After we pitted the M5 Touring against the RS6 Avant a few weeks ago, Edmunds is at it again. This time, instead of racing suits, two coupés competed against each other. In one corner sits a standard rear-wheel drive BMW M4 Competition. In the other case, a Ford Mustang Dark Horse, equipped with a supercharger kit for extra oomph.
The standard M4 is based on the proven S58 engine, a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged inline-six that produces 503 hp and 479 lb-ft. The Mustang Dark Horse’s 5.0-liter Coyote V8 comes from the factory with a naturally aspirated engine, but this particular example was equipped with a supercharger. The result? A whopping 810 hp and 615 lb-ft.
Yes, there is a huge performance difference between the two cars. The pony car boasts an incredible 307 horsepower and 136 lb-ft of advantage. However, the BMW makes up for some of this deficit by weighing around 354 pounds less than the Ford. Another discrepancy between the two performance coupes had a significant impact on the drag race results. Yes, the tires.
The M4 Competition rode on Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S rubber, so nothing out of the ordinary. The Mustang Dark Horse was equipped with much grippier Pirelli P Zero Trofeo RS semi-slicks. With far more power and superior tires, it’s no surprise that the Blue Oval’s coupe triumphed in both drag races. Still, the battles were tough and we wondered what would have happened if both cars had used the same tires.
We’d also be curious to see how an M4 with xDrive would have performed in the U-Drag race, or better yet, an M4 CS. That means the M4 Competition with rear-wheel drive was tested by Edmunds already had a premium of about $19,000 over the supercharged Mustang Dark Horse. The all-wheel drive G82 variants are even more expensive, which would have increased the gap even further.
Despite the glaring differences between the two cars, it’s fascinating to see how Germany and the USA fare in back-to-back drag races. Both have their strengths and weaknesses, and regardless of which side you’re on, it’s worth being thankful that cars like the M4 and Mustang are still around in 2026.
