What happens if you pit the much-beloved Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series against the almighty Mustang Shelby GT500? Recently, the two V8s were pitted together to find out how the German high-performance car will fare against its American rival.

Tale of the Tape

Before getting into the race, here’s a comparison of the key specs of the two:

The SLS AMG is no longer in production but it remains one of the coveted products of the three-pointed star marque to date because of its awesome gullwing design and powerful engine that goes with it. Beneath its hood lies a 6.2-liter naturally-aspirated V8 capable of producing 631 hp and 630 Nm of torque. All that power goes to the rear wheels and is distributed via a seven-speed, dual-clutch, automatic transmission with launch control. With a weight of 1,550 kg, the Merc is estimated to run from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.8 seconds. When it came out, the auto was priced around £230,000, but it is estimated to fetch around £700,000 now.

Meanwhile, the Shelby GT500 is equipped with a 5.2-liter supercharged V8. It may have a lesser displacement than its German challenger, but it can deliver more output totaling 760 hp and 850 Nm of torque. Same as the Merc, its power goes to the rear wheels and is managed via a seven-speed, dual-clutch, automatic transmission with launch control. It is also heavier at 1,916 kg with its 0-100 km/h run pegged at 4.2 seconds.

The Drag Race

Following the intro was the customary sound check to compare the notes produced by the rivals from their V8 engines, and some showing off using the doughnut maneuver. Then came the main event, which saw a series of drag races between the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG  Black Series and Mustang Shelby GT500 consisting of the typical quarter-mile race and rolling start. As a bonus, the video includes a brake test to see the braking performance of the two.