellent vehicles? For the 0-60 mph stretch of the road, it was a tie at 3.8 seconds. As for the 1/4-mile, the Chevy did it in 12.2 seconds, while the BMW finished in 12.5 seconds.
Performance is critical, sure, but what about pricing? Well, the 2023 BMW M3 cost around $75k when it came out, while the Camaro ZL1 was just under $70,000. This price difference paints the entire picture for potential buyers as clear as daylight.
Unless you're an avid "must-have" fan of the German car manufacturer, any logical creature would go for the cheaper and way stronger Chevy Camaro, at least in theory.
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