Autoblog

This is why drag racers should stay on dragstrips

Chris Shunk — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 20:01:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Safety, UAW/Unions

We've seen some dumb ideas before, but this one may take the cake. The post-jump video shows what happens when a dragster that should stick to the strip goes on a track that requires a mild left turn. Actually, this "track" looks more like the cart path at the local golf course, except most owners wouldn't put the path this close to a ditch.

Of course the dragster ends up in said ditch, and we're thinking the driver is mighty lucky that his car rolled back into the upright position, or he could have been in a heap of trouble. Hit the jump to watch the video for yourself, if only to enjoy the second vantage point of the crash, which shows just how useless a steering wheel can be in a drag car.

Continue reading This is why drag racers should stay on dragstrips

This is why drag racers should stay on dragstrips originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 01 Apr 2012 20:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Which Batmobile wins this drag race, 1966 or 1989?

Zach Bowman — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 12:30:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Classics, Coupe, Etc., Videos, Specialty

If there's one thing nerds love more than obscure factoids, it's the thrill of a good argument. MSN has set out to settle one of comic bookdom's quintessential questions by attempting to discern whether the 1989 Batmobile is quicker than its 1966 predecessor. While we'd love nothing better to see the atomic-powered sire do battle with its jet-powered offspring, we'll just have to make due with a couple of replicas. In this case, the '89 gets its power from a carbureted Chevrolet small block with an aluminum intake manifold and not much else.

Meanwhile, the 1966 uses a C4 Chevrolet Corvette for its underpinnings, complete with a fuel-injected small block of its own. The '66 boasts an estimated 300-325 horsepower while the '89 serves up a more modest 285 ponies. Bets are made, flags are dropped an one vehicle stands above the other. We won't spoil it for you.

We will say there seems to be some on-screen trickery afoot, however. Watch closely, and it's clear the '89 holds onto left lane at the beginning of the race, only to swap places in the slow-motion replay. Something tells us this game was rigged from the start. Hit the jump to see the full episode for yourself, but be warned. Fair warning: the finale sequence may be Not Safe For Work for some of you. Maybe there's something else nerds love more than arguing and flexing their trivia muscle.

Continue reading Which Batmobile wins this drag race, 1966 or 1989?

Which Batmobile wins this drag race, 1966 or 1989? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 22 Mar 2012 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

This is the quickest Mercedes-Benz ever

Zach Bowman — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 16:59:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Coupe, Performance, Videos, Mercedes-Benz, Luxury

Behold what could very possibly be the world's quickest Mercedes-Benz. The good people at Renntech managed to get their hands on a Mercedes-Benz SLR, and quickly set to nudging the power to obscene levels.

According to DragTimes.com, the vehicle boasts 160 horsepower over stock form, which puts the final output in the neighborhood of 680 ponies at the rear wheels. Throw in a set of Hoosier drag slicks and you have a vehicle capable of dashing to 60 in a scant 2.2 seconds. That's plenty quick, and the vehicle doesn't give anything up as it heads toward the quarter mile.

In the video after the jump, shot at Palm Beach International Raceway, the Renntech Mercedes-Benz SLR pulls through the quarter mile in 9.76 seconds at 140.8 mph. As best we can tell, that time makes the vehicle the quickest Mercedes-Benz in the world. Let us know if you know of a quicker Silver Arrow out there. In the meantime, hit the jump to check out the disturbingly fast SLR for yourself.

Continue reading This is the quickest Mercedes-Benz ever

This is the quickest Mercedes-Benz ever originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 11 Jan 2012 16:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Drag-off: Bugatti Veyron vs. tuned Nissan GT-R

Zach Bowman — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 17:14:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Coupe, Performance, Etc., Videos, Bugatti, Nissan, Luxury

The Nissan GT-R has earned itself a hard-won reputation as a giant slayer. The relatively low-buck supercar can embarrass more expensive hardware right out of the box. Spend a little time and money throwing a few aftermarket parts toward the Nissan and you can easily have a vehicle capable of giving vehicles like the Bugatti Veyron a scare.

Take the videos after the jump, for example. The two clips show off a drag race between a mildly-tuned GT-R and a bone-stock Veyron. While the Bug gets an early lead on the more plebeian racer, the GT-R makes up the gap quickly.

Who wins? We won't spoil it for you. You'll have to hit the jump to see the show down from two different angles for yourself. However, we will say we'd like to see a rematch with a sharper reaction time from the GT-R driver.

Continue reading Drag-off: Bugatti Veyron vs. tuned Nissan GT-R

Drag-off: Bugatti Veyron vs. tuned Nissan GT-R originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 29 Dec 2011 17:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Four-door supercars line up, drag out their differences

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 19:31:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Performance, Videos, BMW, Jaguar, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Luxury

The latest BMW M5, Jaguar XFR, Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG and Porsche Panamera S all have lots of things in common. They all have four doors, V8 engines underhood, hail from high-end European automakers known for luxury and performance and can all be had for a wee bit under $100,000.

But which one is fastest?

Well, that depends on how you're planning to measure speed. Do you mean top speed? The time it takes to circle a given race track? Or do you mean in a drag race, the quintessential way to compare a car's ability to accelerate in a straight line?

If that's the case, you'll find your answer in the video after the break. You'll see each of the aforementioned automobiles lined up against one another, racing flat-out over the distance of 1,000 meters.

Who wins? Hit the jump to find out.

Continue reading Four-door supercars line up, drag out their differences

Four-door supercars line up, drag out their differences originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 09 Dec 2011 19:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Turkey Day Corvette crash may result in charges [w/video]

Zach Bowman — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 19:29:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Government/Legal, Videos, Chevrolet

Now more than ever, there's a good chance a camera is watching you when you're doing something stupid. Whether it's dumping your Bugatti Veyron in a Texas marsh or crashing your Chevrolet Corvette during an impromptu street race, you may have to answer the unblinking eye of YouTube the next time things go squirrely behind the wheel.

Police in Montgomery County, Texas have reopened an investigation into a crash involving two Chevrolet Corvette drivers on Thanksgiving day. Officers on the scene originally called the crash an accident but decided to take a second look after a video of the two sports cars racing from light to light surfaced on the web.

As of right now, the clip has garnered more than 2.3 million views since it was uploaded on November 24. While no charges have been filed as of yet, there's a good chance that these drivers may get slapped with a street racing offense in the coming days. Remember kids, keep it on the track and off the streets. Hit the jump to watch the video again.

Continue reading Turkey Day Corvette crash may result in charges [w/video]

Turkey Day Corvette crash may result in charges [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 30 Nov 2011 19:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Turkey Day was terrible for these two Corvette owners

Chris Shunk — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 12:32:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Safety, Videos, Chevrolet

If you saw a C5 Corvette pulled up next to a C6 Corvette at a stop light, would you assume that a drag race would follow? And which vehicle would win? We'd have our money on the C6 Vette, but then again, the C5 owner may have a bit extra under the hood.

While on his way home from picking up the family's Thanksgiving turkey last week, one astute driver noticed just such a scenario play out in front of his eyes, and he was smart enough to press the record button on his camera phone. Unfortunately, the Vette owners weren't smart enough to know that public drag racing is always a bad idea, even on the day before Thanksgiving.

As it turns out, the C5 did have the juice to keep up with the C6, but it didn't have very good traction. Follow the jump to watch a Bowtie battle for the ages turn into one very expensive insurance claim. With joggers, bikers and kids within a stone's throw of the road, this was a really stupid move, and the drivers are lucky only their cars - and egos - were damaged.

NOTE: There is some swearing in the video, so you may want to turn down the volume.

Continue reading Turkey Day was terrible for these two Corvette owners

Turkey Day was terrible for these two Corvette owners originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 28 Nov 2011 12:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

The drag racing wreck that refuses to end

Jonathon Ramsey — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 20:01:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Videos

When's the last time you watched a wreck that took nearly two minutes to conclude? Driver Eric Peterson's XDR Firebird got out of shape almost immediately during a solo dragstrip run and crashed almost head-on into the wall.

According to people in attendance, both tires on the car's driver's side were torn off, and the impact ripped the master cylinder from the firewall. The throttle cable was attached to the cylinder, so when the cylinder fell, the throttle controlling a 1,500-plus-horsepower engine got stuck wide open for more than a minute. Worst of all, the initial impact knocked Peterson unconscious, so he wasn't able to do anything to intervene.

You can see what happens after that in the video after the jump. Peterson, an experienced racer, came to after the medics cut him out of the car and is said to be at home and ok.

Continue reading The drag racing wreck that refuses to end

The drag racing wreck that refuses to end originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 26 Nov 2011 20:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Bugatti Veyron vs. Koenigsegg CCXR in white hot drag race

Noah Joseph — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 16:56:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Videos, Bugatti

Cars don't get much faster than the Bugatti Veyron and Koenigsegg CCXR. You want to go any faster, you'll need a top-fuel dragster or a Bonneville land speed record machine. That's why the two have been at each other's throats for as long as they've been around.

While the two insane supercars may seem similar on paper - two seats, mid-engine, 1,000 horsepower, stratospheric pricetag - their approach could hardly have been any different. One was the sum of all of an industrial giant's considerable resources, the other the project of a start-up with a dream.

So which is faster in a straight line, the all-wheel-drive heavyweight or the rear-drive sprite? Somebody somewhere put the two together and raced them from a 60-km/h (37 miles per hour) rolling start all the way up past 310 km/h (192 mph). Follow the jump to see how it went down.

Continue reading Bugatti Veyron vs. Koenigsegg CCXR in white hot drag race

Bugatti Veyron vs. Koenigsegg CCXR in white hot drag race originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 07 Nov 2011 16:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Drag racing Buick Regal driver loses best seat in the house

John Neff — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 16:29:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Coupe, Etc., Videos, Buick, Humor

The only better place to watch a drag race than from the other side of the wall is behind the steering wheel. Then again, that depends on what car you're driving. This gentleman enjoyed the view from the driver's seat of his hopped-up 80's Buick Regal for the holeshot, or just until his seat went from upright to permanently reclined in 1.2 seconds.

All of which just goes to show how souping up a car can sometimes reveal hidden weaknesses in the most surprising ways. Our advice: Do some crunches, get back out there and try again! Check out the disaster-averted hilarity after the jump.

Continue reading Drag racing Buick Regal driver loses best seat in the house

Drag racing Buick Regal driver loses best seat in the house originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 30 Sep 2011 16:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Cadillac beams over Escalade beating Mercedes-Benz C300 in drag race

Autoblog Staff — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 14:58:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, SUV, Videos, Cadillac, GM, Mercedes-Benz, Luxury

Cadillac really is ready to challenge all comers in the luxury automobile segment, then Mercedes-Benz is a great target to shoot for. As such, perhaps it's not surprising that Caddy put together a video showing how it can easily dispatch one of the German automaker's products. The battleground is a straight stretch of asphalt with a starting line, finish line and hit-the-gas-now light tree. Sounds like the perfect recipe for a little bit of America versus Germany automotive action, no? Problem is, from our vantage point, Cadillac isn't exactly fighting fair.

General Motors' luxury arm picked out a Mercedes-Benz C300 as its desired target. There's really nothing in Cadillac's stable right now that lines up directly with the C300 (the CTS is too large and the ATS isn't here yet), so the American automaker decided to trot out... an Escalade.

Now, we're all for vehicles of different shapes and sizes lining up in one-on-one motorsports combat, but there's nothing fair about this fight. The C300 is an entry-level luxury sedan powered by a modest 228-horsepower 3.0-liter V6 engine (it's not even the most powerful 'regular' C-Class - that distinction belongs to the 302-hp C350). In the other line sits a gurgling, much more expensive luxury SUV with its 6.2-liter 403-horsepower V8 power plant loping eagerly under the hood.

Why not put an Escalade Hybrid up against an SLS AMG? If the 'Slade managed to beat that, then we'd really have something to talk about, eh?

Click past the jump to watch Cadillac show up a Mercedes-Benz that didn't deserve it.

Continue reading Cadillac beams over Escalade beating Mercedes-Benz C300 in drag race

Cadillac beams over Escalade beating Mercedes-Benz C300 in drag race originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 29 Sep 2011 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Volvo truck takes on a Ferrari in drag race [w/video]

Noah Joseph — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 18:56:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Truck, Europe, Videos, Volvo, Ferrari, Racing

It seems these days everyone wants a piece of Ferrari, with countless sports car-makers gunning for Maranello's territory. But Volvo? Volvo Trucks, no less?

Believe it or not, the latest drag race competition pitted a Volvo big-rig against a Ferrari 360 Spider. Of course it wasn't just any old run-of-the-mill tractor, but the Mean Green hybrid racing truck. The beast packs a 16-liter twin-turbo engine that cranks out 1,900 horsepower and is further boosted by a 200hp electric motor.

An even match? You'll have to follow the jump to watch the photo finish for yourself, but the result was closer than you might think.

Continue reading Volvo truck takes on a Ferrari in drag race [w/video]

Volvo truck takes on a Ferrari in drag race [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 05 Sep 2011 18:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

GM Futurliner runs quarter mile like a Boss

Chris Shunk — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 12:32:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, GM

General Motors built the Futurliner to promote a traveling show called the "GM Parade of Progress" in the 1940s and '50s. The slippery-lined bus, which was penned by the legendary Harley Earl, is one of 12 that traveled the U.S. to show Americans the future of motoring and technology.

GM Futurliner #10, which was fully restored in 2007, recently made a trip out to the Pontiac Nationals in Norwalk, Ohio. The 30-ton, 33-foot-long bus was on display at the event, but that didn't mean that the massive antique wasn't allowed to also take a whack at the quarter mile. The 70-year-old sign of progress didn't exactly light up the tarmac, but it can hold its head up high for even finishing the run. The final time? 48 seconds at 28 mph.

Follow the jump to watch the Futurliner in (slow) motion. And no, your YouTube connection isn't running poorly... the Futurliner is powered a four-cylinder diesel engine (30 tons!) and only has a top speed of 40 miles per hour.

Continue reading GM Futurliner runs quarter mile like a Boss

GM Futurliner runs quarter mile like a Boss originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 10 Aug 2011 12:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Nissan GT-R Switzer R850 lines up against Suzuki GSX1300R

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 19:28:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Coupe, Performance, Videos, Nissan, Suzuki, Motorcycle

We're not touching the car vs. bike argument this time around. Instead, we're just going to sit back, relax, and be glad people had their video cameras pointed in the general direction of the Suzuki GSX1300R (known better as the Hayabusa) and the Nissan GT-R Switzer R850 as they lined up against each other in a mile-long drag race.

According to the video, the Hayabusa in question belts out 198 horsepower. That's a heck of a lot of power strapped between two wheels, but it pales in comparison to the 850 claimed ponies routed to all four tires of the modified GT-R.

So... what does that mean in terms of a drag race? We suggest you watch the clip after the break to find out for yourself.

Continue reading Nissan GT-R Switzer R850 lines up against Suzuki GSX1300R

Nissan GT-R Switzer R850 lines up against Suzuki GSX1300R originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 19 Jul 2011 19:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

EVO drags the 911 Turbo S, McLaren MP4-12C, Ferrari 458, Noble M600

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Europe, Videos, Porsche, Ferrari, UK, MISC

EVO lines up the exotics - Click above to watch the video after the break

Americans seem to be uniquely obsessed with drag racing in a straight line as a means of measuring automotive performance, but when British magazine EVO decided to line up the latest set of ultra-fast exotic machinery, not a single piece of American iron was present.

Not that we have any complaints about EVO's chosen group of supercars. Representing Italy is the Ferrari 458, and from Germany hails the Porsche 911 Turbo S. These two traditional power players are matched up against the best Britain has to offer; namely the McLaren MP4-12C and Noble M600.

Now that the players have been established, naturally we all want to know which was the quickest. Not surprisingly, the results were dependent on the distance measured just as much as they were by the vehicles themselves. We won't spoil the ending for you, but we will say that it was close and that you should never count out the underdog. Check out the action in the video after the break.

Continue reading EVO drags the 911 Turbo S, McLaren MP4-12C, Ferrari 458, Noble M600

EVO drags the 911 Turbo S, McLaren MP4-12C, Ferrari 458, Noble M600 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 28 Jun 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Supercharged Corvette Z06 lines up against Koenigsegg CCXR

Jeff Glucker — Sun, 05 Jun 2011 20:01:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Videos, Chevrolet, Koenigsegg

America vs Sweden in a one-mile drag race - Click above to watch video after the jump

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, welcome to today's main event at the mile-long drag races. In one corner, we have American Muscle from Detroit Rock City, a blown Chevrolet Corvette Z06 producing 700 horsepower. In the other corner sits one Savage Swede Supercar; a 1,024-horsepower Koenigsegg CCXR. This is bout is scheduled for one round, with the winner being the first one to cross the line.

Who will that winner going be? Inch up to the tree, click past the jump and watch the video to find out.

Continue reading Supercharged Corvette Z06 lines up against Koenigsegg CCXR

Supercharged Corvette Z06 lines up against Koenigsegg CCXR originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 05 Jun 2011 20:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Video: Shelby Cobra 427 vs Ferrari 458 Italia teased ahead of $400,000 drag fight

Jeff Glucker — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 18:58:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Videos, Ferrari

Ferrari 458 Italia versus Shelby Cobra with $400K on the line - Click above to watch video after the jump

Take a moment and pretend you're a wealthy man or woman. (If you're already wealthy, take a moment to enjoy the warm green glow from your money... otherwise, time to get back to pretending.) Would you rather spend your money on a modern Italian sportscar or a classic American muscle car?

Let's say you pick one and your wealthy friend picks the other... you'd probably want to take both to the track and see who bought the faster machine, right? That's just what the two folks in the following video do with a Ferrari 458 Italia and Shelby Cobra.

Not content with a basic Gentleman's Bet, the duo decide to put serious cash on the line. The winner of the race gets $400,000. The clip, which you can see after the jump, is just a teaser, but the full video is promised soon. Which car is going to make that quarter-mile trip in less time and have its owner walk away $400,000 richer, the Cobra or the Ferrari? Sound off in the comments.

[Source: YouTube via Zer Customs]

Continue reading Video: Shelby Cobra 427 vs Ferrari 458 Italia teased ahead of $400,000 drag fight

Video: Shelby Cobra 427 vs Ferrari 458 Italia teased ahead of $400,000 drag fight originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 21 Mar 2011 18:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Video: SPEED pits minivan versus pickup in jet engine warfare

Aaron Richardson — Sun, 20 Mar 2011 20:01:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Motorsports, Videos, Chevrolet, Dodge, Specialty

Jet-powered Dodge Caravan - Click above to watch video after the jump

There are two ways to do jet-powered vehicles. On one hand, you have the deliciously simple and effective method of strapping a used jet engine to a car or truck, and letting the thrust do the rest.

On the other, slightly more complicated side, you can attach a turbine to a shaft drive, translating the thrust to the rear wheels via a differential. Both are viable, albeit expensive, ways of adding jet propulsion to your car. But which is faster?

SPEED took it upon itself to find out, pitting a thrust-powered Chevrolet S-10 against a shaft-driven Dodge Caravan. The Caravan uses a helicopter engine hooked to its rear wheels in conjunction with its standard gas engine up front. The truck relies solely on good, old-fashioned thrust. Click past the jump to see who's faster over an eighth-mile drag strip.

[Source: Streetfire]

Continue reading Video: SPEED pits minivan versus pickup in jet engine warfare

Video: SPEED pits minivan versus pickup in jet engine warfare originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 20 Mar 2011 20:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Video: Hennessey V650 Wagon vs. Porsche 911 Turbo pits apples against (old) oranges

Michael Harley — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 12:32:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Wagon, Videos, Cadillac, Porsche, Specialty

Hennessey V650 Wagon vs. Porsche 911 Turbo - Click above to watch video after the jump

While the Nürburgring circuit seems to be today's venue of choice for sports car bragging rights, the drag strip remains king when it comes to acceleration contests. With that in mind, the folks over at Hennessey Performance have released a video of their latest hopped-up Cadillac V650 Wagon taking on Porsche's venerable 911 Turbo. As expected, the 650-horsepower "Family Station Wagon" nudges the lighter 480-horsepower "Germany's Finest" coupe for the win.

Wait a second.

The video clearly states the Porsche has a "Tiptronic" transmission. This means it is an older, pre-2010 model (note the lack of LED brake lights) that's missing the current lightning-fast dual-clutch PDK gearbox and standard limited-slip rear end. We don't know for sure, but it could even be an aged 2006 model. Thanks to launch control, today's standard 500-horsepower 997 Turbo does 0-60 in less than three seconds... easily. It is also disclosed that the V650 is riding on drag radials - a big advantage over street compounds on a well-used strip.

Nobody's downplaying the ferociousness of the blown wagon, and we welcome this type of challenge, but let's be sure to choose our words more carefully and keep the contestants in the same era. Follow the jump to watch the video.

[Source: Hennessey Performance]

Continue reading Video: Hennessey V650 Wagon vs. Porsche 911 Turbo pits apples against (old) oranges

Video: Hennessey V650 Wagon vs. Porsche 911 Turbo pits apples against (old) oranges originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 24 Feb 2011 12:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Video: MT five-figure supercar comparo pits Corvette Z06 vs. Shelby GT500 vs. GT-R

Jeff Glucker — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 19:24:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Videos, Chevrolet, Ford, GM, Nissan

Motor Trend tests three sub-$100,000 supercars - Click above to watch video after the jump

Motor Trend is on a quest to determine the best budget supercar. Ford, Chevrolet and Nissan stepped up to the challenge with the 2011 Shelby GT500, 2011 Corvette Z06 and 2012 GT-R. Total cost of the vehicles used in this 1,585-horsepower shootout? $244,290... or $37,040 less than the 570-horsepower $281,330 Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera we tested in 2010. Perspective, folks.

This comparision is not about high-dollar exotics, however, because M/T is looking for the best sub-$100,000 performer. The 2012 Nissan GT-R develops 530 horsepower from its twin-turbocharged 3.8-liter V6. The American muscle machines perfer V8 power with the supercharged 5.4-liter GT500 producing 550 horses and the 7.0-liter Z06 pumping out 505.

The Shelby GT500 certainly represents the best bang-for-your-buck due to its $55,330 as-tested price tag. Yet both the Z06 ($98,010 as-tested) and GT-R ($90,950) offer equally appealing performance at a relative bargain.

Motor Trend took all three super coupes to the drag strip and the Streets of Willow road course. The winning car is not much of a surprise (hint: it's not American) but the resulting videos are still fun to watch. Click past the jump for clips of the drag race and the road course testing, then head over to Motor Trend to read about the test.

[Source: Motor Trend]

Continue reading Video: MT five-figure supercar comparo pits Corvette Z06 vs. Shelby GT500 vs. GT-R

Video: MT five-figure supercar comparo pits Corvette Z06 vs. Shelby GT500 vs. GT-R originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 17 Feb 2011 19:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments