Las Vegas dragstrip showdown sees BMW M8 unexpectedly beat Dodge Challenger and Charger Hellcat in side-by-side sprints.
In a surprising display of muscle versus refinement, a stock BMW M8 bested both Dodge Challenger and Charger Hellcat models in a recent set of drag races filmed at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Despite costing nearly twice as much as its American rivals, the German grand tourer proved its worth on the quarter-mile strip, delivering consistent wins against two of Mopar’s most powerful nameplates.
The matchups were captured by the Wheels YouTube channel, known for documenting real-world drag race performances. All three cars — a BMW M8 Coupe, Dodge Charger Hellcat Widebody, and Dodge Challenger Hellcat — took turns lining up at the historic four-lane dragstrip, part of the sprawling Las Vegas Motor Speedway complex.
Under the hood of the BMW sits a twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter S63 V8, delivering up to 617 horsepower in Competition trim. Power is routed through BMW’s M xDrive all-wheel-drive system and an eight-speed ZF automatic transmission — a setup that provided instant traction and smooth acceleration.
Meanwhile, the American duo brought brute force to the line. The Challenger and Charger, likely Redeye or standard Hellcat variants, offer between 707 and 797 horsepower depending on trim. Yet despite their supercharged muscle, both fell short of expectations.
In back-to-back runs, the M8 launched hard and held its lead, with the Charger notably slow off the line, clocking a 13-second pass. Neither Dodge managed a run below 12 seconds, with launches and traction appearing to be key limiting factors.
While power favors the Hellcats on paper, the BMW's balanced platform and AWD system ultimately gave it the edge. Still, the underwhelming times from all three cars raised eyebrows among drag racing fans online, sparking debate over driver performance and tire prep.
Even in a horsepower war, finesse can sometimes beat raw muscle.
