Mat Watson and the crew from carwow heads stateside for a proper all-American drag race—and it’s a clash of opposites. On one side, the brutal, all-electric Rivian R1T Quad Motor. On the other, the razor-sharp Chevrolet Corvette Z06.
On paper, the Rivian looks unstoppable. Four motors—one at each wheel—deliver a staggering 1,025hp and 1,624Nm, launching its hefty 3,170kg frame with relentless traction. The Corvette counters with finesse: a high-revving 5.5-liter naturally aspirated V8 pushing 670hp to the rear wheels, paired with an 8-speed dual-clutch gearbox, and nearly half the weight at 1,685kg.
From rolling runs to brake tests, the matchup proves tighter than expected. The Rivian’s instant torque dominates off the line, but the Z06 claws back at higher speeds, exploiting its lighter weight and top-end pull. With NASCAR driver Jesse Iwuji behind the wheel of the Corvette, the pressure is on.
In the standing quarter mile—the ultimate test—it all comes down to execution. After a series of neck-and-neck launches and traction tweaks, the Rivian finally hooks up perfectly and storms ahead, clocking a blistering 10.6 seconds. The Corvette follows at 11.3 seconds, proving that even America’s finest V8 weapon can’t quite outgun cutting-edge EV muscle—at least off the line.
Source: carwow
