1400HP Nissan GT-R vs. 1370HP Ford Mustang – Drag Race

September 14th, 2021

Here we go again! This is a time-honored rivalry between a sports car from Japan and some Detroit muscle from the good old USA. Both these cars are twin turbocharged, and both are capable of making approximately 1400WHP. That’s where the similarities end. For instance, one is a V8 and the other is a V6. One is all-wheel drive and the other is rear-wheel drive. One is a purpose-built roll racer and the other is a drag car. With all their differences, this should be an interesting series of races.

Let’s begin with the import. The 2017 Nissan GT-R is a powered by a twin turbo 3.8-liter V6 engine mated to a 6-speed dual-clutch automated manual transmission. The all-wheel drive GT-R weighs 4,190-pounds. Prepared by The Shop in Houston, Texas, this Nissan features upgraded turbochargers, a methanol injection system and a MoTec controller among many, many aftermarket performance add-ons.

The Mid-America Customs built Ford Mustang has been revived with a twin turbocharged GM LS 5.3-liter V8 engine (Trick Flow aluminum cylinder heads). Shifting duties are handled with an air-shifted 2-speed Powerglide gearbox. This is strictly a drag car and tips the scale at 3,700-pounds. Maximum output is estimated to be 1,370WHP. Again, performance hardware abounds in this machine.

Let’s get these two beasts on the track and see what shakes loose.

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