It goes without saying that more power doesn’t necessarily mean a faster car. There are many other factors to consider such as weight, traction and transmission type, among others.
Case in point: the Porsche 911 GT3 beat the BMW M4 CSL in the previous track challenge even though the former was less powerful than the new CSL Bimmer.
That said, the BMW M4 CSL is back for another contest, this time against the Italian: Alfa Romeo Giulia GTA. The story is similar here – the Alfa is less powerful but lighter than the BMW, even though the fight is only in the straight line, courtesy Carwow.
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To measure the difference between the two, let’s examine the numbers first. The BMW M4 CSL is of course powered by a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter straight-six engine that pushes up to 543 horsepower (404 kilowatts) and 479 pound-feet (640 Newton-meters) of torque. This figure is channeled to the rear wheels via an 8-speed automatic transmission.
Meanwhile, the Alfa Romeo Giulia GTA uses a 2.9-liter twin-turbo V6 engine that produces up to 533 hp (397 kW) and 443 lb-ft (600 Nm) of torque. As mentioned, it drops a bit in power, though it’s important to note that the Giulia GTA is significantly lighter than the M4 CSL.
Of note, the M4 CSL weighs in at 3,583 pounds (1,625 kilograms), 220 lbs (100 kg) lighter than the standard M4. Meanwhile, the Giulia GTA, with its notable weight savings compared to the standard Giulia, only weighs 3,395 lbs (1,540 kg).
Can this weight advantage offset Giulia GTA’s output disadvantage? Or could the BMW M4 CSL’s superior engine allow Bimmer to take the win from Alfa? The video at the top of this page should answer that. And as always, let us know what you think in the comments section below.
