by - A speed race between the Ford Mustang Dark Horse and the Dodge Charger Daytona took place.
- On paper, these two muscle cars have their own performance advantages.
- The winner in this gas vs. electric showdown is determined, but the race remains exciting nonetheless.
As we enter the era of electric muscle cars, the question that interests everyone is—How do they compare? At the latest U-Drag, we get the most direct comparison imaginable. Ford Mustang Dark Horse takes on Daytona in a battle over 1,100 horsepower. Get ready, it’s going to be exciting.
Statistics: Not Always as They Seem
First, let’s talk numbers, as they can be deceiving or very revealing. The Ford possesses 500 horsepower (372 kW) and 418 pound-feet (566 Nm) of torque from its naturally aspirated, Gen-5 5.0-liter V8 Coyote engine. This car weighs 4,016 pounds (1,821 kg) and, like any true muscle car, it delivers all that power to the rear wheels.
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On the other side, we have the Charger — it’s a completely different creature. It is fully electric and has all-wheel drive. It develops 670 horsepower (499 kW) and 627 pound-feet (849 Nm) of torque. That’s much more than the Ford, but the Dodge weighs 5,972 pounds (2,708 kg). That’s almost 33% heavier than the Mustang, raising an important question: Do these extra pounds bring their own challenges?
The Race: Power vs. Handling
Theoretically, all this should add to the Charger’s overall acceleration, but with better braking and handling for the Ford. On the asphalt, the first part of this prediction holds true. The Dodge tears away from the Ford and creates a car-length or more gap until the braking zone. Then the Mustang starts to catch up as they enter the corner, and that’s where things get more interesting.
Previously, electric vehicles really had to struggle at the upper end of the speedometer. Now the situation has changed, and the Charger uses its brute force to exit the corner and maintain its lead. In the second race, the situation remains almost the same, but the finish is slightly different. Again, the Charger takes the lead in the first meters and into the corner.
Here, the Mustang begins to surpass, utilizing better handling and faster exit. In fact, it does so well that it has at least a car-length gap behind the Dodge when the two cars head toward the finish. Unfortunately for Ford, the Mustang just doesn’t have enough power to pull away.
Close but Still Not Enough
The Dodge slowly but surely catches the pony car and secures a 2-0 victory. It’s a tense race, but when all is said and done, the Dodge Charger Daytona claims its victory. The Mustang, despite all its handling prowess, simply doesn’t have the power to hold off its electric rival. Nevertheless, let’s not forget: the Mustang may have lost the race, but it sounds much more thrilling, even if the Dodge tries to compensate with synthetic Fratzonic engine sounds.
