Bavarian Might: BMW M4 Comp Stomps Shelby GT500 Mercilessly
Edmunds drag race proves the M4 Competition and its ‘Bavarian Might’ triumphs at digs, however it needs more ‘umph’ on the rolls.
We love a good drag race, especially when it involves a fine example of German engineering taking on an American muscle car icon. In one of its recent videos, the team at Edmunds decided to race a BMW M4 Competition against a Ford Shelby Mustang GT500. The 2021 M4 Competition was piloted by Carlos Lago, and Kurt Niebuhr was behind the wheel of the 2020 Mustang GT500.
Both hard-top coupes get a rear-wheel-drive layout and cost around $75K. The S58 engine in the BMW M4 Competition produces 503 HP of maximum power and 479 lb-ft of peak torque from a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six cylinder motor. The supercharged Predator V8 in the Shelby Mustang is good for 760 HP and 625 lb-ft of torque. So at first glance, it would seem like the Mustang (with its superior power figure) has a competitive advantage over the M4 Competition.
Lago shared his thoughts on BMW M4 Competition’s technical prowess. “The only thing that’s kind of annoying is that when you’re holding the brake pedal when you’re holding the gas it does take a few seconds for launch control to engage. In fact, when you countdown like 3,2,1, it actually takes those 3 seconds before it tells you launch control is actually ready. Still though, it is consistent and easy and quick, and it’s more than what we can say about that GTA 500,” said Lago.
Interestingly enough, the BMW M4 Competition almost immediately pulled away from the Shelby Mustang GT500 during the first race. Even after warming the Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires, the GT500 kept spinning off the line. The M4 Competition also won the second drag race thanks to its sophisticated launch control system, which managed the power well and delivered impressive traction.
Next up, the duo decided to partake in a rolling drag race where both cars crossed the start line at 40 MPH. With the traction no longer a restricting factor, the Shelby Mustang GT500 crossed the line quicker than the M4 Competition. The GT500 also won the second rolling drag race, but this time, the muscle was able to achieve a substantial lead over the Beemer thanks to its turbocharged powertrain.
“The test track results here are interesting. At the track, where we have all the time in the world to extract the most performance from each vehicle, these two were actually tied in the zero to 60 run,” said Lago. He further added, “The difference grows by the quarter-mile but not by much. This either demonstrates the sophistication of the M4 launch control system or that it’s making more power than BMW says.”