Are supercars POINTLESS? Corvette Z06 vs Rivian R1T: DRAG RACE (by Carwow)

[SilverII]

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[Nixapatfan]

If all you do is drag race sure but there is a lot more to driving enjoyment than going in a straight line.

If I was buying a car for enjoyment the ZO6 would win 10 out of 10 times.

 

[CarGuyCarl]

It depends on what you like. The Z06 and almost any sports car, especially slower manual analog type cars, are about the visceral experience. Not everyone's cup of tea though.

 

[ebarke]

Couldn't agree more with @CarGuyCarl. I purchased a 2024 Lotus Emira a couple years ago now, and the car is fantastic. V6, manual, did a 3rd cat delete and a Miltek valve controller so the exhaust can be open 100% all the time, so much fun and sounds so good. No comparison in acceleration with my R1T, not even close! But the driving experience is a completely different thing. I also have 2008 Lotus Elise, which is on an even different level of driving...like a go cart. The R1T is by far the fastest accelerating car I have, but they all suit a different purpose.

Supercars aren't going away; they will just get better/faster with newer technology and EV hybrid drivetrains. Just look at the new Corvette ZR1X, which now beats the Tesla MS Plaid and a Lucid in a 1/4 drag race, but it will also run on the track too.

If you want something all-purpose that's also fast, it's hard to beat a pure EV, but there are other things that drivers want in a car so I don't think supercars will be going away.

 

[Great Gatsby]

Agree with everyone has said. The R1T and S are great do it all cars but fall for the jack of all trades but not necessarily master of all.

Hopefully with RAD we see a more performance dedicated R1 that can close the gap and be more fun to drive, but as everyone else has said, supercars will still have place for those who want (and can afford) the ultimate driving experience.

 

[CrazyOne]

I love sports cars, but I can't bear how loud some of the cars are. It's unnecessary and obnoxious. A Ferrari or an Lfa sounds beautiful, this doesn't. To each their own.

 

[mkg3]

We put so much emphasis on 0-some speed; acceleration. It's important so don't get me wrong. I own a very slow (by today's standards) ICE and very quick and fast ICE and EVs in between.

Even the so called driving experience, is subjective enough that there is no ultimate answer. While most people equate handling, vehicle balance and engagement as the primary driving experience factors, others place ease, comfort and now even ADAS ability as the primary factors of driving experience.

The real question is, performance aside, is a 2-seater sports car pointless? I say no. Like many, I love and enjoy my 2 seater. Is it better than my SUV? I say they are different use-case vehicles. Both unique in its ability to do things.

I also find 4 seater sports sedan appealing too. I see it as a grand tourer kind of vehicle. I know many GTs are 2 seaters but it doesn't have to be. Take Porsche Taycan for an example. I see it as a great GT EV with 4 doors.

 

[zefram47]

If all you enjoy is going fast in a straight line, then perhaps they're "useless". But a 7000 lbs truck simply can't do what a sub-3000 lbs sports car, supercar, hypercar, etc can do. My Alfa Romeo 4C weighs under 2500 lbs and currently has around 300 hp / 350 tq and is an absolute riot flogging it through a canyon or on track. It damn near matches my Gen1 Quad for acceleration in a straight line, but would leave the truck for dead the first time they saw a corner. Different strokes for different folks, but don't conflate being quick in a straight line with having that on top of supreme handling. Edmunds U-Drag series would be a better thing to look at than simply a drag race.

 

[SwampNut]

If all you enjoy is going fast in a straight line, then perhaps they're "useless". But a 7000 lbs truck simply can't do what a sub-3000 lbs sports car, supercar, hypercar, etc can do. My Alfa Romeo 4C weighs under 2500 lbs and currently has around 300 hp / 350 tq and is an absolute riot flogging it through a canyon or on track. It damn near matches my Gen1 Quad for acceleration in a straight line, but would leave the truck for dead the first time they saw a corner. Different strokes for different folks, but don't conflate being quick in a straight line with having that on top of supreme handling. Edmunds U-Drag series would be a better thing to look at than simply a drag race.

All accurate of course.

Do you know if they'd allow an R1T in Solocross?

 

[portdirect]

As countless others have said - the R1 (g1 quad, g2 tri and quad) are quick bricks. But at the end of the day are just that. Weight, power curves many other things factor into making a truely fast car when doing more than comparing stats and drag racing. EVs will always have an advance over ICE when it comes to ‘instant’ torque and so seem to punch far beyond their weight in these tests.

I’ve posted before that one of the most fun things about a R1 is that it feels as exciting taking a corner at 45mph as it does doing the same corner in a elise at 70mph - depending on your perspective that’s either a dig or a complement. I’m entering the phase of life where I think it’s a complement, though I know which I’d be able drive faster though a twisty alpine road.

Heres some numbers to have fun with and argue over:

Vehicle	Power	Weight	Weight basis	bhp/lb	lb/bhp
Porsche Taycan Turbo GT Weissach	1,019 hp	4,925 lb	Curb	0.2069	4.83
Porsche Taycan Turbo GT	1,019 hp	5,090 lb	Curb	0.2002	5.00
Corvette Z06 Coupe	670 hp	3,500 lb	Dry	0.1914	5.22
Corvette Z06 Convertible	670 hp	3,599 lb	Dry	0.1862	5.37
R1S Quad Max	1,025 hp	6,824 lb	Curb	0.1502	6.66
R1S Tri Max	850 hp	6,826 lb	Curb	0.1245	8.03
Lotus Elise Cup 250	250 hp	2,053 lb	Published kg figure	0.1218	8.21

 

[SwampNut]

Corvette ZR1X
1064 HP, 3914 pounds, 0.32 HP per pound

Bring it.

 

[portdirect]

Corvette ZR1X
1064 HP, 3914 pounds, 0.32 HP per pound

Bring it.

/s before anyone takes me too seriously

 

[Seano]

Own sports car + R1Ss … two totally different animals. R1S will best my sports car off the line (by a little)… first corner and it’s game over.

I take the R1S when it’s raining, need to haul something or need to sit inside with a/c on waiting for the kids. Choose the sports car every chance I get.

 

[ndmiller]

No, the R1T isn't a supercar, a stock Miata can get around a curvy track faster.

 

[mkg3]

...a R1 is that it feels as exciting taking a corner at 45mph as it does doing the same corner in a elise at 70mph - depending on your perspective that’s either a dig or a complement. I’m entering the phase of life where I think it’s a complement, though I know which I’d be able drive faster though a twisty alpine road.

Yeah if it feels the same as Elise at 60% speed is not a good thing. I ageee about that. Also the two vehicles are for different purposes and can be a complement, which is where I am in life about different vehicle for different use cases.

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