Despite the huge push towards electrification for many automakers, the V8 engine is still alive. You can find it under the hood of many new models in various forms – naturally aspirated, turbocharged and supercharged. Speaking of machines with multiple types of air delivery, what better way to compare their capabilities than a straight-up drag race?
Sam CarLegion has a new video featuring three of the fastest and most beautiful grand tourers on sale. We’ll get to the performance numbers in a moment but first, let’s take a look at today’s competitors. These are the 2023 BMW M850i xDrive, the Lexus LC500 Coupe, and the Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat. Three incredible cars and three very different philosophies.
Coming from Germany is the BMW M850i, which isn’t quite an M vehicle but has a factory twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 under the hood. It produces a peak output of 523 horsepower (390 kilowatts) and 553 pound-feet (750 Newton-meters) of torque, sent to all four wheels via an 8-speed automatic gearbox and the BMW xDrive all-wheel-drive system.
Coming from Japan is the Lexus LC500. It had a naturally aspirated 5.0-liter V8 engine with a maximum power of 471 hp (351 kW) and 398 lb-ft (540 Nm) of torque. It’s decidedly different compared to one of Bavaria’s finest V8s and is mated to a 10-speed automatic and rear-wheel drive.
Finally, the Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat is America’s challenger in this drag race. It had a 6.2-liter supercharged V8 engine developing 717 hp (535 kW) and 656 lb-ft (890 Nm) of torque. The 8-speed automatic sends power to the rear wheels exclusively. Interestingly, all three cars weigh almost the same at around 4,400 pounds (close to 2,000 kilograms).
So, which is faster in this standing start and rolling drag racing series? Of course, it’s hard to tell just by the numbers and we suggest you check out the video at the top of this page. You won’t regret spending 7 minutes watching it, we promise.
