Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 Vs. BMW M4 Competition Drag Race Isn't Even Close

American muscle versus German engineering is a tussle that never quite gets old. At first glance, this looks like a fairly close match-up - both are rear-wheel-drive high-performance coupes, both have automatic transmissions, and they are both priced at over $70,000. There is less than half an inch between the length of their bodies, so they are similar in size too. But theFord Mustang Shelby GT500andBMW M4Competition have different ways of achieving their power and performance. To find out which coupe comes out on top in aclassic drag raceon an unprepped surface, Sam from the YouTube channelSam CarLegionlined the two cars up alongside each other for a quarter-mile sprint and rolling race.

Despite some of the similarities we mentioned, there is a gulf between the two in terms of sheer power. Whereas the GT500 makes 760 horsepower and 625 lb-ft of torque from its angry5.2-liter supercharged Predator V8, the M4 Competition can only manage 503 hp and 479 lb-ft from its 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six. However, the spec sheets will remind us that the M4 is over 300 lbs lighter. So, can the Ford's extra power compensate for its weight disadvantage? In the first race, the simple answer is: Yes, it can. Not only does the Mustang's bellowing V8 drown out the sound of the M4's six-pot, but a series of surprisingly clean launches from the GT500 saw it pull away from its German foe with ease.

在滚动race from 30 mph, the GT500 seems to have an even bigger advantage. In fact, from some camera angles, it looked like the Mustang driver mashed the loud pedal to the floor while the Bimmer maintained the same speed, such was the difference. Official specs suggest that the GT500 is half a second quicker to 60 mph, but this real-world test dramatically demonstrates the Mustang's horsepower advantage.

For almost precisely the same price as the GT500, there is the M4 Competition xDrive that would've made this a closer battle with its all-wheel-drive traction. Still, as the speeds rise, even that would battle to stay in contention with the top Mustang. There are, of course, things that the M4 does better than the GT500, but if it's a drag race in a straight line, the winner here is obvious.