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SPEAKER 1: In an Edmunds exclusive,
we've got the Chevy Camaro Z01.
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Dodge Challenger Hellcat.
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And Ford Mustang Shelby GT500.
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These cars have never been as powerful or as capable.
And we have them outfitted in their highest-performing
configurations.
The ZL1 has the 1LE Track Package.
The Hellcat has the Redeye Widebody.
And the GT500 has the carbon fiber track package.
And they're all automatics too.
Yes, even the GT500, although it's technically a dual clutch.
We've already tested these cars.
But now we want to find out which performs
best in a heads-up drag race.
KURT NIEBUHR: We're going to use launch control--
all of us.
Hopefully no one cheats.
I've set my launch control at 1,200.
That's as low as it goes.
That's a little chilly outside.
The asphalt is a little cold.
Tires are a little cold.
I think the ambient temperature is below 40 degrees.
So it doesn't look good for Carlos
and those heat-sensitive tires.
ELANA SCHERR: I would really like
to beat Kurt in the Mustang.
There is a launch control setup which is really nice.
It's not just like a set thing.
So if I was on a really nice surface,
I could set the RPM a lot higher.
And then I could basically launch it full throttle.
But because the surface is cold and absolutely
not treated in any way to make it stickier,
I'm going to put some lunch RPM at 1,200.
That's the plan.
Let's see if it works.
CARLOS LAGO: The biggest challenge
for this car, especially today is these tires.
They're very temperature-sensitive.
And it's very cold out.
So I'm seeing 43 degrees on the dash.
I'll just kind of put my faith in launch control,
focus on keeping the wheels straight,
and hopefully give Mr. Judy 500 over here some trouble.
KURT NIEBUHR: Her car is really fast.
His car is really fast.
Hopefully this guy's a little faster.
ELANA SCHERR: Surprisingly nervous.
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SPEAKER 2: 5, 4, 3.
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Go.
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KURT NIEBUHR: Come on, buddy.
Oh, wheel space narly--
Get out of here.
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[LAUGHS]
CARLOS LAGO: There you go.
KURT NIEBUHR: Whoo.
[LAUGHS]
CARLOS LAGO: That went about as expected.
First large, full tires.
Everybody had trouble getting out of the hole.
And everybody had trouble getting out of it.
ELANA SCHERR: Yeah, it's unfair that Kurt
is totally sleeping on the light and still gets to win.
KURT NIEBUHR: Maybe if I had a bigger engine, I'd go slower.
CARLOS LAGO: [LAUGHS]
SPEAKER 1: And grip is already a problem
when you have this kind of power and only two drive wheels.
But ice cold ambient temperatures
made hooking up even more of a challenge.
We took on the oh so difficult task of heating up the tires--
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--and kept running to get a fair pass.
SPEAKER 2: Go.
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KURT NIEBUHR: I'd be bombed if a car with 800 horsepower
lost to a car with less than 800 horsepower.
ELANA SCHERR: Oh, you barely have less,
and you have like, 600 pounds less.
KURT NIEBUHR: I also have a wing.
CARLOS LAGO: Hey, guys, I also have wings and canards
and stickier tires.
KURT NIEBUHR: I'm not winning.
ELANA SCHERR: Yeah, but you have a lot less horsepower.
CARLOS LAGO: Is it cool if I brag about being
the least expensive car here?
SPEAKER 1: No matter how many times
we ran, the result was always the same.
Mustang wins and undeniably so.
SPEAKER 2: 3, 2, 1, go.
CARLOS LAGO: Follow the lead.
[MOTORS]
Hands on.
No, no, no, no!
KURT NIEBUHR: [INAUDIBLE].
Come on!
Good job, Pony or Snake.
Do I call it Pony or Snake?
Stony, Poke?
ELANA SCHERR: Hate launch control--
stupid.
KURT NIEBUHR: I'll just call it first place.
CARLOS LAGO: You guys, I think I need more nause.
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KURT NIEBUHR: Yes, testing, acceleration on a street
surface has some flaws, especially with cars
this powerful.
But the interesting thing is, we actually replicated
our test results that we got in our test track.
And I believe if you were to go to a drag strip with these cars
and put them on a prepped surface
and put drag radials on them, yeah, they go faster.
But the placement would probably remain the same.
That said, how was the challenger?
ELANA SCHERR: Oh, are we doing like a what did I learn?
Because I learned I do not like losing.
I don't like it at all.
I am mad.
KURT NIEBUHR: I could tell.
ELANA SCHERR: I am not having a good day.
No, the Challenger is fun.
Even when you're losing, the Challenger is fun.
That supercharger whine and like,
how hard it hits when it shifts, it's pretty fantastic.
But the robot's just aren't smart enough yet.
They just didn't do quite what I needed them to do.
So I actually would get out of the hole pretty well.
I think I-- I think I might have [INAUDIBLE]
you a couple of times, Kurt.
But then around when I shifted into third,
car would be like, all right, I think you're good.
Here you go, girl, 797 horses.
And then it would spin like, up there.
So then I would watch him go by.
But honestly I think even if I had stayed stuck,
he would have passed me at the top.
He was just pulling like crazy.
KURT NIEBUHR: That's the problem.
You have the most powerful, but you get the heaviest car.
And physics is physics, right?
The Camaro is the opposite where it's the lightest car
here with the least power but it has like the most tire.
But that tire only works when there's temperature.
So like you, I was having massive traction issues.
I think all of us we're having massive tract--
That actually kind of put us on equal footing,
because once we all hooked, it all kind of worked out
the way we'd all expect.
But, yeah, the launch control on that, especially
with coldish tires really had trouble getting out
of the hole in first gear.
Getting the launch was easy anticipating the launch.
Timing was good.
And then once it hooked up, it was just, OK, there's
the red car going by.
And there's Kurt smiling.
I can see it even through his fricking helmet.
ELANA SCHERR: Oh, so annoying.
Hate that guy.
CARLOS LAGO: I just radiated winning.
[MOTOR]
Actually, I was concerned about getting the car moving,
because you can activate launch control, foot on the brake,
put on the throttle.
You take your foot off the brake,
and there is a solid one count until the car moves.
That's really frustrating.
It should be instantaneous.
I don't know why they put that in there, but it's in there.
So I had to adjust my launch based on when he would say one.
And then I would let off.
And I would sit.
But, yeah, I think we all had the same traction controls.
When my car would shift into second,
it would just slide a bit toward you as almost a wave at you.
KURT NIEBUHR: As you passed on by.
CARLOS LAGO: Hooked up and left, yeah.
ELANA SCHERR: You know why Ford put that little delay in there?
CARLOS LAGO: Why
ELANA SCHERR: To give people time to start their Instagram
videos.
KURT NIEBUHR: [LAUGHS] On that bombshell,
GT500 wins this drag strip battle.
ELANA SCHERR: And none of us like Kurt anymore.
KURT NIEBUHR: Too bad.
SPEAKER 1: Thanks for watching.
Make sure to look for our next video
where we compare these three cars
and go into a lot more detail.
Until then, hit Subscribe and visit Edmunds.com
to find your next perfect car.
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