Yahoo Autos These Four Twin-Turbo V8s Don't Even Sound Remotely Similar
It's hard to fathom how four twin-turbo V8 GT race cars can sound so incredibly different.
Although these TTV8s only vary in displacement by 600 ccs, Bentley's 4.0-liter Continental GT3, BMW's 4.4-liter M6 GTLM, Ferrari's 3.9-liter 488 GTE and McLaren's 3.8-liter 650S GT3 produce exhaust notes that have absolutely nothing in common.
Of the wildly differing sound signatures, only the German mill is constructed in a non-traditional manner that is responsible for its unique tone. Unlike the Bentley, Ferrari and McLaren, BMW inverts the intakes and exhausts on its TTV8, utilizing a 'hot vee' that houses both turbos atop the block and sends individual exhaust pipes up and out through both sides of the car.
From the grandstands at IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship races, the BMW and its 500-plus horses emit the quietest sound signature in the field. It could easily be mistaken for a turbo four-cylinder motor. Inside the car, it's a sonic experience of Jekyll and Hyde proportions with all eight cylinders preaching through the firewall.
The rest, with conventional manifolds, turbos, and wastegates sprouting outward from their heads, should sing a similar tune. Fortunately, they don't. The sound statement made by Ferrari's IMSA 488, after years of shrieking naturally-aspirated V8s in its 458 chassis, speaks to the benefits of low-revving torque delivered by turbo boost.
The brawling Bentley and clinical McLaren, both found in the awesome Pirelli World Challenge series, take the concept of differing audio personalities to a new level. Between the British the machines, I suspect one will stand out as a favorite across entire four-car sound comparison.
Take a listen to the examples below and let us know how you rank the four baddest twin-turbo GT racing V8s on the planet.
You Might Also Like
