Mustang Coupe

Make
Ford
Segment
Coupe

We've seen some fiery drag races this month already. Not only did a drag strip legend in the shape of a Dodge Challenger Hellcat Redeye take on a Tesla Model S, but a supercar battle of a different kind saw a Ferrari F40 try to keep up with a much newer McLaren P1. The latest battle, courtesy of the guys at Hoonigan, sees a McLaren Senna Merlin take on a manic Ford Mustang Hoonicorn driven by Ken Block. In horsepower terms, the Mustang should take an easy win with its turbocharged 1,400-hp powerplant comprehensively trumping the Senna Merlin's 789-hp output.

The McLaren is 31 pounds heavier, so it can't even claim a weight advantage over the Hoonicorn. Whereas the Mustang directs power to all four wheels, the Senna only powers the rear axle. Another difference concerns gearboxes, with the Ford using a six-speed sequential box and the McLaren utilizing a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic. Round 1 gets underway at around the 11-second mark, and in a cacophony of noise and fury, the Mustang demolishes the Senna. That's despite the fact that both cars launched equally well, but after this initial getaway, the Mustang takes the lead.

For Round 2, the McLaren was given a headstart, but this didn't stop the Hoonicorn from taking the lead once more. The same was true in a third and final round, where the McLaren was given a massive headstart amounting to three car lengths, but there was nothing stopping the Hoonicorn from blasting past the hapless Senna. Part of what makes the Hoonicorn so special is that it runs on methanol. It would be truly epic to see this ferocious machine take on the Mustang Mach-E 1400, another 1,400-hp monster but one with a fully electric powertrain. But in this latest battle with the otherwise massively capable McLaren Senna Merlin, horsepower wins the day.