Sell your car today Dealers bid to buy your car!

Mercedes-AMG A45 S vs Jaguar Project 8 drag race

November 24, 2020 by

The Mercedes-AMG A45 S is one of the most extreme hot hatches ever made, but how will it fare in a drag-race against a stripped-out, supercharged V8 super-saloon in the form of the Jaguar Project 8? Well, there’s only one way to find out…

Tap the video to watch the race.

There’s no denying the AMG A45 S is a seriously fast car, but can it really beat one of the most hardcore saloons ever made? Well, its 421hp 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine delivers some of the most horsepower-per-pound (both sterling and lbs) of any engine on sale. And, its snappy eight-speed automatic gearbox and grippy four-wheel-drive system deliver near-flawless launches time after time.

Surprisingly, both cars are pretty level when it comes to weight. The Mercedes chalks up 1,630kg and the Jaguar’s only 42kg heavier – you can thank its numerous carbon-fibre bits and lack of back seats for that.

Jaguar’s engineers didn’t stop at relegating the kids to the bus, they also shoehorned a massive 5.0-litre supercharged V8 with 600hp under the Project 8’s bonnet. It doesn’t just outclass the A45 S for power – it tops it for torque, too, delivering 700Nm compared with the AMG’s 500nm figure.

Like the A45 S, the Project 8 also has four-wheel drive and an eight-speed gearbox – though it’s a torque-converter rather than a dual-clutch – but it doesn’t get launch control.

The biggest difference, though, is the price. You can pick up an A45 S for around £56,000, but the Jaguar Project 8 will set you back £180,000. So does the plucky hot-hatch have what it takes to see-off this supercharged race-spec saloon? Watch the race to find out.

Want to keep up to date with the latest news?

Sign up for the carwow newsletter by entering your email address below to receive regular updates featuring our latest videos, reviews, news stories and blog posts from across the world of cars. You can unsubscribe from these emails at any time.

By clicking the submit button you agree to our T&Cs and confirm you have read our Privacy Policy.