Drag racing is what American muscle car creation is all about, and they do it very well, but what happens when you put two of the most recognized names in the business head-on in drag racing with a twist (literally)?
Well, that’s exactly what good people do Edmund wanted to find out, so they organized a fun little shootout between the 2023 Dodge Challenger Black Ghost and their long-term 2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500, filmed the whole thing, and uploaded the video on their YouTube channel (which is embedded at the top of this page).
As for the numbers, the black special Challenger – which was a last-call special edition built in just 300 units – is powered by Dodge’s famed 6.2-liter V8 that produces 807 horsepower and 707 pound-feet (958 Newton-meters) of torque, sending all its power to the rear wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission. The Black Ghost also weighs 4,476 pounds (2,030 kilograms).
On the other side of the tarmac, the 2020 Mustang Shelby GT500 is powered by a smaller 5.2-liter V8 engine that develops 760 hp and 847 Nm of torque, all of which is sent to the rear wheels via a seven-speed automatic transmission.
So the Ford lowered the power, torque and gear count, but it was also slightly lighter than the Challenger, at 4,168 lbs (1,890 kg).
After looking at the numbers, it seemed like Dodge was the clear winner, but as is sometimes the case in drag racing, power wasn’t always everything. What’s more, these aren’t your typical drag races, but U-Drag races, where both cars accelerate in a straight line, then brake, make a U-turn, and hit the metal pedal again on their way back to the start/finish line.
In other words, acceleration, top speed, braking power and a bit of handling are all tested. Oh, and there’s something else, too: after the first run, drivers switch cars and drive off again, just to make sure things are fair.
In the end, all I can say is that the Mustang, with its smaller and less powerful V8, goes from 0 to 60 mph in 3.8 seconds, while the more powerful and menacing Challenger Black Ghost clocks in at the same speed a second slower.
As always though, go ahead and watch the video above then head over to the comments section below to give your thoughts.
