Their approaches and spec sheets may seem rather different, but the Audi R8 and McLaren 570S are about as close as competitors get: mid-engined, two-seat sub-supercars from Europe that are at least as much about technology as they are about emotion that and aim to teach the default choice in the segment, the Porsche 911 Turbo, a thing or two.
Like the Porsche, both are meant to be driven on a daily basis without the usual constraints posed by supercars, and customers might be hard-pressed to choose between the two.
Even beyond the stats of which is more powerful (the Audi) and which is lighter (the McLaren), potential customers might want to know which is faster around a track, and above all, which feels better to drive. But if all they care about was straight-line speed, they need look no further than the following video.
The latest drag-race showdown from Auto Express pits the convertible versions of each against each other down what looks like an old runway. The R8, in top V10 Plus Spyder spec, brings more power and traction to the fight, but the 570S Spider counters with more torque and less weight. This despite the McLaren’s hardtop to the Audi’s ostensibly lighter soft roof… but that’s what McLaren’s carbon-fiber chassis will do for you.
So which makes it to the end of the quarter-mile first? We don’t want to spoil the ending, so you’ll have to watch for yourself to find out. But we will say that it’s pretty darn close.