Two of America’s most iconic performance cars recently went head-to-head in a test of speed, handling, and endurance as Edmunds brought together a 2025 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray and a supercharged 2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse for a U-Drags challenge. The event, which combines a quarter-mile sprint, hard braking, a 180-degree turnaround, and a full-throttle return to the start line, offers one of the most complete real-world tests of modern performance machines.
The Corvette Stingray arrived in its purest form—completely stock and unmodified. Powered by a 6.2-liter LT2 V8 engine producing 495 horsepower, the mid-engine sports car represents Chevrolet’s precision engineering at its finest. An eight-speed dual-clutch transmission and sophisticated launch control help it deliver repeatable, lightning-fast starts, while Performance Traction Management ensures power is transferred efficiently to the pavement.
Across the starting line, Ford’s newest muscle contender entered with far more brute force. The Mustang Dark Horse, already the most capable naturally aspirated Mustang in the lineup, received a $10,000 Ford Performance supercharger kit installed by Galpin Auto Sports. The upgrade boosted output to a staggering 810 horsepower and 615 lb-ft of torque—nearly double the Corvette’s power figure. Despite the extreme performance gains, the kit remains warranty-backed, underscoring Ford’s confidence in its factory-approved hardware.
This matchup revisited an earlier showdown where a stock Dark Horse fell short against the Stingray. This time, with supercharged muscle under the hood, the playing field looked very different.
The U-Drags format revealed each car’s strengths: the Corvette’s balance and control versus the Mustang’s raw, unrestrained acceleration. The duel wasn’t just about who crossed the line first—it was a clash of two American philosophies: precision versus power, refinement versus rebellion.
Regardless of the winner, the showdown proved one thing—America’s muscle and sports car rivalry remains as fierce as ever.
