In the orange corner, with 1440 kg of weight , we have the McLaren 570S, the access model for the British brand — still, its specifications command respect. The two-seater coupé, with engine in central rear position, is equipped with a 3.8 twin-turbo V8 capable of delivering 570 hp at 7400 rpm and 600 Nm between 5000 and 6500 rpm.
The transmission is carried out to the rear wheels through a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox. The results are worthy of any supercar: 3.2 s up to 100 km/h and 328 km/h of top speed.
In the red corner, with almost 1000 kg more ( 2433 kg) you are the most unlikely of rivals. The Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk is a family-sized SUV, but it's also a weapon of massive tire destruction. The engine is the same engine that equips the Hellcat brothers — Challenger and Charger — in other words, the all-powerful Supercharged V8 with 6.2 liters, 717 horsepower at 6000 rpm and thundering 868 Nm at 4000 rpm.
For the first time in a vehicle equipped with this engine, the transmission is carried out on four wheels, through an automatic eight-speed gearbox. The numbers are intimidating, and the performance ones are no less: 3.7 s until reaching 100 km/h and capable of reaching 290 km/h of maximum speed… remember, in an SUV of almost 2.5 tons.
Despite being the most unlikely of rivals, a drag race is justified by the similarity in acceleration values… and by the enjoyment of seeing an SUV of almost 2.5 tons accompanying a sports car of such a noble lineage.
If four-wheel drive can give the Grand Cherokee Trackhawk a head start, the 570S is considerably lighter. The race was split into two parts, with the McLaren 570S taking on the challenge with and without Launch Control — and the results are astounding.
These are the times we live in… SUVs fighting in acceleration tests and 100% electric saloons humiliating everything between 0 and 400 m. Watch the movie, courtesy of Hennessey Performance's Youtube channel.