Dyno numbers – that is, chassis dyno numbers – aren’t an exact science when it comes to how much power an engine actually makes. A chassis dyno measures power at the wheels, and it’s always a lower figure than what you’ll get at the engine’s crankshaft. That’s because power travels from the crankshaft to a transmission, driveshafts, axles, hubs, wheels, and finally tires. In the process, those components absorb a bit of the power, with the transmission being the biggest horsepower thief of them all.
For decades, average power loss for manual transmissions fell in the 15-percent range. Automatics were even worse at 20, but these days we have more than a few cars running dual-clutch gearboxes. Power loss from these transmissions is still something of a mystery, with some saying it’s similar to a standard manual and others saying it’s better.
That lengthy intro is the crux of this McLaren 720S-versus-Ferrari 488 Pista hp showdown…
