Performance Review: Mercury Cyclone 6.4 V8 - [1966]

Figures & Specs Summary:

Mercury Cyclone Performance Review.

Introduction:

This edition of the Mercury Cyclone 6.4 V8 is the 3 speed / Auto version and was first brought out in 1966. This was at around the same time as the introduction of the 1966 AC Cobra 427 and the 1966 Chevrolet Corvette C2 Stingray 427 425hp.This particular Mercury Cyclone has a 6399cc Naturally Aspirated Petrol powerplant with 8 cylinders in a V formation.

Alternative Petrol V8's includes the 2023 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170

The Cyclone shares its Petrol V8 engine configuration with the likes of the 2023 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170 and the 2023 Ferrari SF 90 XX Spider 4.0 V8 Turbo. If you're looking for other fast cars which share the Cyclone's Rear Wheel Drive, Coupe combination then how about the 1982 Fiat X1/9 1.5 8V or the 1965 Aston-Martin DB6 1965.

Power and Weight:

Weighing in at 1630 kgs (3593 lbs) this makes the Mercury Cyclone 6.4 V8 in the same weight category as the 2022 BMW Z4 M40i 3.0 Turbo or the give or take 50kg.

The Mercury Cyclone shares the same bhp with the 2024 Mazda CX-90 S 3.3 Turbo (340 bhp)

In terms of power the 6399cc 16V V8 engine produces 335 bhp (249 kW) @ 4800 rpm similar to the 2024 Mazda CX-90 S 3.3 Turbo (340 bhp) or the 2023 Porsche Cayenne Coupe 3.0 V6 Turbo (348 bhp).

The Naturally Aspirated V8 throws out 427 lb-ft (578.9 Nm) @ 3200 rpm placing it with cars of similar torque performance figures such as the 2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse 5.0 V8 (418 lb-ft) or the 2023 Porsche Cayenne S 4.0 V8 Turbo (443 lb-ft).

Power to Weight:

If one combines the weight with power or torque performance for the Mercury Cyclone you can get a better idea of it's real world performance.

The 2004 Mercedes SLK Class 55 AMG (230.5 bhp per ton) has similar Bhp Per Ton stats as the Mercury Cyclone.

The Mercury Cyclone has a Power to weight ratio of 205.5 bhp per ton and 261.9 lb-ft per ton. Bhp Per Ton figures of the 1966 Cyclone competing with the 2004 Mercedes SLK Class 55 AMG (230.5 bhp per ton) or the 2008 Maserati GranTurismo S 4.6 V8 (230.3 bhp per ton).

Power to Weight(cont.):

If you agree with the late great Carroll Shelby then arguably an even better indicator of potential performance, Torque. Use weight as well and you end up with - Torque per ton, with the Mercury Cyclone generating around 261.9 lb-ft per ton. If you're curious as to what other cars have as much torque to weight then look no further than the 2015 Mercedes C Class 63 AMG S Estate (286.6 lb-ft per ton) or the 2015 Lamborghini Huracan LP 580-2 (286.5 lb-ft per ton).

Acceleration:

With a 0-60mph time of 6.10 secs or a 0-100km/h (0-62mph) of 6.3 secs, this made the Mercury Cyclone 6.4 V8 as fast as the 2017 Maserati Ghibli 3.0 V6 Diesel (6.10 secs) the 2017 Hyundai i30 N 2.0 Turbo (6.10 secs) the 2017 Land-Rover Velar 3.0 SDV6 300 (6.10 secs) the or the 2016 Volkswagen-VW Golf GTI 2.0 Turbo DSG (6.10 secs). This Mercury Cyclone 6.4 V8 is also faster than the 2019 Toyota Supra SZ-R 2.0 Turbo (6.20 secs) the 2019 Toyota Supra SZ 2.0 Turbo (6.20 secs) the 2017 Volkswagen-VW Arteon 2.0 TDi SCR 4Motion (6.20 secs) the and the 2014 Peugeot 208 Gti 1.6 Turbo 30th (6.20 secs).

Quarter Mile time is a close race between the Cyclone and the 2022 Hyundai i30 N Performance 2.0 Turbo

When talking about the performance of the Mercury Cyclone on the drag strip it can reach a quarter mile in an estimated 13.99 secs @ 97.8 mph. Similar performance down the quarter mile can be found with the the 2022 Hyundai i30 N Performance 2.0 Turbo (13.93 secs), the 2022 Mini Cooper Countryman John Cooper Works 2.0 Turbo (13.93 secs), and the 1992 BMW 5 Series M5 E34 (13.94 secs).

Top Speed:

Modern performance cars are often artificially restricted to 155mph. The 1966 version of the Mercury Cyclone 6.4 V8 has a maximum speed of 115mph.

Top Speed of the 1966 Cyclone equals the 2013 Skoda Rapid 1.4 tsi Spaceback (126 mph)

If maxing out your car on the AutoBahn is your thing and you're wondering what's faster than the 1966 Mercury Cyclone 6.4 V8 then how about the 2013 Skoda Rapid 1.4 tsi Spaceback (126 mph), the , or the 2004 Citroen C2 1.6 VTS 3-5dr (126 mph).

Related Links:

1966 Cyclone Rivals List.

A Brief History of Mercury

Car Comparison