The general consensus is that engines using forced induction don’t sound as good as naturally aspirated ones. These three supercars from Ferrari, McLaren, and Ford, however, are a little different.
The trio of mid-engine supercars all feature twin-turbos and, with the exception of the 720S, all deliver horsepower figures in the mid-600 range. On most circuits, the McLaren is the quickest, but does it also sound the best? Drag Times recently lined the three up side-by-side for an epic rev battle to find out.
Let’s start with the Ferrari 488 GTB, shall we? Featuring a free-revving 3.9-liter twin-turbo V8, its powertrain has won the International Engine of the Year award on multiple occasions – and rightfully so. It pumps out 661 HP but, more importantly, does emit a very satisfying bark, despite being far less intoxicating than the howl of the 458 Italia.
As for the McLaren 720S, it utilizes an advanced twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 with 710 HP. A development of the 3.8-liter V8 used by all previous modern-age McLarens, the 720S has made a name for itself as a hypercar killer.
Last, but by no means least, is the Ford GT. Unlike the other two, it makes do with 3.5-liters and ‘just’ six-cylinders. Nonetheless, its powertrain is still good for 647 HP and thanks to its race-derived development, sounds far better than you’d ever expect by just reading its specifications.
We get that naturally aspirated engines are getting extinct, but those three show that their downsized replacements don’t have to miss out on aural excitement. After all, that’s one of the joys of owning a supercar, isn’t it?