Triple Threat: 458 Italia, MP4-12C and ZR1 Battle it Out
by John Coyle

Road & Track just posted this video comparing the Ferrari's 458, McLaren's MP4-12C and Chevy's Corvette ZR1. The clear winner? Well, that's anyone who watches the shootout. It's unquestionably fun viewing— though the voice over is as dry as corporate voicemail navigation—and the symphony of the 458 screaming on the dyno is a great excuse to watch anything.

But like a lot of things in life, this doesn't seem fair. With the C7 Corvette set to debut in mere months, the ZR1 is a riding on a chassis that—capable or not—that's at the end of its natural life, and it happens to cost less than half of the offerings from across the Pond. That said, it was hardly out of its league in this competition. McLaren's awkwardly named mid-engine is more of a direct competitor for the Italian Stallion, both technology and price-wise. But the results of this comparo are interesting, to say the least.

Tested: Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 vs Ferrari 458 Italia vs McLaren MP4-12C - YouTube!

[via Road & Track]

 

Nice review. I don't care how fast the MP4-12C, it doesn't drive like the 458, nor does it have soul like it.

 

I think this is another feather in the hat for corvette. The MP and 458 are 300K cars that only separate themselves from the vette when they are at their limits, or at the hands of a pro-driver. As a sunday driver, you cannot beat the vette for the value.

 

For the C6 Vette ZR1 to keep up in this group shows what a great job they have done and with an Msrp of $112,600 before add-ons this bad boy is over 100k less then it's counter-parts here! The C7 ZR1 should be a monster!

 

It would be tough to pick one, each car has their highs and lows. Like DJ said kudos to Corvette keeping up with the other two. Give me the sound of the 458, the 6 speed manual out of the ZR1, and the power of the MP4 and we have a winner.

 

Definitely great bang for the buck from a performance on paper standpoint. But if you drove one back to back with a 458 or any 911 GT, you would feel a significant difference that can't be measured on paper. The ZR1 feels flimsy, big, awkward and clumsy in comparison to the ones I mentioned. I am a huge vette fan, my first car when I finished grad school was a 98' C5 vette, which I traded in for a first model 01' Z06 - loved them. But once I tried euro sports cars, the asian and american sports cars just felt wrong.

 

Typing the entire narration for this video into Microsoft Sam and listening to it would be more exciting than this shit's voice. Jesus.

 

That 458 is fast.

 

Sub'd to watch. Thanks for posting.

 

+1

how did they manage to make so fvcking boring?!