The folks over at carwow have once again taken to the drag strip to bring us an exhilarating drag race. This time, carwow presenter and APEX contributor Mat Watson pits the most powerful production BMW M car ever produced – the M5 CS – against the Ferrari 812 Superfast. Although it might seem like an odd match, carwow assures us that the results are closer than we might expect. Watch the video below…

As a reminder, the M5 CS is powered by an uprated version of the M5 Competition (and other M cars’) 4.4-litre, twin-turbocharged V8 mill. The petrol unit produces 467 kW and 750 Nm of torque, catapulting the all-wheel-drive, 1 825 kg super-saloon to 100 km/h from a standstill in 3.0 seconds. Top speed is rated at 305 km/h. 

The Ferrari, on the other hand, is endowed with the Prancing Horse brand’s familiar 6.5-litre V12. The atmospheric engine produces 588 kW and 720 Nm. This, the Italian luxury carmaker says, is sufficient for the (rear-wheel-driven) 812 Superfast to reach the three-figure marker from zero km/h in 3.2 seconds, before topping out at 340 km/h.