A German sedan and an American sports car meet at the drag strip to determine which V10 is better and which car is quicker. A BMW M5 E60 fights the Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR, which is trying to prove there is no replacement for displacement. Or is it?
The Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR is powered by a massive 8.4-liter V10 with naturally aspirated firepower, which produced 600 horsepower (608 metric horsepower) and 560 pound-feet (759 Newton meters) of torque. Those were enough to make it rocket from 0 to 60 mph (0 to 97 kph) in just 3.5 seconds, run the quarter mile in 11.5 seconds, and top out at 184 mph (296 kph).
However, this Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR left its stock configuration behind for a life of glory at the drag strip. The owner dialed it up to produce 650 horsepower (659 metric horsepower) and 590 pound-feet (800 Newton meters) of torque. But will it make any difference when it confronts the BMW M5 E60?
The M5 is also powered by a naturally aspirated V10, but it is the smaller 5.0-liter, which pumps out 500 horsepower (507 metric horsepower) and 384 pound-feet (520 Newton meters) of torque. It makes the four-door sedan accelerate from 0 to 60 in 4.5 seconds, cover the quarter mile in 13.0 seconds, and hit a top speed of 155 mph (250 kph).
Photo: Carwow| YouTube
While the Viper’s V10 has to pull 3,370 pounds (1,533 kilograms), the M5’s V10 has to deal with 3,869 pounds (1,755 kilograms). A six-speed manual transmission puts the power down through the rear wheels for the Dodge, while a seven-speed SMG automated gearbox handles the power of the BMW in a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout.
Side pipes let out all the drama of the massive V10 from under the hood of the Dodge SRT10 Viper, while the BMW M5 E60 roars out its fury through a quad-pipe exhaust, coming out naturally through the back.
On paper, everything seems clear. The BMW M5 should have stayed at home instead of challenging cars that are out of its league. It is down on power and down on torque, but also the heaviest of the two. But what if at the drag strip, things are completely different? We have seen underdogs winning before, right?
Mat Watson of Carwow will drive the Dodge Viper ACR, and the owner, Barry, warns him not to break it. Nobody has ever driven it except for him in the past 11 years. Nick the one who will sit behind the wheel of the BMW M5 E60.
Photo: Carwow| YouTube
On the first pass, the BMW launches like a rocket ship, and the Dodge suffers from wheel spin, but it soon recovers the lost ground and overtakes the German sedan to cross the finish line first, despite the lousy start.
On the second attempt, the BMW doesn’t seem to stand a chance. The Viper flashes down the strip, leaving its opponent in a metaphorical cloud of dust. The SMG transmission seems to have played tricks on the driver.
The good, old BMW M5 is finally able to go into the “special, special mode,” which should be the S6 Mode, which is the fastest, most aggressive of all, and requires turning off Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) to engage.
So, on the third run, Mat can’t believe how the BMW gains ground and traction to win the race, and, even though he recovers some of the lost ground, there is nothing that he and his Viper can do to stop the M5.
Photo: Carwow| YouTube
The Dodge Viper gets another chance and gloriously takes advantage of it, crossing the finish line first after a quarter mile in 12.3 seconds, while the BMW needed 12.5 seconds for the run.
The roll race puts the two head-to-head down the half mile. They start in third gear and launch at 50 mph (80 kmh). At launch, Mat Watson revs the hell out of the Viper and benefits from the long gears of the coupe, hitting 120 mph (193 kph) in third gear. Nick can only watch the Viper’s rear wing flap away. The Viper crosses the line at 140 mph (225 kph).
Mat and Nick try a second roll race, this time launching at 10 mph (16 kph). It surely helps the BMW, but the Dodge has found its Achilles’ heel and shoots like a rocket to take the win once again.
On the test brake, the Dodge has an ace up its sleeve. The big brakes of the Viper look like the owner got upgraded braking power to match the extra oomph. The two cars are supposed to brake from 100 mph (160 kph).
The one that stops in the shortest distance wins this test. No surprises there! Lighter and with better brakes, the American model wins again, while the BMW M5 pays the price of age, weight, and standard brakes.
