Muscle Car Comparison: BMW M8 Competition Vs Shelby GT500 Vs Polestar 1

“Muscle automotive.” These two phrases invoke the reminiscence of carbureted V8s, side-exit exhausts, four-speed manuals, and smoking Goodyear Polyglas GT tires. Take away the rose-colored glass, although, and also you’re left with large, heavy vehicles that exhibited physique roll at drive-thru speeds and massive, heavy engines that guzzled gas and puked poisonous emissions at an alarming price.

Don’t get us incorrect – muscle vehicles have their place within the pantheon of vehicular greatness. However historical past however, what place does a muscle automotive have in an period when gas financial system, automobile emissions, on-road consolation, and track-day enjoyable need to coexist in the identical package deal? As we realized over every week with three unimaginable machines, the muscle automotive would possibly even have a vibrant future. Between the BMW M8 Competitors, Ford Shelby GT500, and Polestar 1, which finest brings the burly two-door coupe phase into the following era, packing consolation, pace, and not less than a small dose of sensibility? 

The Who’s Who Of Muscle

Every of those sporty coupes represents the center and soul of its respective producer. The BMW M8 Competitors, for instance, advantages from the automaker’s heavy investments in suspension and all-wheel-drive know-how to assist the driving force obtain pace and luxury. The Ford Mustang Shelby GT500, in the meantime, begins with a giant supercharged V8, then tosses in energetic dampers and a completely trendy gearbox. Our most controversial entrant is probably going the Polestar 1, an all-wheel-drive plug-in hybrid powered by a humble 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine (albeit one strengthened through a supercharger and a turbocharger, together with two electrical motors).

In our campaign to choose the perfect up to date tackle a decidedly nostalgic phase, we’d consider the BMW, Shelby, and Polestar over a 2,000-mile street journey, culminating in a full day of observe testing on the North Carolina Middle for Automotive Analysis (NCCAR). In that point, we’d critique every automobile’s consolation and tractability in heavy site visitors, nimbleness in mountain passes and nation roads, gas financial system, and outright pace in a managed setting. Heading out on this journey have been Video Editor Clint Simone, Senior Editor Jeff Perez, and your humble creator.

Every of those three gives its personal tackle the trendy muscle automotive method, so we got down to resolve which one does it finest.

2020 BMW M8 Competitors

The BMW M8 Competitors confirmed as much as this little soiree with all the trimmings of wretched extra, courtesy of a BMW Particular person Java Inexperienced paint job with carbon-fiber exterior accents and beautiful 20-inch star-spoke wheels. All through our principally rural drive route, the M8 drew extra curious onlookers than the all-American Mustang, due partly to its deep and lustrous paint and partly to the throaty whack of its twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8. After all, with an as-tested worth of $175,745 (the most costly on this bunch by 20 grand), the BMW had rattling effectively higher draw a crowd.

Fortunately, it has the products to again up the daring particulars. The brutish engine produces 617 horsepower and 553 pound-feet of torque, its turbos serving up thrust with barely any lag, although it nonetheless can’t compete with the moment response of both the Shelby’s supercharger or the Polestar’s electrical motors. A standard torque-converter eight-speed computerized is an odd selection on paper, however in the true world, the gearbox fires off shifts which can be by some means each easy and lightning-quick. The M8 Comp does have an M-specific all-wheel-drive system, however hoonery continues to be potential due to a rear-drive mode that’s tailored for old-school burnouts.

An adaptive suspension comes commonplace, and it provides the M8 the perfect trip of the bunch. Of their most snug setting, the dampers take up bumps like a jumbo jet smothers turbulence – certainly, for as quick because the M8 is, it would as effectively be a roadgoing Boeing 747. And just like the Queen of the Skies, the BMW will get an impeccably completed inside, its dashboard and door panels draped in leather-based and trimmed with carbon fiber. In the meantime, the seats boast exceptionally comfortable Merino hides, distinctive Midrand Beige accents, and small Alcantara inserts. Wi-fi charging, Bowers and Wilkins audio, and wonderful driver-assistance tech full the package deal.

After all, these frivolities soften away when it’s time to mat the throttle or pin the brakes, as a result of in both measure, the M8 would possibly as effectively be a supercar. All that energy goes to the wheels through an energetic rear differential and a posh set of digital nannies that guarantee loads of grip and virtually no wheelspin, even from a useless cease. In the meantime, elective carbon ceramic brakes maintain issues beneath management, with zero fade even after plenty of onerous observe lapping.

2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500

In distinction to the trendy Bimmer, the Mustang seems to be a fiercely retro throwback. Like its Nineteen Sixties-era forebear, it packs a giant V8 and routes energy to the rear wheels alone, passing by means of a limited-slip differential earlier than hitting the street by means of fats, sticky tires (Michelin Pilot Sport 4S, on this case). Dressed up in Tornado Orange with twin white tape stripes and that includes the Mustang’s trendy pony automotive styling, the GT500 wouldn’t look utterly misplaced on the 1969 NHRA Winternationals.

Powering the quick Mustang is a 5.2-liter Predator V8 engine, fitted with a cross-plane crankshaft and a 2.7-liter supercharger. That provides this automotive extra low-end torque in comparison with the shrieking flat-plane engine within the GT350. The blown V8 produces 760 mustangs of its personal, together with 625 lb-ft of torque – that first quantity is Ford’s best-ever end result for a road product, eclipsing even the mighty GT supercar. It’s additionally probably the most highly effective automobile on this check, and by a giant margin.

Though the Mustang seems to be a classic lump of brute drive, it’s remarkably trendy beneath the pores and skin. Whereas the lesser Shelby makes use of a six-speed guide, the GT500 will get a regular seven-speed dual-clutch transmission – the final phrase in quick-shifting, track-ready gearbox know-how. A rotary shifter on the console underscores the transmission’s up to date roots, and management freaks will love the well-placed shift paddles mounted to the again of the steering wheel.

A MagneRide adaptive suspension offers a fairly easy trip on damaged pavement whereas nonetheless permitting the Mustang to claw by means of corners with wonderful physique management (and we did not even have the elective Carbon Fiber Dealing with Bundle). In the meantime, Brembo brakes with six-piston entrance and four-piston rear calipers present the repeatable, fade-free stopping energy that an outdated Shelby couldn’t even dream of, whereas nonetheless being straightforward to modulate round city. The Mustang isn’t fairly as cosseting on tough roads as both of its opponents, but it surely’s nearer than its comparatively cheap worth and retro seems to be would have you ever consider.

After all, getting all that energy and know-how for lower than $100,000 means giving up one thing. Inflexible plastics seem in every single place, and there’s not sufficient sound deadening to drown out street noise or throbbing exhaust. The Mustang’s elective Recaro seats are supportive and cozy, however in any other case, the inside isn’t an important place to commute, fatiguing the driving force fairly quickly on the interstate. Furthering the difficulty is a scarcity of adaptive cruise management. That mentioned, $81,890 as examined undercuts the opposite vehicles right here by wherever from 70 to 90 grand, which means you can purchase a complete Lexus LS for while you need some freeway consolation.

2020 Polestar 1

Ignore the pundits – this isn’t merely a two-door model of the Volvo S90 sedan. As an alternative, the $155,000 Polestar 1 is a turbocharged, supercharged, and electrified all-wheel-drive grand tourer with a slinky form that takes direct inspiration from the beautiful Nineteen Sixties-era P1800 coupe.

That mentioned, it’s onerous to disclaim the deep Volvo roots discovered within the Polestar. “Thor’s hammer” headlights, a vertical Sensus infotainment display, and a knurled toggle-switch starter are direct riffs off the dad or mum firm’s luxurious vehicles and SUVs. The identical is true of the plug-in Polestar’s underpinnings – Volvo’s SPA structure and a transverse four-cylinder engine don’t match the traditional definition of a sports activities automotive at first blush. However we’ll forgive any variety of faults when there’s 737 lb-ft of torque to play with.

That’s proper. Seven. Hundred. Thirty. Seven. That outrageous torque quantity places the Polestar 1 on the high of our trendy muscle automotive trio, and an influence output of 619 horses isn’t something to sneeze at both. That energy comes courtesy of a twincharged 2.0-liter engine that drives the entrance wheels, together with a person electrical motor that powers every rear wheel. An influence-adding built-in starter-generator fills in any gaps within the fuel engine’s torque curve, smoothing out shifts from the eight-speed computerized transmission.

Serving to exotify the Polestar additional is a carbon fiber–intensive physique construction – the doorways, entrance fenders, hood, trunk lid, and roof construction are comprised of a carbon-reinforced polymer, saving greater than 500 kilos in comparison with conventional metal. That’s an excellent factor because the automobile weighs a staggering 5,170 kilos because it sits. Despite that mass, the Polestar handles corners nimbly, due to manually adjustable Ohlins dampers and electrical torque vectoring on the rear axle. Akebono six-piston entrance and four-piston rear brake calipers chew down onerous on discs that measure 15.7 inches up entrance and 15.4 inches in again.

And though the Polestar’s inside styling borrows closely from Volvo’s 60- and 90-series fashions, there’s no denying the wealthy detailing. Finer perforated leather-based covers the fairly supportive seats (with bespoke piping and accents), and a broad swath of matte carbon fiber spans the width of the sprint. An Orrefors crystal gear selector boasts an etched Polestar emblem and offers extra flash for the discerning plug-in coupe proprietor.

Talking of, the 1 can go 52 miles on a full cost earlier than the fuel engine steps in, giving it the longest vary of any plug-in hybrid you should buy in the present day. After that, it achieves a mixed EPA score of 26 miles per gallon, which our different two testers might by no means hope to the touch.

Taking The Lengthy Method Round

Essentially the most direct route from our start line in New York Metropolis to our vacation spot in North Carolina had us on the interstate for about 7 hours, with most of that point spent in speed-averse and traffic-clogged Virginia. That merely wouldn’t do. As an alternative, we charted a decidedly out-of-the-way path by means of Maryland and West Virginia, together with some stellar twisty-road driving by means of the Monongahela Nationwide Forest. Our path took greater than 13 traffic-free hours, so you already know it needed to be extra enjoyable.

As soon as on the open street, every automobile’s distinctive persona made itself obvious. The BMW was a favourite on the interstate, the place its suspension’s consolation setting, extremely adjustable seats, Bowers & Wilkins audio, and complete semi-autonomous driving help made it an important place to soak up miles. Then once more, as soon as the nation lanes become mountain roads, the inexperienced monster once more shone vibrant – one press of both configurable M button on the steering wheel turned it right into a flat-handling, downshift-happy canyon coupe.

The Shelby was much less forgiving on the freeway, although it delivered far much less spinal trauma than anticipated. Even in its quietest setting, the multi-mode exhaust droned away on lengthy cruises, the B&O Play audio system struggling to drown it out. The elective Recaro sport seats have been snug and supportive, and regardless that they weren’t as adjustable because the seats in both the Polestar or the BMW, it was nonetheless straightforward for every of us to discover a snug driving place. After all, the thrilling exhaust and aggressive seats made it way more pleasurable on tight roads, delivering a visceral expertise that neither rival might match.

Not like the digitally enhanced BMW or the all-analog GT500, the Polestar’s biggest deficit in enthusiastic driving is its exhaust word – or lack thereof. Though it ought to theoretically provide supercharger whine and turbo whooshes, it sounds extra like a Hoover than a muscle automotive. That’s actually the one criticism we had in regards to the quick coupe over our street journey to North Carolina – flat cornering, a easy trip, and prodigious thrust made it a stable all-rounder. After all, a tiny again seat and simply 4.3 cubic ft of bags area (blame the good-looking battery show within the trunk) are issues for cross-continental excursions within the Polestar.

Proper On Observe

The religious residence of this check could be the North Carolina Middle for Automotive Analysis, a twisting ribbon of observe with loads of elevation change, a number of decreasing-radius corners, and a hairpin at one finish of its lengthy entrance straight and a wide-open sweeper on the different. With no site visitors, pedestrians, climate problems, or potholes to take care of, the observe grew to become the best place to modify off stability controls and put the M8, Mustang, and Polestar into their most aggressive drive modes. After a number of parade laps to acquaint ourselves with the structure, we cycled by means of every automobile to amass some essential driving impressions.

Inside about 15 seconds, the BMW M8 Competitors distinguished itself as a maximally efficient go-fast instrument. The manufacturer-quoted 0-60 time of three.0 seconds is totally plausible as we hammered the M8 down the entrance straight, with all-wheel drive and 553 lb-ft obtainable from 1,800 to five,860 rpm. And when the straightaway relented to a broad sweeper, the BMW’s stout brakes and tires (M8-specific Pirelli P-Zero rubber, natch) offered countless grip. With each passing lap, the quick German inspired the driving force to trail-brake by means of corners and get on the throttle earlier, its subtle M all-wheel-drive system dealing with traction and stability.

Sadly, on the closed course (as on the open street), the M8 felt like enjoying a online game greater than driving a automotive, proper right down to the synthesized engine noise. Though it produces lateral and longitudinal G-forces like a NASA centrifuge, it lacks driver engagement. Every flip of the steering wheel or prod of the throttle pedal felt like an enter that might end in pace and cornering, with none sense of connection between driver, machine, and street.

The antidote to German Novocain is a heavy dose of American hydrocarbon. Though it options subtle traction administration, a dual-clutch automated gearbox, and magnetorheological dampers, the Mustang continues to be delightfully old style, proper from the primary press of the starter button. Impulsively, the tires pressure at these 760 ponies, every of them whinnying in a cacophony of supercharger shriek and exhaust grumble. Though the GT500’s 0-60 hustle is much less ferocious than the BMW’s – blame wheelspin – there’s a heaping serving to of mid-range acceleration to shut the hole a bit.

Grip from a standing begin is a matter, however the Mustang handles corners fantastically even with the ability on faucet. After all, throttle-on oversteer is an easy course of, but it surely’s additionally simply as straightforward to modulate the accelerator by means of corners to make sure traction (and quick lap occasions). And people Brembo brakes shrug off pace with zero complaints, benefiting from NCCAR’s two straights. Even on easy pavement, the Shelby beats up its driver greater than the opposite two, however that’s the value one pays for such a hard-wired expertise.

Talking of wires, the observe’s straightaway grew to become the Polestar’s enjoyable zone. The corporate says to anticipate a 0-60 time of about 4.2 seconds, 0.7-second off from the Mustang and 1.2 behind the BMW, however you’d by no means comprehend it with the way in which this factor throws itself off the beginning line. In distinction to the Mustang, the Polestar 1 launches with gut-wrenching severity, although velocity acquisition slows considerably as soon as the speedometer reaches 50 mph.

The Polestar dealt with the observe’s first large sweeper as adroitly because the BMW due to these unique Ohlins dampers, with all-wheel drive making it simpler to use energy on nook exit than the Mustang. Lap after lap, its off-the-rack P-Zero tires did their finest to fight understeer and the massive brakes dispatched an SUV-rivaling curb weight with zero drama. It’s far much less point-and-shoot than the Mustang, however with extra emotion and soul than the BMW. We knew the luxurious, electrified Volvo-on-steriods could be a snug grand tourer, however the Polestar 1 additionally proved surprisingly succesful on the circuit.

Jury, Your Verdict

Even after practically 2,000 miles of spirited driving, observe testing, and freeway slogs, naming a winner on this check of contemporary muscle was a seemingly unattainable activity. We argued advert nauseam in regards to the deserves of the BMW M8 Competitors’s number-crushing total functionality versus the Ford Mustang Shelby GT500’s adrenaline-fueled expertise. Then, from a darkish nook got here a timid voice: What in regards to the Polestar 1?

In any case, our major goal from the outset was to seek out the perfect trendy muscle automotive, requiring the winner to offer a stability of sensibility, consolation, and outrageous grunt. Though it was the slowest in our drag race, the Polestar 1’s mixture of easy torque, emissions-friendly EV functionality, and long-haul consolation made the candy Swede onerous to disregard.

We’ll be the primary to confess that no automobile right here is ideal, nor are any of them dangerous. The BMW M8 Competitors gives unimaginable efficiency, a premium cabin, and shocking user-friendliness on the observe, hamstrung by an insulated driving expertise in sporty conditions. The Shelby Mustang GT500 is a giant slice of outdated Detroit, its gas-guzzling V8 rumble modernized with wonderful suspension and transmission know-how – it was the most affordable by practically half, too.

However certainly, it was the Polestar that finally took the crown. It felt particular, its stellar design and beautiful detailing bringing small joys to each drive. And when it got here time to hustle, it kicked some severe ass. Although it wasn’t the quickest nor the loudest, it proved wholeheartedly that energy, poise, and prudence can coexist in the identical package deal. We will solely think about, although, what every of those automakers will drum up subsequent. The long run is vibrant certainly.