Traction is important.
Today’s SUVs don’t need to be boring. Automakers are keen to make larger engines for larger SUVs. Performance icons like Lamborghini made it with the Urus. Other mainstream brands like Dodge, Jeep, and Chrysler are also getting in on this action. How do these SUVs compare? This Throttle House YouTube video addresses that question through a series drag races.
The Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat And Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk The supercharged 6.2-liter V8 engine is still available, but the output is slightly different. The mill produces 710 horsepower (529kilowatts).
Dodge 707 horsepower (527 kW) Jeep. The engine produces 645 pound-feet (874 Newton-meters), of torque in each. The Urus has a twin-turbocharged, 4.0-liter V8 with 650 horsepower (484 kW) & 627 lbft (685 Nm).
All three racers used launch control in the first race, with Durango taking an early lead that no other two can match. The Urus is trailing the American duo due to the low temperatures that affect its ability to gain traction at launch. Although the second race starts without launch control, the results are identical with Durango coming in first. The final race begins from a roll and is a reminder of how important traction is. The Lamborghini wins the race by pulling away from the other two cars when the hammer drops. The Jeep took second place behind the Durango in the final race.
All three SUVs performed well on the track with no one being better than the others. It would be interesting to run the race again at warmer temperatures to determine if the Urus can improve against them. However, it is entertaining to see how two American SUVs can thwart an Italian supercar manufacturer. The rolling drag race suggests that the Lamborghini is a better match for the American hot-rod SUVs.