We had some time this weekend at the StreetCarDrags event at Palm Beach International Raceway to line up a couple of the most competitive super cars out today, the McLaren MP4-12C and the Ferrari 458 Italia from ADV.1. The McLaren MP4-12C comes into the ring weighing in at 3,118 pounds with a 3.8L Twin Turbo V8 pushing out 616 horsepower through a 7 speed dual clutch seamless shift gearbox while the Ferrari is a little heavier at 3,200 pounds and a naturally aspirated 4.5L V8 pushing out 562 horsepower through a 7 speed dual clutch transmission.
Both the McLaren MP4-12C and Ferrari 458 were using their launch control systems which come off the line at 3,000 RPM, but extra low-end torque from the McLaren’s turbocharged engine proves to be an advantage allowing the MP4-12C to bolt off the line and use it’s extra power and less weight to keep on pulling away. The McLaren MP4-12C was running 10.5-10.6 @ 133-134 MPH for these races and Ferrari 458 was running 11.2 – 11.3 @ 124-126 MPH.
We GoPro’d up a 2012 McLaren MP4-12C and a 2012 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 at Palm Beach International Raceway and let em rip down the 1/4 mile. While the stats are close on the cars the race wasn’t. The McLaren MP4-12C weighed in at 3,118 pounds with 616 HP putting the power to weight ratio at 5.06 lbs/hp. The Corvette ZR1 weighed in at 3,200 pounds with 638 HP putting it’s power to weight ratio at 5.01 lbs/hp.
However, the mid-engine configuration, launch control and 7 speed dual clutch SSG (seamless shift gearbox) in the McLaren was a huge advantage over the ZR1′s front engine, 6 speed manual transmission with launch control. We would also like to note that we put a new driver in the McLaren who had never launched or been down the drag strip in the MP4-12C and only had a few minutes in total of driving the car. Both cars had trouble off the line with some decent wheel spin as the run was towards the end of the night and the track prep had deteriorated.
We had some time testing out the 2012 McLaren MP4-12C to get some real world all out drag racing and performance results at Palm Beach International Raceway. The McLaren MP4-12C is powered by a 3.8L Twin Turbocharged V8 pumping out 616HP through a 7 speed dual clutch transmission. The car we tested had the 2013 updates provided by McLaren that brings the 2012 to the 2013 spec which includes a bump in power from 592 to 616HP as well as reprogrammed transmission logic.
This McLaren was equipped with the carbon ceramic brakes, sport exhaust and super light wheels which saves precious weight coming in at just 3,118 pounds with 1/4 tank of fuel. This puts the power to weight ratio at 5.06 pounds per HP.
We used the McLaren’s launch control system which held the RPMs at 3,000 and catapulted the car from 0-60 MPH in just 2.9 seconds, 0-100 MPH in 5.9 seconds and a 1/4 mile time of 10.55 @ 134.56 MPH. The in car VBOX also recorded a 60-130 MPH time of 6.59 seconds.
This was done on the factory provided 305/30/20 Pirelli PZero tires and the launch had a decent amount of wheel spin. With some sticker tires and no wheel spin we’re confident this lightweight British monster will go even quicker into the 10.40′s.
This real world actual drag strip 10.55 run puts the McLaren MP4-12C ahead of the $450k Lamborghini Aventador and makes the McLaren the quickest stock production car in the world bested only by the $1.6M Bugatti Veyron. This is a pretty amazing feat considering the McLaren is rear wheel drive. Take a look at the pictures, videos and timeslips below.
Here is a great video from RoadTestTV of a 900 horsepower supercharged Corvette Z06 running an 8.56 @ 160 MPH at Palm Beach International Raceway. This superfast Corvette swapped it’s standard 6 speed manual transmission for a PowerGlide transmission allowing for amazing launch off the line.
Take a look at this Infiniti G37 loaner car that was taken to the drag strip and ended up running the best time ever for a stock Infiniti G37. Powered by a 328HP 3.7L V6 the base model sedan ran an impressive 13.09 @ 106.38 MPH. The VBOX recorded a 0-60MPH time of just 4.78 seconds. Not bad for a car you can lease for less than $400/month. Weather was optimal with a DA of -149 feet at Palm Beach International Raceway.
Take a look at the video, pictures and timeslip below:
We had some time to test out the brand new Tesla Model S Performance at the StreetCarDrags.com event this weekend at Palm Beach International Raceway. The Tesla Model S Performance is a zero emissions all electric car with an AC induction motor pushing out 416HP and 443 ft-lbs of torque from 0-5,100 RPM.
The Tesla Model S Performance ended up running a best time of 12.371 @ 110.84 MPH with 0-60 MPH coming up in just 3.9 seconds. The National Electric Drag Racing Association (NEDRA) was on site running their Winter EV Nationals and verified the Tesla runs to have set a new world record for the quickest production electric vehicle in the 1/4 mile.
We started out with a full charge on the Tesla which indicated a range of 314 miles, after a 78 mile trip to Palm Beach International Raceway at 70 MPH the Tesla showed a range of 205 miles left. We made a few passes in the car shortly after arriving and the car was amazingly consistent running two back to back 12.678 passes @ 108 MPH. We then drove the car over to the RV parking area at the track and plugged into their 240v 40AMP charging station.
After 3 hours the car was fully charged and we made another pass running 12.371 @ 110.84 MPH which was backed up by a few 12.4x passes. We’re not sure if the increase in performance is due a full battery or having the car cooled down, comments from electron buffs on this?
Our test car was equipped with the 21″ wheel and tire package which weigh more than the standard 19″ wheels. We’re going to try and get our hands on some of the 19″ wheels to do some more testing to see what kind of performance gain they might have. We also put the Model S on the scales where it weighed in at 4,690 pounds.
It’s very impressive how a single motor the size of an office trash can propel this 4,690 pound car (4,870 with driver) to 60 MPH in under 4 seconds and runs low 12′s in the 1/4 mile in a rear wheel drive configuration. Imagine if Tesla put another one of those motors in the front. An all wheel drive, 832 horsepower electric sedan? Build it and we’ll be first in line!
We have a lot of video to go through, but here is a teaser of the Tesla Model S racing heads up against a 2005 Dodge Viper SRT10 with exhaust and air filters.
Here is a heads up race between a 2005 Ford GT and a 2010 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 at the recent StreetCarDrags Event at Palm Beach International Raceway. The Ford GT has a pulley and tune upgrade by Heffner Performance and the ZR1 is stock. Both were running on street tires and struggling a bit off the line with the best run of the day for the Ford GT at 11.09 @ 131 MPH and 11.3 @ 128 MPH for the ZR1. We also weighed both cars with the Ford GT coming in at 3,430 pounds and the ZR1 3,299 pounds.
The Ford Mustang Cobra Jet is factory produced all out drag racing car that runs high 8′s at over 150 MPH. At a cost of over $100k we’re thinking they should include some time at driving school. Take a look at this unfortunate accident where the driver does a huge wheel stand and ends up hitting the wall.
Heffner Performance in Sarasota, FL just ran the world’s first 8 second 1/4 mile pass for a Lamborghini in their newly built 2008 Lamborghini Superleggera outfitted with a custom twin turbo “Elite” package. Running at 24.5 psi on race fuel along with a customized e-gear transmission that shifts amazingly fast (see the video below), they ran 8.72 @ 169.81 MPH with a decent amount of wheel spin off the line. Horsepower numbers were not released but we estimate this Gallardo is running 1500+ horsepower to the wheels. With some better track conditions and weather we expect this car to hit mid 8′s pretty soon.
Take a look at the timeslip, pictures and video below:
We GoPro’d up a 2012 
Here is a heads up race between a 2005 
