Drag race: Rivian R1T vs Chevrolet Corvette Z06

What’s more American, the pick-up truck or the muscle car? They’re both staples in the USA, but you’d imagine that a high-performance V8 hot-rod such as the Chevrolet Corvette Z06 is more at home at a drag strip than a vehicle designed to haul pallets.

Well, in the case of the electric Rivian R1T, that’s not necessarily true. We’ve got our hands on the shockingly fast EV to pit it against the old-school, petrol-powered Chevrolet.

Rivian R1T

The Rivian R1T is, when you boil it down, a sensible, practical, workhorse pick-up truck. It just so happens to be electric-powered, with four electric motors (one for each wheel) producing a whopping 1,025hp and 1,624Nm of torque.

It even comes with launch control, meaning its mighty 3,170kg weight can demolish the quarter mile far quicker than you might imagine – and in eerie silence. It’s not cheap, though, and you’ll pay almost $120,000 to get behind the wheel.

Chevrolet Corvette Z06

Meanwhile, the Chevrolet Corvette Z06 is a lean, mean, high-performance machine with a 5.5-litre V8 engine mounted behind the two-seater cabin. It generates 670hp and 625Nm of torque, sending power to the back wheels through an eight-speed, dual-clutch automatic gearbox.

At 1,685kg it weighs almost half of the Rivian, but with rear-wheel drive and almost one-third of the torque it might struggle to keep the hyper-truck at bay.

This race really could go either way. Will the Corvette’s slippery shape and light weight be enough to overcome the Rivian’s brutal power and torque figures? You’ll have to watch the video to find out…

Car change? Carwow!

Looking for a new set of wheels? With Carwow you can sell your car quickly and for a fair price – as well as find great offers on your next one. Whether you’re looking to buy a car brand new, are after something used or you want to explore car leasing options, Carwow is your one stop shop for new car deals.

Click here to follow us on Reddit, where you can keep up-to-date with all the latest news, reviews, advice guides and videos. You can also subscribe to our WhatsApp channel to get the latest news sent straight to your phone.

*Savings are made up of the maximum dealer discount off RRP – subject to dealership, location and trim. Prices correct at the time of writing.