Mercedes-AMG A45 S vs Jaguar Project 8 drag race
November 24, 2020 by Graham King
The Mercedes-AMG A45 S is one of the most extreme hot hatches ever made, but how will it fare in a drag-race against a stripped-out, supercharged V8 super-saloon in the form of the Jaguar Project 8? Well, there’s only one way to find out…
Tap the video to watch the race.
There’s no denying the AMG A45 S is a seriously fast car, but can it really beat one of the most hardcore saloons ever made? Well, its 421hp 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine delivers some of the most horsepower-per-pound (both sterling and lbs) of any engine on sale. And, its snappy eight-speed automatic gearbox and grippy four-wheel-drive system deliver near-flawless launches time after time.
Surprisingly, both cars are pretty level when it comes to weight. The Mercedes chalks up 1,630kg and the Jaguar’s only 42kg heavier – you can thank its numerous carbon-fibre bits and lack of back seats for that.
Jaguar’s engineers didn’t stop at relegating the kids to the bus, they also shoehorned a massive 5.0-litre supercharged V8 with 600hp under the Project 8’s bonnet. It doesn’t just outclass the A45 S for power – it tops it for torque, too, delivering 700Nm compared with the AMG’s 500nm figure.
Like the A45 S, the Project 8 also has four-wheel drive and an eight-speed gearbox – though it’s a torque-converter rather than a dual-clutch – but it doesn’t get launch control.
The biggest difference, though, is the price. You can pick up an A45 S for around £56,000, but the Jaguar Project 8 will set you back £180,000. So does the plucky hot-hatch have what it takes to see-off this supercharged race-spec saloon? Watch the race to find out.
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