Since its introduction, the eighth generation Chevrolet Corvette has shown the world that the US means business. The car rivals the likes of the European and Japanese mid-engine supercars, all while costing less than half the price in most cases.
General Motors upped the ante with the new Z06 by not only having a superb mid-engine supercar, but also by mimicking the best in the business – Ferrari. Chevrolet apparently took the 458 and reverse engineered it to fit in with the American design. The result is a naturally aspirated piece of art in the form of the 5.5-liter LT6 V8 – the most powerful naturally aspirated production V8 ever made, producing 670 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque. The car has all the modern refinements such as GM’s spectacular MagneRide suspension, a lightning-fast dual-clutch transmission and an exhaust note which emulates Ferraris of old. On top of this, the C8 Corvette Z06 completes the 0-60 mph sprint in just 2.6 seconds and costs from an incredible $106,395 – about half the price of a used Ferrari 458 Italia.
The Chevrolet Corvette C8 Z06 offers supercar performance and engineering for the price of a high-end sports car, all while beating much of the competition in the process. While the Z06 is not quite on par with the ZR1, expect an absolutely ridiculous C8 ZR1 in 2024. Here are ten exotic supercars which are slower and more expensive than the new Chevrolet Corvette C8 Z06 according to the research conducted by GM Authority.
10 2022 Mercedes-AMG GT C – 3.6 Sec – $154,550
The Mercedes-AMG GT C is a wholly brilliant car. It was built as a replacement for the SLS AMG of the late 2010s, but re-marketed to pull some customers away from buying a Porsche 911. It was somewhat successful and there is a new model due in 2024.
The AMG GT C is powered by a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 which produces 550 hp and 500 lb-ft of torque. It sends all the power to the rear wheels via a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic and completes the 0-60 mph sprint in just 3.6 seconds. This all for a rather high $154,550 – before options.
9 2022 Audi R8 V10 Performance – 3.6 Sec – $150,195
The Audi R8 is a fantastic daily drivable supercar which great performance, noise and comforts. The cheapest R8 starts from just over $150,000 and comes with rear-wheel-drive as opposed to the signature Quattro system.
The R8 RWD produces 562 hp from its naturally aspirated 5.2-liter V10, which revs all the way to over 8,300 rpm, before the next cog in the 7-speed dual-clutch automatic is engaged and the double-fifth symphony starts all over again. It gets to 60 mph in 3.6 seconds, mostly due to the 2-wheel-drive nature.
8 2022 Audi R8 V10 Performance Quattro – 3.1 Sec – $201,295
The Quattro version of the R8 is a bit faster, completing the 0-60 mph sprint in just 3.1 seconds – half a second quicker. To accomplish this, it has 50 more horsepower and costs a whopping $50,000 – or an entire Audi S4 sedan – more than the rear-drive model.
Paying this much more for pretty much the same car is a bit ridiculous, but it does mean the R8 can be driven in the winter thanks to the all-wheel-drive security. It also gives better traction on a track and makes it launch like a monster.
7 2022 McLaren GT – 3.1 Sec – $215,000
The McLaren GT is the British brand’s first solely grand touring car in its very prestigious history. The GT is based on the same platform as the 720S, but everything is softer and more comfortable, rather than ferocious and hardcore.
The GT features a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 which produces 612 hp and 465 lb-ft of torque. The GT isn’t quite as fast as the 720S, but at 3.1 seconds for a 0-60 mph sprint, it’s not exactly slow. Still, its slower than the Z06 and more than $100,000 pricier. Ouch.
6 2022 Ford GT – 3.0 Sec – $500,000
The Ford GT is a marvel of American engineering. Before the Corvette Z06, the GT was the best supercar in the American manufacturer line-up – by far. While the 660 hp and 550 lb-ft 3.5-liter twin-turbo EcoBoost V6 isn’t the most exciting of engines, the car as a whole is pretty cool.
The GT has a rather aggressive track mode which drops the entire machine a few inches in spectacular fashion, resulting in a 0-60 mph time of exactly 3 seconds. Unlike the previous GT, the current one is exclusive and has a price tag to match – $500,000, or four Z06s and enough left over for fuel.
5 2023 BMW M8 Competition Coupe – 3.0 Sec – $135,095
Slightly more impressive than the Ford GT is the European BMW M8 Competition. This is a big, heavy super GT car with a luxurious leather and crystal interior, which can match the GT in a drag race. The M8 Competition gets to 60 mph in 3.0 seconds flat.
The M8 is a brilliant car which definitely produces more power than advertised as the claimed 617 hp and 553 lb-ft cannot push the massive machine that quickly. It is still more expensive than the Z06 though, starting at $135,095, and doesn’t quite sound as good.
4 2023 Ferrari 296 GTB – 2.9 Sec – $317,985
The Ferrari 296 GTB is the Prancing Horse’s new weapon to conquer the hybrid supercar world with. It produces a combined 819 hp and 546 lb-ft from its new 3.0-liter twin-turbo hybrid engine, but with all that power, it still takes 2.9 seconds to get to 60 mph from a standstill.
The reason for this is that all the raging Italian horses are sent to the rear wheels only, resulting in some difficulty getting the power down. Sadly, the price for all this new technology and advancement starts at a lofty $317,985 – slightly more than half the price of an SF90 Stradale.
3 2022 Lamborghini Huracan EVO – 2.8 Sec – $262,000
The Lamborghini Huracan has now sadly been discontinued, but the last road-legal EVO model was by far the best of the lot. Lamborghini updated the styling slightly, all while upping the dynamics and power to 631 hp and 443 lb-ft from the naturally aspirated 5.2-liter V10.
The Huracan EVO is a $262,000 supercar which will sorely be missed in the months and years to come – because it was most likely the end of the glorious V10. The Corvette C8 Z06 is definitely quicker than the Huracan.
2 2022 Porsche 911 Turbo – 2.7 Sec – $184,350
The Porsche 911 is the king of the sports car segment, and it deserves this accolade. The 911 has excellent dynamics, driver engagement and performance – all while passing everything in its class. The top trims of the 911 starts with the 911 Turbo.
The Turbo features a 3.7-liter twin-turbo flat-6 which produces 572 hp and 553 lb-ft. Power is sent to all four wheels, resulting in a rocket ship of a car, blasting off the line and completing the 0-60 sprint in 2.7 seconds. It is quite expensive though, starting from $184,350.
1 2022 Porsche 911 Turbo S – 2.6 Sec – $217,550
While the 911 Turbo is a rocket, the 911 Turbo S is a starship capable of warp speed. It has the same 3.7-liter twin-turbo flat-6 as the normal turbo, but it produces 640 hp and 590 lb-ft of torque, resulting in a 0-60 mph time of 2.6 seconds – matching the Corvette C8 Z06.
The cost of a 0.1 second quicker time is around the same price as a new Toyota Camry Hybrid, but it will most likely beat anything in a drag race – bar the Corvette Z06. It is amazing that the Corvette can achieve this without all-wheel-drive or turbochargers, showcasing brilliant engineering and design.