Photo courtesy of Carwow

Maserati MC20 Drag Races Porsche 911 GT3 RS

Twin-turbo V6 vs high-revving NA flat-six

What happens when you pit Italian turbocharged engineering against German naturally aspirated precision in a drag race? That’s precisely what Carwow set out to discover with the Maserati MC20 and the Porsche 911 GT3 RS on the quarter-mile.

The MC20 boasts a mid-mounted 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6, producing 630 horsepower and 730 Nm of torque. Power is sent to the rear wheels through an 8-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox with launch control.

In contrast, the 911 GT3 RS is all about high-revving purity. It’s powered by a 4.0-liter naturally aspirated flat-six, delivering 520 horsepower and 465 Nm of torque. Although lighter and more aerodynamic, its lack of forced induction presents a challenge in straight-line acceleration.

In multiple drag runs, the Maserati consistently edged out the Porsche. The MC20 completed the quarter mile in 11.0 seconds, while the GT3 RS followed closely at 11.2. Even in rolling races, turbo power gave the Maserati the upper hand. However, when it came to braking, Porsche’s engineering shone through—the GT3 RS easily outperformed the MC20 in the stop test.