Suzuki presented the Hayabusa in 1999, making a profound impression because no series-production motorcycle was capable of matching its top speed without serious modifications. Although pretty darn heavy, the Hayabusa was developed specifically to unseat the Honda CBR1100XX.
Lovingly dubbed the Super Blackbird, this fellow is rocking a 1,137-cc engine. For the Hayabusa, which is named after the peregrine falcon that preys on blackbirds, the peeps at Suzuki leveled up to a 1,299-cc motor. Originally rated at over 170 horsepower and 138 Nm (102 pound-feet), this four-pot mill was continuously developed in the subsequent generations.
The ’Busa engine in the Mini we’re covering today appears to be a first-gen unit based on its displacement. But as opposed to a bone-stock ‘Busa engine, this particular example makes in the ballpark of 180 horsepower.
Torque isn’t shabby either. 150 Nm (111 pound-feet) in a pint-sized runabout that weighs 500 kilograms (1,102 pounds) is crazy by all means, especially if you remember that the original transmission was yanked out in favor of a six-speed sequential that you’d normally encounter in a racecar.
On the other lane of the runway, Mat Watson of Carwow is much obliged to talk us through a Clive Sutton-tuned Mustang. Officially dubbed CS500, the American pony car develops 40 extra horsepower compared to stock, and it’s rocking a ten-speed automatic of the torque-converter variety. It’s also quite a bit torquier at 530 Nm (391 pound-feet), as well as quite a bit heavier at 1,730 kilos (3,814 pounds) in right-hand-drive specification.
The 5.0-liter Coyote is the only powertrain available in the United Kingdom and Europe after the Ford Motor Company has finally realized that an American pony car with a four-banger turbo doesn’t make sense in this part of the world. The question is, can it outperform the motorcycle-engined Mini in the quarter mile? To answer that question, press play and enjoy!
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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