Here's How Much Slower A Hellcat Is On Track Than A Mazda MX-5 RF
In a Motor Trend Head 2 Head, Jonny Lieberman thought he'd use a Charger Hellcat to try and beat the lap times set by Randy Pobst in a MX-5 RF and Toyota 86. It did not go well...
As is often the case with Motor Trend Head 2 Head battles, there’s one particular detail of this Mazda MX-5 RF vs Toyota 86 showdown that stands out. And that’s the moment Jonny Lieberman tries (and spectacularly fails) to beat both the lap times for those cars, in a 697bhp Dodge Charger Hellcat.
It has the power of two pairs of the cars he’s trying to beat, but the tail-happy Charger Hellcat is not a happy beast on a track. Granted, the Toyota/Mazda lap times were set by the extremely handy Randy Pobst, but that doesn’t make the gulf between them (we won’t spoil the result) any less hilarious.
Does this make me want a Hellcat any less? Nope.
Comments
For the tight winding country roads I drive on living in Scotland I would take the MX5 every time (and do, I daily an NB). However if I ever move to the US with its wide open highways I can’t think of a better vehicle than a 2 ton 700hp muscle car :D.
Bet the Chevy SS could beat it.
To be fair, jonny isn’t as good of a driver as randy pobst so this isn’t really a fair comparison
Very true
Yes but having 4 times the horse power is fair!! Lol!!!:D
Randy Pobst could probably beat his time in those teo if he drove the Hellcat. Then again, the Camaro Z28 is the better track muscle car.
the 2014-15 is an extremely capable track car ;D
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4Xl8e10QLA&t=5s
I can’t stand driving these cars. No power = no fun. Small tires = no grip. C6 Z06 will spank the crap out of these cars on a normal sized track. They both are very ugly too. Body roll is of the devil. No thanks.
Power and tires isnt what makes a car fun to drive. Its more about the suspension and how the car handles in and out of turns. As well as weight distribution and the hp to weight ratio. All that aside, id still rather drive a slow car as fast as i can, than a fast car below its limit.
There is no way the 4300 lb Hellcat ever stood a chance here. Do a drag race…
When randy drove the SRT Hellcat, it went 1:26…
I read that in the oyutube comments. I can see the drive was a little fishy. Granted I think they were either trying to have fun and have a side gag with the hellcat or they really forgot what they did with it originally.
“Kid… you don’t understand driving.”
Bro… you don’t understand “86”.
Maybe get Randy Superhero to drive the Hellcat Charger and then tell us how many fractions of a second better it is.
I’ve always been a proponent of lighter and simpler is better, yadda yadda, and I’m a Mazda owner but c’mon. At least make it a real comparison. And if you really want to see it smoke the other two then drive it against the 2016 versions of these other two cars. Want to let me pick the track?
Where did they get 697bhp?? Dodge has been pretty proud bragging of their 707hp…
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