The 600bhp Radical RXC Turbo 500R takes on the 305bhp BAC Mono 2.5 in an on-track head-to-head with EVO Magazine. But which wins?
| Model | Engine | Power | Torque | 0-100kph | Top speed | Weight | Basic price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Radical RXC Turbo 500R | V6, twin-turbo, 3500cc | 600bhp @ 6700rpm | 465lb ft @ 4200-6200rpm | 2.8secs (claimed) | 298kph | 1070kg (561bhp/ton) | $251,500 |
| BAC Mono 2.5 | Inline 4cyl, 2488cc | 305bhp @ 8000rpm | 227lb ft @ 5500rpm | 2.8secs (claimed) | 274kph | 580kg (535bhp/ton) | $204,200 |
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EVO Magazine is going head-to-head on-track again this week, but how do you follow a shootout between a Ferrari 488 GTB and a 458 Speciale? A BAC Mono 2.5 and a Radical RXC Turbo 500 are a good place to start…
In the incredibly red corner we have a track weapon that, even for specialists Radical, is on another level. The 500R for instance packs not only more aggressive aero and larger brakes over its more road-orientated counterpart, but a 3.5-litre twin-turbo Ford Ecoboost V6 that packs 600bhp and 465lb ft of torque. That’s impressive enough in its own right until you realize the 500R weighs just over 1050kg, meaning a power-to-weight ratio of 561bhp/ton. That’s more than a freaking Veyron…
In the other, considerably cheaper corner (the Radical costs quarter of a million dollars), is the BAC Mono 2.5. Okay, the Radical top trumps the Mono in several areas, given that the BAC has ‘only’ 305bhp and 227lb ft of torque from a 2.5-litre four-cylinder. And that is until you realize the BAC and the Radical have the exact same 0-100kph time (2.8 seconds) and the Mono weighs almost half that of the Radical at 580kg. Suddenly the machete at a knife fight has some serious competition.
Both take on the Anglesey Circuit, EVO’s go-to testing facility in the UK. But which comes out on top? The result may surprise you…
- Technical specifications available on page 2
