TopGear is not as popular as before, but they cheer us up occasionally with a cute drag race. Their latest installment in the series of drag racing is the fight between heavyweights – 2017 Nissan GT-R, 2017 Porsche 911 Turbo S, 2017 Audi R8 V10 Plus and 2017 McLaren 570S. These four are not the same. In fact, every one of them employs a drastically different approach to car design. The GT-R has a front turbocharged engine, AWD setup. Porsche’s rear-engined AWD monster (turbocharged of course). Audi employs mid engine layout with AWD and naturally aspirated V10. And the McLaren is also a mid-engined car but only with a RWD and a turbocharged V8.
Despite only having RWD, the McLaren is easily the lightest of the lot. Porsche, of course, is the fastest of the line hitting 62 mph in about 2.7 seconds. McLaren closely follows it only to overtake it in the final third of the race. While Porsche may be the fastest from the start, low weight, and fantastic aerodynamics make up for the lack of four wheel drive on the McLaren. For that matter, the small Brit dominates the race and wins. Nissan GT-R, although updated, is a bit dated and not so much of a success story anymore. The car needs a replacement to reach the supercar killer status it once had.
Interestingly, the most powerful Audi R8 V10 Plus couldn’t keep up with the Porsche and the McLaren only proved that weight is the biggest penalty a car can have in a drag race. See, both, the McLaren and the Porsche are less powerful, but faster, nonetheless.
What is extremely satisfying is to see the McLaren 570S, which lacks AWD, won the race. And let us remind you, the McLaren 570S is the cheapest McLaren one can have.
Tags: Audi R8 V10 Plus, drag, drag race, McLaren 570S, Nissan GT-R, Porsche 911 Turbo S, TopGear