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Fat Chance: Mercedes-Benz SLK55 AMG Challenges Porsche 718 Boxster S, Loses

We all have that one friend who believes real-life drag racing questions can receive answers from the world of on-paper racing. In fact, some of us have more than one friend who does this, but, fortunately, there are plenty of examples that should help the theory-addicted aficionados get an actual answer.
Porsche 718 Boxster S vs. Mercedes-Benz SLK55 AMG drag race 5 photos
Photo: GTBoard/YouTube
Porsche 718 Boxster S vs Mercedes-Benz SLK55 AMG drag racePorsche 718 Boxster S vs Mercedes-Benz SLK55 AMG drag racePorsche 718 Boxster S vs Mercedes-Benz SLK55 AMG drag racePorsche 718 Boxster S vs Mercedes-Benz SLK55 AMG drag race
Case in point with the open-top sportscar sprinting brawl we're here to show you. This drag race sees a Porsche 718 Boxster S duking it out with a Mercedes-Benz SLK55 AMG.

That's right, we're talking about Affalterbach's old-school toy and Zuffenhausen's new-age, downsized machine - the SLK55 was unveiled almost five years ago today, while being the second generation of the SLK to feature a 5.5-liter motor and yet it's still difficult to believe that the Germans shoehorned a V8 into their compact roadster.

Nevertheless, it's time to move on to the figures we mentioned above. Let's take the power-to-weight ratio, for instance. This is an area where the SLK clearly dominates the 718 Boxster S, since the first packs 4.1 kg/hp, while the latter burdens each of its ponies with 4.4 kilos.

Then there's the torque fight, which once again sees the three-pointed star model winning by a hefty margin. To be more precise, the vee-eight heart of the Merc delivers 540 Nm, while the turbocharged 2.5-liter mill of the Porscha comes with 420 hp.

As for the asphalt brawl we're here to deliver, the pair of roadsters got together on an airfield in Sweden, with both drivers being confident that the potential of their machines would bring home the victory.

The two-seaters engaged in a rolling start race. And while the numbers mentioned above could trick you into believing this was a close battle, we have to throw a spoiler your way and mention that the drag race was far from the kind that requires a photo finish.

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About the author: Andrei Tutu
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In his quest to bring you the most impressive automotive creations, Andrei relies on learning as a superpower. There's quite a bit of room in the garage that is this aficionado's heart, so factory-condition classics and widebody contraptions with turbos poking through the hood can peacefully coexist.
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