The McLaren 720S and Ferrari F8 Tributo are both extremely impressive and promise very similar levels of performance. However, which is the quickest? Let’s find out.
Both the McLaren and the Ferrari feature twin-turbocharged V8s, but whereas the engine of the British supercar displaces 4.0 liters, the Ferrari’s is slightly smaller at 3.9 liters. Despite that, both the 720S and F8 Tributo produce exactly the same 710 hp and 568 lb-ft (770 Nm) of torque, making them the closest of rivals. What’s more, they both have seven-speed dual-clutch transmissions and rear-wheel drive.
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To see which has the edge in a straight-line, YouTuber 888MF gathered the two together for a pair of drag races. These were held at an empty airfield rather than a prepped drag strip, so the acceleration and quarter-mile times of both cars were down on what they are capable of.
In the first race, the Ferrari gets the slightly better launch, but as the speeds start to build, the McLaren stretches out a lead and ultimately wins by a couple of car lengths. The second race is a similar story. This time, the F8 Tributo gets a significantly better launch than the McLaren and yet, it is the 720S that quickly overtakes it before the line.
A look at the telemetry confirms that, on this day and on this airfield, the F8 Tributo was quicker to 60 mph (96 km/h) with a time of 2.99 seconds and reached 100 mph (160 km/h) in 5.955 seconds. By comparison, the McLaren needed 3.07 seconds hit 60 mph but was quicker to 100 mph, hitting that mark in 5.7 seconds.