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Autocar staff
http://www.autocar.co.uk
11/16/2006 - 07:00 PM
Ehra-Lessien, Germany
All of the cars in our test were awe-inspiring, but impersonal numbers told the tale objectively. » More Photos
This is the stuff of octane-fueled dreams: nine of the world's most powerful supercars lined up and ready to burn rubber on one of the most expansive automotive playgrounds on the planet: Volkswagen's Ehra-Lessien test track in northern Germany.
Until now, we've had to rely on the individual top speed claims of each of the car makers represented here. We put them head to head on the same stretch of road and under the same conditions to not only confirm which one is the quickest up the drag strip, but also which can claim the highest overall top speed.
The last time we pitted a bunch of supercars of this caliber against each other was on a warm summer night at Nardo back in 2004. The Ferrari Enzo took the honors then, with a sizzling top speed of 219mph. This time, Maranello defended its crown with the gorgeous 599 GTB Fiorano, and keeping it company was Lamborghini's demonic Murciélago LP640. We also threw in three American greats in the form of the Chevrolet Corvette Z06, Dodge Viper SRT-10 and Ford GT. Add to that bunch the Aston Martin Vanquish S, Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren and Porsche 911 Turbo and you've got a list of contenders that span every division of the supercar league. Well, almost: to put this latest supercar shootout into clear perspective, we also took along the mighty Bugatti Veyron EB16.4.
All of the cars in our test were awe-inspiring, but impersonal numbers told the tale objectively. » More Photos
0-62mph (100kph)
As expected, the 987hp, four-wheel-drive Bugatti launched off the line and rocketed into the distance with an intensity and efficiency not matched by any other car here. It recorded a phenomenal time of just 2.5sec. It's the heaviest of the bunch, but a staggering output endows the Veyron with the best power-to-weight ratio by far at 522hp per ton. The deceptively small coupe managed to pull out a 1.0sec gap over the next best car.
In the all-Italian fight for second, the Lamborghini's four-wheel-drive traction helped it to launch more cleanly off the line and kept it ahead of the Ferrari just long enough to reach 62mph in 3.4sec, as opposed to the 599's 3.5sec.
Next up
Still, you can't argue with a 0-62mph time of just 3.7sec, not when it pips the more powerful SLR by 0.1sec. The Merc's 3.8sec split was exactly the same as we recorded at Nardo back in 2004. There's no great trickery in extracting its performance. You simply build up revs while holding it on the brakes, before side-stepping the left pedal and letting its five-speed automatic gearbox do its stuff.
Sixth place in our 0-62mph run was fought out between our American trio. The super-sleek GT just managed to pip the Corvette Z06 at 3.9sec versus 4.0sec. Despite packing 38hp and 123lb ft more than the Chevrolet, the Ford's extra 353 lb curb weight allowed the less powerful but lighter Corvette to stay in touch. Neither time managed to duplicate Ford or Chevrolet's official claims, but in such company they were still impressive.
The same goes for the Viper SRT-10. On spectacle alone, nothing comes close to matching the Dodge's antics as 524lb ft is dumped to the rear wheels and it explodes off the line in a cloud of tire smoke and dust without any expensive electronic aids to keep things in order. It stopped the clock at 4.3sec.
With a time of 5.3sec, the Gaydon-built Vanquish S trailed the Dodge by 1.0sec up to the first timing marker. Disappointing? Yes. However, a relative lack of torque – the Aston's 426lb ft is 44lb ft down on the Viper – and its weight contributed to its relative lack of vigor out of the blocks. But, boy, does it sound great. Once the initial tire-chewing antics subside, it delivers a great baritone soundtrack.
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