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WATCH | Drag race - BMW M8 Gran Coupe v Audi RS6 v Merc-AMG E63 S v Porsche Panamera Turbo S

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Drag race. Image: Youtube
Drag race. Image: Youtube

• A drag race featuring four powerful V8-powered German cars is on the menu. 

• The Audi RS6, BMW M8 Gran Coupe, AMG-Mercedes E63 S and Porsche Panamera Turbo S are the contenders. 

• Let's see which German can take the bragging rights. 

Another week and another drag race. This time it's Germany's finest performance machines lining up to see which is fastest in a straight line. The usual 'big three' are represented with the Audi RS6, BMW M8 Gran Coupe, AMG-Mercedes E63 S. But there's a fourth contender. The Porsche Panamera Turbo S is sleek, four-door GT with serious hybrid performance. 

But before we get to the race, let's see what these cars are powered by. There's a common theme with all the engines in a V8 configuration and turbocharged. 

The M8 has the largest enginee displacement of 4400cc while the rest of the trio utilise 4000cc engines. All the cars have two-pedals and the power is directed to all four wheels. 

Let's take a closer look at the power, weight and sprint time figures.

Audi RS6 - The RS6 is excitingly headed to South Africa in the final quarter of 2020 although the timing is subject to change. What about the engine? The RS6's the new motor, which is a VW-Group derived 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbo engine in combination with a 48-volt main electrical system to produce a maximum of 441kW and 800Nm. An eight-speed automatic transmission is used, and of course Audi's four-wheel quattro drive system is in place. 

It has a 0 to 100km/h time of 3.6 seconds while 200km/h will take 12 seconds and the car is governed to a top speed of 250km/h. The Audi weighs in at 2075 kilograms. 

BMW M8 Gran Coupe - The four-door version of the M8 Coupe's power is derived from the familiar 4.4-litre turbocharged V8 engine with 460kW and 750Nm in Competition form. All that power is channeled through an eight-speed M transmission to all four wheels linked to an active M differential. 

It weighs 2054kg. Performance figures are 0-100km/h in 3.3 seconds for the 'regular' M8 and 3.2 seconds for the Competition model.

The high-performance four-door coupe will arrive in South Africa during the first quarter of 2020. 

AMG-Mercedes E63 - The E63 S sports a twin-turbo V8 engine with a sophisticated four-wheel drive system. It produces 450kW and 850Nm from a 4.0-litre biturbo motor and has a top speed of 300km/h and it'll reach 100km/h from standstill in 3.4 seconds.  

Incredibly the Merc is the lightest car here and tips the scales at under two tons with a weight of 1940kg. 

Porsche Panamera Turbo S -  This car is all about performance. It is powered by 463kW and 820Nm 4.0-litre V8 bi-turbo engine. Despite its heft, Porsche claims the top of the range Turbo S will hit 100km/h from standstill  in 3.1 seconds and reach a top speed of 315km/h. An eight-speed dual-clutch PDK transmission finds form across the range.

The Porsche is the heaviest car here with a weight of 2400kg. 

Carwow says: "The brand new BMW M8 Gran Coupe, and alongside it’s the Porsche Panamera Turbo S, an Audi RS6 and a Mercedes-AMG E63 S estate."

"So how about performance? Well the BMW’s packing a 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 which produces 460kW and 750Nm of torque. The Porsche may only have a four-litre twin-turbo V8, but thanks to the addition of an electric motor it’ll produce 463kW and 850Nm! As the for the remaining contenders, the RS6’s four-litre V8 will put down 441kW and 800Nm, while the AMG E63 S will produce 450kW and 850Nm thanks to its - you guessed it - four-litre twin-turbo V8!" 

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