Who will be the powertrain king?
It’s always exciting to see a supercar powered by gasoline take on a hybrid supercar. It’s amazing to see the technological advancements made. We’re now seeing more power and performance in smaller engines and electrically-assisted motors. Drag racing like this is an excellent example of technological innovation, speed, and skill. Drag Times posted a YouTube video recently showing what happens when a McLaren and a Porsche 911 Spyder go head-to-head at Palm Beach International Raceway’s drag strip. This is something they have wanted to do for a while. It’s quite close.
The Porsche 918 Spyder is a plug-in hybrid hypercar that features a 4.6-liter V8 and two electric motors making 282 horsepower. The system produces 875 horsepower and 944 pounds-feet. It is mated with a seven-speed PDK dual clutch and all wheel drive. These are huge numbers. When you consider that the Porsche 918 Spyder can reach speeds of 214 mph and has a zero-to-60 time in sub-3 seconds, it is definitely a powerhouse.
McLaren 720S is the gasoline-powered supercar of choice. It boasts a turbocharged 4.0 liter V8 that produces 710 horsepower and 568 pound-feet of torque. The 720S has rear-wheel drive and a seven-speed dual clutch transmission. This is nothing to be ashamed of.
The runs are quite impressive, without giving away too much. The entire video shows that they had to complete at least four heats in order to determine who would win; it was very close. These cars can run in sub-ten conditions and were completed in quick succession with no cool downs. You can see the results in the video below.