Say what you will about the Volkswagen Group, but you have to admit they know how to make the most out of their platforms.
Volkswagen, Take for example the MLB Evo architecture, which underpins all of these four SUVs pitted against each other by Carwow in a drag race. Yes, the Audi RS Q8, Lamborghini Urus, Bentley Bentayga, and the Porsche Cayenne Turbo S E-Hybrid all have just about the same underpinnings.
That said, some models are more powerful than the others and weight also greatly varies from one SUV to another. While the Urus and RS Q8 share just about the same twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 in different states of tune, the Bentayga had a larger W12 whereas the Cayenne was the only electrified model of the group. All that was missing from the drag race was the new VW Touareg R, which rides on the same MLB Evo platform.
Looking solely at the horsepower count, you’d expect the Porsche to take the win since it packs a combined output of 680 hp. However, it’s also the heaviest of all four SUVs by tipping the scales at a whopping 2,565 kilograms. Not that the Bentayga is a featherweight contender since it too is quite the porker, at 2,440 kg. As for the RS Q8, it’s slightly less heavy, at 2,315 kg.
Although certainly no Mazda MX-5 Miata, the Urus is considerably lighter than its three mechanically related siblings, weighing in at 2,199 kg. With the raging bull on stilts carrying around far less fat than its rivals, we’re not surprised it triumphed in the drag race. The Porsche’s power advantage only helped it up to a point, with the Lambo ultimately managing to complete the quarter mile a tad quicker.
The Audi RS Q8 finishing third is just about right seeing as how it’s down on power while carrying more weight than the Urus, while the Bentayga’s W12 wasn’t really developed for drag racing. It’s a silky-smooth engine ideal for extended journeys in utmost comfort with heaps of low-end torque for effortless cruising.
Volkswagen, It was another win for the Urus in the rolling race from 50 mph, but we’re particularly impressed with how the Bentayga performed once they all got going. That said, it nearly ended up dead last after the RS Q8 caught it right at the end. The rolling race was repeated, but this time around with the SUVs in the sportiest settings and manual mode, with the Cayenne Turbo S E-Hybrid finally beating the Urus.
No surprises in the brake test from 70 mph if we’re looking at how much these vehicle weigh. Being the lightest, the Urus needed the shortest distance to reach a full stop while the heaviest, the Cayenne, took its sweet time going back to 0.
This news was originally published at quattrodaily.com