Performance cars have come a long way in the last decade but have they improved to the point where a new BMW M3 Competition can rival a Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series? Let’s find out.
The SLS AMG Black Series is an utter animal and is powered by a 6.2-liter naturally aspirated V8 with 622 hp and 468 lb-ft (635 Nm). Prior to the 2023 Corvette Z06, this was the most powerful naturally aspirated V8 ever installed in a production car.
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In the other corner is the M3 Competition. It is fitted with a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six and is rated at 503 hp and 479 lb-ft (650 Nm), meaning it has slightly more torque than the Mercedes. Both cars send their power through the rear wheels but the BMW does weigh roughly 180 kg (396 lbs) more, which in combination with the power deficit, puts it at a serious disadvantage.
During the first drag race between the pair, the two get off the line at very similar rates but as the speeds increased, it was the SLS AMG Black Series that pulled ahead. Things are different in the second race, however, as the driver of the BMW nailed the launch and easily defeated the Mercedes. The third and final race is the closest as both cars completed the quarter-mile in 11.6 seconds.
A rolling race is then held from 50 mph with both cars in their respective comfort settings. The gearbox of the SLS AMG Black Series takes an age to kick down, allowing the BMW to edge in front. However, the Mercedes was able to reel it in before the half-mile mark.