- BMW launches harder, but the Mustang reels it in every single time.
- Ford’s braking and cornering advantages decide both races.
- Power-to-weight tells the real story once the cars turn around.
Straight lines are built for fast cars. But how do those same cars handle hard braking, a hard corner, and then a roll race? That’s what a U-drag race aims to sort out, and today, we’re getting a chance to see how a supercharged Ford Mustang Dark Horse handles itself against BMW’s M4 Competition.
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Both cars bring serious specs, plenty of power, and more in common than you might expect. On the track, though, it’s the differences that matter.
Does Raw Output Always Win?
Race one sets the tone immediately. The RWD M4 Competition rockets off the line and opens up a commanding two-to-three car-length lead before the Mustang can fully put its power down to the rear wheels. By the end of the first quarter mile, though, the gap is already shrinking.
The Dark Horse claws its way back to within a single car length before both cars hammer the brakes. That’s where things change. The Ford’s superior braking stability brings it on level with the BMW, and both cars dive into the U-turn simultaneously. On corner exit, the Mustang hooks up first.
QUICK FACTS
Once it does, the supercharged 5.0-liter V8 stretches its legs. By the end of the second quarter mile, the Dark Horse has turned the tables, pulling out to a clean two-car-length victory with its blower screaming the entire way.
Race two plays out much the same, only more decisively. The BMW once again nails the launch and takes the early lead, but this time the Mustang reels it in before they even reach the braking zone.
From there, it’s déjà vu. The Ford brakes later, rotates more confidently through the U-turn, and exits ahead. The final result is a clear, uncontested win. But how did the pony car just dust one of Germany’s greatest cars?
The Answer Lies in the Numbers
On paper, the matchup almost feels unfair. The folks at Edmunds supercharged this Dark Horse, so now it’s packing 810 hp (604 kW) and 615 lb-ft (834 Nm) of torque, compared to the stock BMW’s 503 hp and 479 lb-ft. Despite weighing more at 4,122 lbs (1,870 kg), the Ford’s 5.09 lbs-per-horsepower ratio easily outclasses the M4’s 7.49.
Of course, that kind of power comes at a cost. The Mustang Dark Horse’s price climbs to $90,111 as tested with the supercharger kit installed, though it still undercuts the BMW’s $108,945 figure by a sizable margin at nearly $19,000. Base to base, the Ford starts at around $59,000 while the M4 Competition begins above $84,000.
The BMW does strike back off the line, hitting 60 mph (96 km/h) in 3.7 seconds compared to the Ford’s 3.9. But over the quarter mile, the Mustang pulls ahead with an 11.4-second pass at 129 mph (208 km/h), beating the BMW’s 11.6 seconds at 124 mph (200 km/h).
Where the Mustang Pulls Away
Where the Dark Horse really separates itself is in the corners. It posts a staggering 1.33 g of lateral grip, compared to the BMW’s 1.18 g, and that advantage shows up in the stopwatch. Best overall time? Ford at 32.9 seconds, with the BMW trailing at 33.7. You can watch the full run for yourself in the video below.