Edmunds rises to the task, pitting a 2025 BMW M4 Competition against a supercharged 2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse in their renowned U-Drag configuration. In this type of race, drivers accelerate from a stop, brake hard, swing through a tight 180-degree turn, and then floor it back to the finish line. To ensure that conditions are as equitable as possible, they swap cars and lanes for the second run.
The BMW M4 Competition is equipped with a twin-turbo 3.0-liter inline-six engine that produces 503 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque. It weighs around 3,768 pounds and is equipped with Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires that are extremely gripping. The eight-speed auto box shifts quickly, most of the time. The Ford’s Dark Horse alternative starts with a supercharged 5.0-liter V8 that’s good for 810 horsepower and 615 pound-feet of torque. Weighing in at roughly 4,122 pounds, it uses a 10-speed automatic and wears some seriously sticky Pirelli P Zero Trofeo RS tires. Given the power difference, the Mustang is destined to be the clear leader in the straight-line department once it gets traction.
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In the first race, the BMW M4 takes the lead right away. The M4 connects neatly and gains a couple of vehicle lengths on its adversary inside the first few seconds. Drivers have noticed that BMW’s launch control works particularly well here. However, the Mustang must be gently pushed along to avoid wheelspin, so it trails behind at first. By the quarter-mile mark, however, the deficit begins to close. Both cars then engage in some hard braking ahead of the tight corner.
A second run follows the same pattern, with drivers swapped: the BMW makes another great start and leads first. The Mustang closes again before entering the braking zone. Ford brakes later, turns with confidence, and hooks up quickly on corner exit. Power then begins to take over on the straight. The Dark Horse crosses the line far ahead. When everything is said and done, the Mustang finishes the whole U-Drag run in 32.9 seconds, with the BMW trailing in 33.7 seconds.
A closer look at the straight-line statistics only emphasizes the disparity we have here. The M4 accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in 3.7 seconds, whereas the Mustang takes 3.9 seconds–due to the Mustang’s limited traction off the line, of course. The Dark Horse runs the quarter-mile in 11.4 seconds with a trap speed of 129 mph, while the M4 takes 11.6 seconds at 124 mph. The Mustang is then the clear winner in cornering grip, with a decent 1.33 g over the BMW’s 1.18 g. Those Pirellis make all the difference when you’re braking hard and turning.
When you look at the power-to-weight ratios, things begin to stack up. The Mustang weighs only 5.09 pounds per horsepower, but the BMW weighs 7.49. Once rolling, the increased oomph and grip allow the Ford to recover any early deficit and then drive off into the distance. Drivers also complain on the BMW’s gearbox, which occasionally hunts for the proper gear coming out of a turn, a clumsy maneuver that allows the Mustang to shine with its seamless pull.
