Since the first-generation Corvette debuted in 1953, the American sports car has always been Chevrolet's halo car and the pinnacle of the brand's performance chops. Its performance numbers improve every generation, with a lineup that goes quicker with every model introduced. And, for the first time, the Corvette has embraced a mid-engine configuration, propelling the current version to unprecedented performance numbers thanks to all that additional grip over the rear axle.

With the top-spec C8 Corvette ZR1 getting ready for its much-anticipated launch this summer, it's time to compare how fast each C8 Corvette model is over a quarter-mile. We're only comparing stock Corvettes right off the showroom – unlike this tuned twin-turbo Corvette E-Ray that hit the 9-second mark. Just for reference, we'll be looking at the 2019 Corvette ZR1 first to see how much of an improvement the mid-engine layout makes.

6 2019 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 Coupe - 10.6 Seconds

All that power and the 2019 ZR1 only manages to beat the entry-level C8 Corvette, which basically costs half as much. There are two reasons why the C8 is so much faster off the line and over a quarter-mile. The first is grip. The previous ZR1 used the old layout, which was engine at the front, all the power going to the rear. Launching it is tricky, and ensuring that you shift at the right times for the best quarter-mile result is even harder. In the C8, you simply pull on a paddle. That being said, the ZR1 wasn't really built for drag racing, though it does it very well. It was more of a track animal, with carbon-ceramic rotors and some heavy aerodynamic modifications.

5 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray - 11.2 Seconds

Apart from being the first Corvette to have its engine behind the seats, the C8 Corvette is the most powerful production Stingray to date. The naturally aspirated 6.2-liter direct-injection LT2 V8 engine makes up to 495 horsepower and 470 lb-ft of torque when equipped with the available performance exhaust or Z51 Performance Package. All of this is sent to the rear wheels via a standard 8-speed dual-clutch transmission made by Tremec.

In this configuration, Chevrolet claims that the C8 Corvette Stingray can sprint from 0-60 mph in just 2.9 seconds and complete a quarter-mile in 11.2 seconds – an improvement over the C7 Corvette Stingray's 11.5 seconds.

4 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 - 10.6 Seconds

The C8 Corvette Z06 is more than just a wider version of the Stingray; it also packs a different V8 mill that enables it to produce astronomical numbers compared to its lesser sibling. It's powered by a new naturally aspirated 5.5-liter LT6 flat-plane crank DOHC V8, churning up to 670 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque. This mill is touted to be the most powerful naturally aspirated production V8, beating the M159 engine of the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series.

It transfers the power to the rear wheels via the same Tremec dual-clutch transmission as the Stingray but with a shorter final drive ratio. That said, Chevrolet claims that the current Corvette Z06 with the Z07 Performance Package (better brakes, aerodynamics, suspension, and tires) can sprint a 0-60 mph run in 2.6 seconds and complete a quarter mile in 10.6 seconds or as quickly as a previous-generation C7 Corvette ZR1.

3 Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray - 10.5 Seconds