While it isn’t the first drag race we wanted to see the new Aston Martin DBS Superleggera participate in, it does a good job of pointing out why horsepower isn’t the be-all and end-all in a straight line speed confrontation.
Top Gear magazine brought a Mercedes-AMG GT R to race against the new Aston Martin flagship; while the two are not direct competitors, it gives us a taste of Aston’s speed.
Looking at the numbers, the new DBS Superleggera appears to have the upper hand: its twin-turbo 5.2-liter V12 produces 715hp (725PS) and 663lb-ft (900Nm) of peak torque, giving it a 0-62mph (100km/h) in 3.4 seconds and a top speed of 211mph (339km/h).
By comparison, the Mercedes-AMG GT R offers just 577hp (585PS) and 516lb-ft (700Nm) of torque out of its twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8. 0-62mph (100km/h) comes two tenths of a second later, at 3.6 seconds, while top speed is rated at 198mph (316km/h).
Both cars sent their power to the rear wheels alone, and while chassis technologies have gone a long way, traction off the line could still be an issue, especially when you have over 700hp at your right foot’s command.
If only would someone pit the new DBS Superleggera against the Ferrari 812 Superfast… Until then, this drag race will have to do.