MX5 VS GT86 VS Hellcat... Does The Outcome Surprise You?

How much slower is a hellcat round a track than the low powered MX5 and GT86. Click here to see!

4y ago
51K

Since the Hellcat model range was released, there's been a debate between those who think the Hellcats just have big numbers attached to their names, and those who believe they're actually well sorted, fast cars.

Wherever your stand on the subject, Motor Trend's video (shown below) may have reddened some cheeks at the home of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles.

Of course, the Hellcat will succeed on a drag strip. The quarter mile sprint is what the model designation was built for, but when Motor Trend gave a track to the GT86 and a Mazda MX5 for a head to head showdown, we didn't expect them to bring out a Hellcat, and we certainly weren't ready for the outcome, either.

I won't tell you what happens, but I'm sure you can guess. I'll let you watch the video.

Have you watched it yet? Because spoilers.

Yes, different drivers drove the cars, but I doubt the same driver would have chucked the Hellcat round the track faster than the lightweight sports cars. Just goes to show there's more to a car than big numbers. Even when those numbers are twice the power of the GT86 and MX5 combined - twice!

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Comments (18)

  • Let's pick another race track. Let's say Daytona, and let us see the results.

      4 years ago
    • Yes let's take it out of a race track known for its balance of handling and straights, and put it down in a track that only cares if you have a high horse power number.

        4 years ago
    • Exactly, daytona is a completely invalid way of testing all round performance.

        4 years ago
  • I wouls prefer either of tue japanese cars, but cmon, this was obviously biased and then used the time of someone drifting here and there. For the record, the same driver posted a lap of around 1:27 in a hellcat in 2015. So yes. The dodge posted a faster time. Id rather take the toyobaru, put sticky tires on and try to get a small bump in power via simple modifications and a tune.

      4 years ago
  • If you love top gear join my tribe " best top gear moments "

      4 years ago
  • Big numbers DO matter... haven't you checked curb weight on these? And no, I won't watch a 23-minute-long video to find out. List it in the article... ugh... power to weight ratio would be handy, too, just for kicks.

    Roughly 15.6 lbs/HP for the Mazda, 13.4 lbs/HP for the 86, and 6.5 lbs/HP for the Charger, in case anyone was curious. And, yeah, I know that sways it in the Charger's favor, but it can't use hardly any of that power through any of the bends, where the other cars can, and it's much more difficult to get heavier cars around corners, regardless of the suspension and tires.

    Oh, and the video calls it a "Challenger Hellcat" when they show the laptime... what is this? Amateur hour??

      4 years ago
  • NO DONT AGREE THE ONLY THING IT PROVE ITS THE DRIVER WAS FASTER THEM THE OTER DRIVER .

      4 years ago
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