One benefit of being President: They'll give you the keys to the Z06 on the auto show floor.
MANDEL NGANGetty ImagesCommander- and Corvette-fan-in-chief Joe Biden visited the show floor of the North American International Detroit Auto Show Wednesday, walking around the General Motors display area with GM CEO Mary Barra. Offered the keys, he did what’s natural: Fired up and revved the new Corvette Z06 GM had on the show floor.
Biden, a Corvette owner, tries and revs the latest model. pic.twitter.com/UTmGoKAz1O
— Josh Wingrove (@josh_wingrove) September 14, 2022
In a move sure to draw bipartisan criticism, however, we must note that he did not rev it particularly hard. The President appears to stab the gas quickly and lift, causing a brief bark but not exactly showcasing the 8500-rpm monster behind him. He quickly turns the car off. He starts talking—possibly to Barra or someone off screen—but the audio on the video posted to Bloomberg reporter Josh Wingrove’s Twitter account doesn’t capture what he says. We assume Biden’s a fan, as he owned a 1967 Corvette (which he did a burnout in on camera) and also leaked the news that an electric corvette is on the way.
Biden also got to sit in the upcoming all-electric Silverado at the show. The President was one of the first people to drive GM’s other electric truck, the Hummer EV, before it went on sale. But it’s not just the General getting attention. Biden also stopped by Ford’s booth to talk to Bill Ford about the Mustang Mach-E and all-electric transit.
The Mustang Mach-E.“0 to 60 in three seconds,” Biden said.
“3.5, but who’s counting?” Bill Ford replied. pic.twitter.com/yctQP3c9LX— Josh Wingrove (@josh_wingrove) September 14, 2022
“0-60 in three seconds,” President Biden says standing in front of the Mach-E.
“Three and a half,” Ford replies. “But who’s counting?”
Keyword: Watch President Biden Start and Rev the New Corvette Z06