Sports Car Shootout: C8 Corvette vs Porsche 911 Carrera S vs Audi R8
Sprichst du Deutsch? German magazine Auto Motor Sport’s Corvette C8 shootout against its fiercest German rivals.
Auto Motor Sport is Germany’s top motoring magazine. It’s just pitched one of the first Corvette C8s in Europe against an Audi R8 and Porsche’s 992 911 Carrera S. The test was conducted by the title’s Sport Auto crew on the racetrack. Its objective quite simply, “to see how Corvette’s new C8 series fares against its toughest competition.”
The Hockenheim Grand Prix track test clearly proved a trick to arrange. The story makes no bones about a certain intrigue and respect for the unknown mid-engined American. From both the German press offices. The journos even thank European Corvette executives for their assistance to get the job done. Whatever the odds.
The intrepid editors commenced with a full-tank weigh-in. Which brought the first surprise. The 3560 lbs Corvette punished the scales harder than both the 3635 lbs Audi and the 3470 lbs Porsche. The Corvette was also 194kg up on its manual base model C7 predecessor. They blame the ‘Vette’s dual-clutch transmission. And point out that the latest 992 911 is 147 lbs porkier too
The team liked three cars’ driver-oriented cockpits. They were impressed by the Corvette cabin’s step forward over the old C7. And that there’s even space for taller occupants wearing helmets. But they say the Corvette’s seats could be mounted a touch lower. Pointing out that seating position is a highly subjective matter. They enjoyed the 911’s low seating stance and the R8’s racy buckets.
Grand Prix Circuit showdown
It was already hot when the Hockenheim pit lights went green for those all-important Grand Prix Circuit hot laps. With 86 degree air and 124F asphalt temperature predicted, the Stingray benefited a novice bonus to go out first on track.
There were initial concerns about the Corvette’s Track mode. Until the ESP was deactivated, that is. From there, chief test pilot Hans-Dieter Seufert was immediately complimentary about the Corvette’s great traction. “The Corvette’s high level of grip and driving stability allow it to keep up with the Porsche, even in the faster corners.
Tremendous Corvette traction
“It has tremendous traction and the ability to accelerate out of tricky corners very early, without lighting the rear end up.” Furthermore, the test reports the Corvette to be almost immune to load changes. “Its tractive strength will clearly benefit future higher-powered Corvettes.”
“The Stingray’s traction is ‘almost on par with the Porsche, which pushes itself out of the corners with impressive mechanical grip,” the German critics add. “The C8 steers precisely on fresh rubber, although it tends to understeer mildly as its tire temperatures rise. “The Porsche better maintains it balance in spite of its tire condition.”
Seufert warns against deactivating the Audi’s ESP on the racetrack, “unless the driver knows what they are doing.” He confesses that the rear-drive Audi does not come close to the traction level of the Porsche or the Corvette. “Power oversteer sometimes kicks in so suddenly so you can’t accelerate as early out of a bend as you can in either the 911 or C8.”
He was more than happy hammering the 502 hp 6.2-liter Chevy LT2 at full-load though “The Vette has spontaneous throttle response and harmonious and easy-to-drive power delivery. “And a fascinating V8 soundtrack.”
C8 Shootout – 8-speed dual-clutch Impresses
The Corvette’s Tremec 8-speed dual-clutch transmission also impressed. “It shifts up with pinpoint accuracy and slams down as if by magic in dynamic braking. “The Corvette and the PDK Porsche’s shift in such a targeted manner that the paddles become superfluous.” They were less complimentary about the Audi, which needed the driver to paddle shift, costing time on track too.
European spec Corvettes come with Magnetic Ride adaptive chassis only Z51 Performance Package standard. That means tauter spring rates, a performance exhaust, an aero package with front splitter and rear wing. Add additional oil cooler, transmission cooling, larger brake discs and special brake cooling.
C8 also gets specially developed Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires, an electronic differential lock versus the mechanical only LS in the US. And a shorter 5.17:1 axle ratio instead of the US 4.89:1 US spec.
Those gear ratios are still long versus the Corvette’s German rivals though. That and the muggy hot shootout conditions contributed to the naturally aspirated V8 C8 setting the lowest top speed on track. It topped 149 mph versus the 154 mph Porsche and the Audi ’s heady 160 mph. Yet the 502 hp V8 Corvette split the quicker 450 hp biturbo three-liter boxer-six Carrera S and the 540 hp R8 V10 in those crucial overall lap times
The C8 however fell short against both the point-perfect Porsche and the Audi on braking. “The Corvette delivered below-average deceleration values in our standard brake tests,” the team seemed almost rueful to report. “The Audi also dislikes late braking versus the racecar-like Porsche.”
Bargain Stingray has Convincing Dynamics, Remarkable Grip
“The C8 Stingray delivers surprising and convincing lateral dynamics, remarkable levels of mechanical grip and great driving stability. “Especially the absolute bargain price of 99,000 euros,” Auto Motor Sport concludes. “But the Corvette’s coarse ABS regulation results in below-par braking can be far better and there certainly is room for improvement.”
All in all, the entire German exercise proved a compelling shootout for the all-new mid-engined Corvette. The C8 starred against two rivals that have the benefit of years of development behind them. And the test team concludes that the C8’s braking shortfalls can most likely be dialed out relatively easily.
That should also give the team enough time to fine-tune that forthcoming ‘Z06’ to fare even better against this pair’s big brothers. We look forward to that one with bated breath!
Images: Auto Motor Sport
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