Skip to main content

Bugatti Veyron and Ferrari LaFerrari go head-to-head in a straight-line drag race

DRAG RACE: LaFerrari vs Bugatti Veyron - Vmax Stealth
This is probably one of the more expensive drag races you’re likely to see. The Bugatti’s reign of super car superiority is constantly being challenged with the newest generation of hypercars, and, this time, the Ferrari LaFerrari is stepping up to be the latest contender.

Both cars were in attendance at Vmax200, a driving event that allows participants to bring out their supercars and push their limits at a private runway.

Here’s a refresher as to what kind of equipment we’re talking about.

The Ferrari LaFerrari packs a 6.3-liter V12 that generates 789 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque. The hybrid-KERS electric motor provides additional power that brings the total output to 950 horsepower. All this goes straight to the rear wheels through a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox.

Ferrari LaFerrari, Bugatti Veyron

Our old friend the Bugatti Veyron is saddled with a 8.0-liter 16-cylinder engine with four turbochargers shoving truckloads of atmosphere into it. The end result is 1,001 horsepower going to all four wheels via a seven-speed DSG sequential gearbox.

The video gets right into it and it’s no question: the Veyron trounces the Ferrari. While we sort of expected the Bugatti to take the win, we thought the lighter Ferrari would at least get off the line a little faster than the hulking Veyron. That wasn’t the case, though, and the Veyron runs to the end zone unopposed.

There are a couple things to consider here. First and foremost is that things look a little damp, and the Bugatti’s all-wheel drive would give it an edge in this situation. Also, we only see one run, and it’d be nice to have maybe a couple attempts on hand to see how consistent the results would be.

Either way, we get this lovely spectacle to enjoy. As much as we’re excited to see the LaFerrari and cars of its kind set new standards, its great that the Bugatti can still roll up and show the new kids how it’s done.

Alexander Kalogianni
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Alex K is an automotive writer based in New York. When not at his keyboard or behind the wheel of a car, Alex spends a lot of…
These new NASA EVs will drive astronauts part way to the moon (sort of)
NASA's new crew transportation electric vehicles.

Three specially designed, fully electric, environmentally friendly crew transportation vehicles for Artemis missions arrived at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida this week. The zero-emission vehicles, which will carry astronauts to Launch Complex 39B for Artemis missions, were delivered by Canoo Technologies of Torrance, California. NASA/Isaac Watson

NASA has shown off a trio of new all-electric vehicles that will shuttle the next generation of lunar astronauts to the launchpad at the Kennedy Space Center.

Read more
5 upcoming EVs I’m excited for, from luxury SUVs to budget champions
Lotus Eletre

Almost every major automaker has released an EV by now -- or plans to soon -- and makers like Ford and Kia already have a variety to choose from. But if you haven't found one that's right for you yet, hang tight. There are dozens of announced electric car models that have yet to come out, and it's clear that the future of EVs is bright.

From longer range to lower prices, the next batch of EVs gives us plenty to get excited about. Here are five upcoming EVs that we can't wait to drive.
Volvo EX30

Read more
Tesla shows off first Cybertruck after two years of delays
The first Cybertruck built at Tesla's Giga Texas facility.

The first Cybertruck built at Tesla's Giga Texas facility. Tesla

Tesla has shown off the first Cybertruck to roll off the production line at its new Gigafactory plant in Austin, Texas.

Read more