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RWD vs AWD: Toyota Supra drag-races Volkswagen Golf R

What do you think will work better in a straight line: a rear-wheel drive with more horsepower or an AWD with less HP? An unusual drag race just took place in South Africa.

The latest Toyota Supra has already challenged a number of opponents on all kinds of distances, including the quarter-mile (402m) drag strip. Today, the Japanese sports car faced off a ‘mere’ VW Golf, albeit the strongest of the bunch and equipped with an AWD system.

For those wondering, the Supra comes powered by its stock 3.0-liter, six-cylinder engine nominally rated at 340 hp (254 kW). The same mill also powers the BMW Z4. Its actual output at the dyno exceeds the manufacturer-rated value by a fair bit. In turn, the Golf R makes do with 310 hp (231 kW), which it sources from a 2.0-liter, turbo-four engine.

To summarize, the differences between our opponents boil down to: two cylinders, one liter of displacement volume, and 30 hp / 23 kW. However, the Golf R packs 4WD, while the Supra comes rear-driven.

Wath the video for a surprise outcome.