Porsche 911 Turbo S Obliterates McLaren 720S in Drag Race

They announce some new Porsche Turbo model every year, and it always feels like the improvements are too small to matter. However, once you put these things on the track, they remind you why Porsche can charge what it does.

In the case of the 911, power comes from a fresh flat-6 engine that puts out 640 horsepower and 590 lb-ft of torque. Those numbers aren't mind-blowing, but the way the Turbo S puts its power down is as close to magic as a car can come - perfect traction and torque split.

While the hardcore 911 is AWD, its rival is a RWD supercar with a 4.0-liter V8 engine. The McLaren makes 710 horsepower and 568 lb-ft of torque. It's about 25% more expensive and lighter, so you'd think it will easily win the drag race.

However, the 911 Turbo S shoots off the line like a rocket, leaving its opponent in the dust. It delivers a quarter-mile time of 10.1 seconds, which Carwow says is the fastest of any car they've ever tested. Meanwhile, the McLaren 720S did the standing-quarter in 10.4 seconds.

We know that some people have done less than 10 seconds in that supercar without tuning the engine. But you've got to take into consideration Carwow raced stock tires on a less-than-perfect surface, not at some super-sticky track.

Both cars perform well, and it's unlikely McLaren will lose customers over this. It did pretty well in the rolling race too. However, it's nice to see Porsche can still blend understated looks with blistering performance.