Everybody knows you’re not supposed to bring a knife to a gunfight. In this case, the gun is an American supercharged V8 legend, summoned by unholy powers. And the knife is of German make, powering a reborn Japanese warrior. That’s right, we have a Dodge Challenger Hellcat vs Toyota Supra drag race.
Since its tumultuous launch, the Mk5 Supra has taken on multiple opponents and proved it can punch above its weight. It’s only got a 3.0-liter with a single turbocharger; nothing too fancy. But multiple tests have already proven that the 382 horsepower official power rating is well below what the motor is actually producing.
But this one has State 2 software tuning, a Borla Atak exhaust system, and catless downpipes. The total output we’re told to expect is 500 hp and 480 pound-feet of torque, presumably at the crank. That’s about as much as a BMW M3.
Even so, we’re often skeptical of tuned cars in drag races. There’s no guarantee the extra power doesn’t overwhelm the available traction or create huge turbo lag that’s impossible to overcome. But Sam CarLegion has brought a Supra that’s well screwed together, a worthy challenger to the Dodge.
Not sure why Sam says the Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat makes 710 hp. This isn’t a Durango! Also, the torque figure is off, but you don’t need accurate numbers to understand it’s an angry muscle car with a giant V8 and a screaming supercharger. While the motor is fresh, the chassis is pretty old, so the Challenger ends up weighing almost 1,000 lbs more.
So what exactly happens? A lot of fun, that’s what. The Supra hooks up perfectly through three drag races from a dig. It pulls a substantial lead on the Hellcat, even though this is equipped with track tires. But the 200-horsepower difference is enough for this to close that gap, as it usually wins races by a nose. There’s probably a little something the Supra driver can do to win next time.
It’s another story in the rolling races, where the Supra can’t get that quick launch. Hopefully, this isn’t as triggering as I think it’s going to be to the Dodge people. Yes, you can tune a Hellcat pretty easily too, but why ruin the outcome? Just look at how enjoyment both drivers are getting out of this. The best battles are hard-fought, and this Supra fights right to the finish line.
