---
title: 'Is American Horsepower Less Than German? Mustang vs M4 Drag Race'
source: 'https://youtube.com/watch?v=NX00dO35x_k'
video_id: 'NX00dO35x_k'
date: 2026-07-16
duration_sec: 842
channel: 'carwow'
---

# Is American Horsepower Less Than German? Mustang vs M4 Drag Race

> Source: [Is American Horsepower Less Than German? Mustang vs M4 Drag Race](https://youtube.com/watch?v=NX00dO35x_k)

## Summary

In this video, CarWow's Al Watson races a supercharged Ford Mustang with 800 horsepower against a tuned BMW M4 F82 with 550 horsepower to determine if American horsepower is inferior to German. The race includes standing quarter-mile, rolling races, and a brake test, with the BMW ultimately winning despite the Mustang's power advantage.

### Key Points

- **Setup and Expectations** [00:06] — Al Watson races a supercharged Mustang (800 hp) against a tuned BMW M4 (550 hp). The BMW owner Mike notes the Mustang has 250 more hp but a manual gearbox, which might level the field.
- **First Standing Quarter Mile** [01:51] — The Mustang wins the first race, but Al admits a bad gear change made it close. BMW owner Mike wins the second race, tying the score 1-1.
- **Rolling Race** [02:47] — In a third-gear rolling race, the Mustang initially hits the rev limiter due to driver error, but in a re-run, Al shifts correctly and the Mustang wins.
- **Sound Check** [04:25] — Both cars sound impressive; the Mustang's supercharged V8 and the BMW's straight-six are compared, with Al unable to decide which he prefers.
- **First Gear Roll Race** [05:28] — From 10 mph in first gear, the BMW's dual-clutch transmission gives it an advantage, and it wins the half-mile race.
- **Brake Test** [06:12] — From 100 mph, the Mustang stops shorter, but the BMW's brakes lock up. Al offers a re-run but they proceed to more drag races.
- **Second Standing Quarter Mile** [07:49] — The BMW wins again (2-0), with its tuned dual-clutch transmission providing faster gear changes. The Mustang's longer gearing is a disadvantage.
- **BMW Loses a Part** [09:22] — During a race, a piece falls off the BMW. Al argues the race doesn't count because not all of the car crossed the line, but the BMW still wins overall.
- **Final Results and Brake Light Issue** [11:21] — The BMW completes the quarter mile in 12.3 seconds, the Mustang in 12.4. The Mustang's brake lights come on during gear changes due to a calibration issue, which may have cost time.
- **Final Race with Stability Control Off** [12:27] — With stability control off, the Mustang still loses. The BMW wins the overall challenge, proving that despite less power, its superior transmission and driver skill make it faster.

### Conclusion

Despite the Mustang's 800 hp, the BMW M4's lighter weight, dual-clutch transmission, and better gearing allowed it to win the drag race series. The video demonstrates that horsepower isn't everything; transmission and weight play crucial roles in performance.

## Transcript

than American horsepower? Well, we're going to find out cuz I'm going to race a supercharger, so it now has 800 horsepower, against a BMW M4 F82 with a mild engine tune, so it now has 550 horsepower. I'm Al Watson, and you're
watching CarWow. And hopefully America isn't about to be humiliated. upgrades, such as fitting this crazy interior, which is rather interesting.
Over in the BMW is its owner, Mike. He tunes cars. So, Mike, normally you tune cars with like built engines and stuff like that. Why is that tune so mild? >> This is just my business partner's daily. He lives about 3 miles away from
work, so he just commutes in this. We just put a tune on for him. Just a stage >> Does he know you've got it today? Yeah, he's back there keeping an eye on it. >> And do you think that your 250
felt here or not? Really? >> Well, I might have 250 horsepower less, you've got a manual one, so I think that's going to help. So, we'll see how >> I forgot about that. Oh, damn. Let's get on with the racing anyway. So, we do
have a launch control in this. So, I'll put it into fast. I floor it. I'll set the revs up 4,600. Dump the clutch. Hopefully, it'll spin up its wheels a got to do my best rowing of the gears. Actually, this has a short shift
Actually, this has a short shift gearbox. It's lovely. Oh, that's nice. gearbox. It's lovely. Oh, that's nice. >> Three, two, one.
Ah. Here
>> You Damn it. That was really close actually. I had a bad gear change and at I get my gear changes right, it's going to be so close. Anyway, one nil to you. happy with your launch? >> Yeah, I still feel like I go a little
happens next time. That was a really close race. want to compare these cars performance in some different scenarios because that could be quite interesting and reveal what might happen in the drag racing
Right now, we're going to have a rolling race. We're going to be in third gear. going to race over the half mile. I'm going to call it in 3 2 1 go. Whichever going to call it in 3 2 1 go. Whichever car crosses the line first wins. 3 2 1
car crosses the line first wins. 3 2 1 go. Our supercharged response.
limiter. What a dick. I think you had me on the line. Do you know why? >> I was busy being smug and doing a thing to camera that I forgot that I had a >> So, I hit a limiter >> and you came past. Let's try that again
and I'll try and do it properly. 3 2 1 go. Oh, the pickup on this is great. Come on. Don't [ __ ] the gear change, Watson.
Hold on. Get the change right. And I did that time. be a complete and utter dick. When the driver works, the car works. See, it
winning now, aren't you? >> Feels good. It feels good. But it's not going to do now is a sound check. See which car sounds the best. So, this is which car sounds the best. So, this is my supercharged V8.
shaking. That's pretty sweet. Let's have a listen to your 3 lit straight six. >> Okay, that's quite close. I'm not sure which I prefer, actually. Anyway, let's
get on with the race. What we're going to do now is a first gear roll in 10 mph. The start is going to start us and we're going to race over the full half mile. >> 3 2 1
I think he might have gone off a bit before me, but that dual clutch automatic gearbox is so good.
really like it. >> I actually think they're better than the gearbox in latest versions because it's a dual clutcher rather than a torque >> No, I don't think that. I think it's just better than the gearbox that's in
>> I don't think the gearbox is a problem with this car. It's the person operating then we'll come back to the drag racing and see what's what. Okay, we're doing a brake test from 100 mph. When we reach line, full emergency stop. Car that
stops in the shortest distance wins. This is heavier than that. This is like 1.8 tons. That's only what 1.5. Remember the days when BMW 3 series and 4 series the days when BMW 3 series and 4 series were light distant memory now.
when BMW M division didn't make very good brakes, isn't it? stopped as it locked up. >> I'll tell you what though, that is a big bit too much at the end though. Would you like another go?
>> Let's go on with the drag racing and we'll see what is what. we'll see what is what. >> 3 2 1.
a bit soft when it engages the gear and it just feels like it's just going then it takes off. That's 2-0 to you. It's so close. I've got you on the launch, but you come past the gear change with that DCT of yours. dual clutch transmission
transmission. >> And this transmission's tuned as well, original one. >> You should take the bloody tune off that then. And let's see what it's like. Then you've got seven gears, haven't you?
>> I think that's my issue. My gearing is a bit longer. So like in third, you just mine. So I need to really nail this start. If I nail this start, I will beat you. But I need to win this one for sure. Just stay in it. Wish me luck.
sure. Just stay in it. Wish me luck. 3 2 1
No. Ah, you bucker.
It was close. It was very close. Yeah. Are you happy? Yeah. Over the moon. >> Something came off the BMW. The guys are just going to have a look. It was >> Wait a minute. That means he didn't win that race then because if something came
crossed the finish line. >> Yeah. So, his car hasn't crossed the >> He needs to come get it and cross the quarter mile. >> Of course you have to get all your car over the line.
>> Yeah. Sorry, Mike, but that race didn't count because not all of your cars made >> So, if I do it again with this part in the footwell >> and beat you, it counts then. Yeah. >> Yes. Got to take whatever opportunity I
>> Guys, I heard the metal thing here as well, so it might be another one on the >> You just have to give me a dust pan and brush to take the rest down with me. >> There's lots of your car seems to have come off. Don't have a look underneath
mention it cuz you're getting me in trouble here. Oh, that's awkward. >> This is supposed to just be the uh get car. >> 3 2 1.
Oh no.
what tricks I pull, the main difference ain't going to win. So then, what exactly happened? Well, the BMW won. It completed the standing quarter mile in 12.3 seconds. The Ford took 12.4 seconds. However, I was about to find
out that this Mustang might be able to go even quicker. So, when you change is presumably quicker than a standard Mustang and the calibration is not the same, the brake lights come on. I think it's because the car thinks it's slowing
down because it's stopped accelerating. >> It's interesting when I'm changing gear, you notice there's like this brief cut in power as well. >> so connected possibly, but it's only first to second. All the other gears is
Will it be different? >> Uh, I don't know. Let's try it if you >> Right, Mike. We're going to have one more race and we're going to make this doing it is because the team has just noticed that when you change from first
to second in this Mustang, the brake lights come on. And that's not because happened every single race. We've had it before with an American car where you do second, the brake lights come on cuz the car thinks you're having an accident.
race the car with a stability control off to see if it makes a difference. off to see if it makes a difference. Three, two, one.
Anyway, I'm glad we cleared that up. Listen, I hope you enjoyed the video. If Mike for bringing his car down. Well, his um business partner's car down and lending us this. Head to their website to check it out and some other cars they
got for sale. They got some wild stuff over there. However, this 800 horsepower Mustang is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to tuned muscle cars. watch me race an even more powerful Mustang against a tuned Chevrolet Camaro
and a Dodge Hellcat Redeye. And if you haven't done so already, make sure you have some more American muscle cars incoming.