The majority of those reading this article love the sound of a healthy internal combustion engine, and moreover really love the sound of a V8 engine under wide-open throttle, we certainly do. That being said, while they are not exactly built in the spirit of the Corvette, it is getting tough to ignore the performance of some of the electric cars surfacing these days.
While most of these electron-powered cars are mild mannered and a flat out snooze-fest to drive, they certainly do not pollute in the same way traditional gasoline powered engines do. We know there is a lot of debate about the batteries and means of generating the electricity that they consume, but lets just keep it simple for now. Even for those who would like to make an environmentally conscious decision the aforementioned lack of enthusiasm has deterred many drivers from purchasing one.
That being said, while those of us at Corvette Online certainly wouldn’t take the Tesla over the beautiful C7 Stingray, we are all for giving credit where credit is due. Considering a “green car” is nearly keeping up with an LT1 powered sports car, we were pretty impressed. The Tesla actually harbors more horsepower and torque then the C7 but it weighs in at around 1,800 lbs more than the Stingray, which is understandable considering it’s hauling a full-size trunk, back seat, and two additional doors.
Again, would we opt for the Tesla, even it were first through this quarter-mile trap? No, we would not. Any person who has grown to love the sound, and sensation of the V8 will realize something is missing. But that’s not to say we couldn’t have a Corvette someday harboring the benefits of both engines, much like the 918 Spyder, just food for thought.