The Audi RS7 performance, BMW M8 Competition Gran Coupe, and Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S 4-door coupe aren't your typical grocery-shopping cars. This is great, because shopping is the last thing on our list today, unless you have over $170k ready for one of these models. Racing these V8s down the quarter-mile at full throttle should be a sight to behold.
Let's start with the 2022-unveiled Audi RS7 performance, the most ferocious and powerful version of the nameplate. The performance version wasn't just improved under the hood but also went through a bit of a makeover regarding the front lower grille, side scoops, side sills, and the matte gray rear diffuser.
Another nod to its power comes via the 21" alloy wheels, but it also comes with sets of 22" as an extra option that flaunt the large brakes. Now for the good stuff! The RS7 performance packs a mean punch thanks to its 4.0-liter V8 engine, capable of outputting 621 hp or 630 ps with 627 lb-ft or 850 Nm of torque.
Paired with the Quattro AWD system and an 8-speed automatic gearbox, it hits a maximum speed of 174 mph or 280 kph and can accelerate from 0 to 62 mph in 3.4 seconds. The MSRP in the US is $129,490. Mat Watson from the "carwow" YouTube channel is behind the wheel of the RS7.
Next, the BMW M8 Competition Gran Coupe comes with a 4.4-liter twin-turbocharged V8 powerplant that can deliver 618 hp (625 ps) with 553 lb-ft (750 Nm) of torque. Its all-wheel drive system connected to an 8-speed M Steptronic automatic gearbox make it hit a top speed of 155 mph or 249 kph. On paper, it can go from 0 to 62 mph in 3.2 seconds. Love it or hate it, the mean BMW machine starts at $140,795 in the United States.
Photo: carwow
Next, we have another monster, the Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S 4-door coupe. Under the hood, you'll find a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 that produces a whopping 630 hp or 639 ps with 664 lb-ft or 900 Nm of torque. Its AWD system is paired with a 9-speed automatic gearbox, which can launch it to a top speed of 196 mph or 315 kph. It takes 3.2 seconds for the AMG to hit 62 mph or 100 kph. The price for a 2024 model starts at a minimum of $170,350.
Finally, it's time for some actual racing. The Audi won by a mile during the first race, with the BMW in 2nd place and Mercedes in 3rd. All that power from the AMG, and it still ended up last; so sad... Things didn't change much in the second race; they all finished in exactly the same order.
The Audi RS7 performance crossed the finish line in 11.3 seconds. The BMW M8 Competition was 0.2 seconds slower at 11.5 seconds. Lastly, the Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S 4-door coupe finished in 11.7 seconds.
A couple of 1/2-mile roll races followed after, and the leaderboard still didn't change. The only thing that truly made a difference was the Mercedes finishing so far behind, that there was no point in it racing at all. For some unknown reason, the AMG was only outputting 420 hp instead of the full 630 hp it's capable of. After resetting the car, they repeated the drag and roll races just to make sure.
However, aside from being able to keep up better with the other two cars, it still came up last. The moral of the story here is that more power and a heavier price tag don't automatically translate into a faster vehicle.
Codrin just loves American classics, from the 1940s and ‘50s, all the way to the muscle cars of the '60s and '70s. In his perfect world, we'll still see Hudsons and Road Runners roaming the streets for years to come (even in EV form, if that's what it takes to keep the aesthetic alive). Full profile
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