01.06.2009
Are 500bhp SUVs a nonsense? Probably. Is Cadwell Park their worst nightmare? Yep. We gather together Porsche Cayenne Turbo, Mercedes ML63 AMG, BMW X6 xDrive50i and the new Audi Q7 6.0 TDI on one of the narrowest and most technical circuits in the UK to see which one is fastest, with the help of a mystery test driver…
Watch the video on DR TV.
Click the image below:
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24 Comments
DriversRepublic (The DR Team)
June 1, 2009Posted on DR: Super SUV shoot-out video http://bit.ly/X7Ig1
DriversRepublic (The DR Team)
June 1, 2009Posted on DR: Super SUV shoot-out video http://bit.ly/X7Ig1
jeremy
June 1, 2009IMHO this is truly the rare rich mans folly. Not interesting to car enthusiasts. JL
jeremy
June 1, 2009IMHO this is truly the rare rich mans folly. Not interesting to car enthusiasts. JL
JethroBovingdon
June 1, 2009Difficult to speak for all enthusiasts… not my favourite sort of car but fascinating to see how engineering ingenuity can fight the battle of the bulge and win. Or at least achieve an honourable draw! Crazy cars and always bound to upset the purist, nevertheless their is fun to be had in these monsters. Me – if I needed the room and the power then I’d go for a supersaloon like the M5 or XFR, but I bet they sell more Cayenne Turbos than M5s!
JethroBovingdon
June 1, 2009Difficult to speak for all enthusiasts… not my favourite sort of car but fascinating to see how engineering ingenuity can fight the battle of the bulge and win. Or at least achieve an honourable draw! Crazy cars and always bound to upset the purist, nevertheless their is fun to be had in these monsters. Me – if I needed the room and the power then I’d go for a supersaloon like the M5 or XFR, but I bet they sell more Cayenne Turbos than M5s!
jeremy
June 1, 2009@JethroBovingdon -
“Difficult to speak for all enthusiasts…”
I should think not. DR just sent out a large survey asking what enthusiasts wanted to see.
I suppose it would be difficult if no one responded. But if people did then could you tell us if they indeed were looking for track videos of large SUV’s?
Jethro did you know that only 7 people responded to the SUV test in question, would this be a measure of the level of interest in such a test? Might it be possible for you to speak at least a little for enthusiasts- indeed I think you could actually? Or even from a business point of view, cue Mr. Davies?
thanks, JL
jeremy
June 1, 2009@JethroBovingdon -
“Difficult to speak for all enthusiasts…”
I should think not. DR just sent out a large survey asking what enthusiasts wanted to see.
I suppose it would be difficult if no one responded. But if people did then could you tell us if they indeed were looking for track videos of large SUV’s?
Jethro did you know that only 7 people responded to the SUV test in question, would this be a measure of the level of interest in such a test? Might it be possible for you to speak at least a little for enthusiasts- indeed I think you could actually? Or even from a business point of view, cue Mr. Davies?
thanks, JL
JethroBovingdon
June 1, 2009It was a bit of fun. You didn’t like it. I hope you enjoy the more core tests with GT3, Evora etc. However, variety is no bad thing so we’ll continue to have the odd leftfield feature. Maybe the next one will be more up your street.
JethroBovingdon
June 1, 2009It was a bit of fun. You didn’t like it. I hope you enjoy the more core tests with GT3, Evora etc. However, variety is no bad thing so we’ll continue to have the odd leftfield feature. Maybe the next one will be more up your street.
Stig
June 1, 2009As we apparently contemplate an “age of austerity”, it’s good to see an automotive road test that doesn’t take itself too seriously! Indeed, the DR video was thoroughly entertaining!
All due respect to Mr Bovingdon on some impressive peddling around a track that does no favours to vehicles of such ample girth!
Some say Jethro may be expecting a call from Andy Wilman to help out with a few lap times…
Others say they just want to know how to get an SUV to go all “tripod”…
[img]http://www.drivers-republic.com/community_resource/qi4x3ju21rl918l2d6cltqzi.jpg[/img]
Stig
June 1, 2009As we apparently contemplate an “age of austerity”, it’s good to see an automotive road test that doesn’t take itself too seriously! Indeed, the DR video was thoroughly entertaining!
All due respect to Mr Bovingdon on some impressive peddling around a track that does no favours to vehicles of such ample girth!
Some say Jethro may be expecting a call from Andy Wilman to help out with a few lap times…
Others say they just want to know how to get an SUV to go all “tripod”…
[img]http://www.drivers-republic.com/community_resource/qi4x3ju21rl918l2d6cltqzi.jpg[/img]
daytonafan
June 1, 2009It all looked quite good fun and maybe their are a few Sheikh’s who read DR and might see this as a useful comparison test.
Would be interested to see the comparative lap time of a more sensible performance family car like an M5 Touring or Ferrari 612!!!
daytonafan
June 1, 2009It all looked quite good fun and maybe their are a few Sheikh’s who read DR and might see this as a useful comparison test.
Would be interested to see the comparative lap time of a more sensible performance family car like an M5 Touring or Ferrari 612!!!
Stig
June 1, 2009Impressed by Jethro’s attempted wheelie…
[img]http://www.drivers-republic.com/community_resource/cnlj93clizmilsfqtjwcqhkj.jpg[/img]
Stig
June 1, 2009Impressed by Jethro’s attempted wheelie…
[img]http://www.drivers-republic.com/community_resource/cnlj93clizmilsfqtjwcqhkj.jpg[/img]
Neville Contractor
June 2, 2009I thought it was a great test, and amazing to see the cars perform so far out of their comfort zones. They all seemed quite quick in some areas, but comically slow in certain tighter corners. Interesting to see that the X6 was a tenth down on the Cayenne Turbo, it should be very impressive when it gets the Motorsport treatment.
I for one would certainly consider a SUV of this type if I needed the space. Why go for a boring version when these are available? As an enthusiast I see no reason why I would compromise on any type of car choice for a given purpose.
Especially considering how soft those new prices are likely to be…
Neville Contractor
June 2, 2009I thought it was a great test, and amazing to see the cars perform so far out of their comfort zones. They all seemed quite quick in some areas, but comically slow in certain tighter corners. Interesting to see that the X6 was a tenth down on the Cayenne Turbo, it should be very impressive when it gets the Motorsport treatment.
I for one would certainly consider a SUV of this type if I needed the space. Why go for a boring version when these are available? As an enthusiast I see no reason why I would compromise on any type of car choice for a given purpose.
Especially considering how soft those new prices are likely to be…
Marty
June 3, 2009Amazing that this wasn’t taken by everyone as the bit of fun it was clearly intended to be. Did Chris’s laughter and the Stig spoof not give the game away?
Of course these cars aren’t for everyone. Of course they don’t make any sense in the present economic slowdown. But does that mean that we should never speak of them, or take note of the amazing engineering achievement they represent?
In practical terms, Ferraris, Lamborghinis and all the other petrolhead favourites are far more ridiculous (although I admit the prices for these super-SUVs are stratospherically, comically high) and yet no-one begrudges group tests filled with exotic, expensive two-seaters. Why should exotic, expensive six-seaters be any different?
Marty
June 3, 2009Amazing that this wasn’t taken by everyone as the bit of fun it was clearly intended to be. Did Chris’s laughter and the Stig spoof not give the game away?
Of course these cars aren’t for everyone. Of course they don’t make any sense in the present economic slowdown. But does that mean that we should never speak of them, or take note of the amazing engineering achievement they represent?
In practical terms, Ferraris, Lamborghinis and all the other petrolhead favourites are far more ridiculous (although I admit the prices for these super-SUVs are stratospherically, comically high) and yet no-one begrudges group tests filled with exotic, expensive two-seaters. Why should exotic, expensive six-seaters be any different?
CyberBilly
June 3, 2009I disagree Jeremy. Many of us are true enthusiasts and own a properly ‘sporting cars’ of some form but have to have a family type wagon too. I thought it was just a bit of fun, ridiculing what preposterous beasts they are. Relevant? No, but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t interesting.
What will be good to see is a lap time for the forthcoming X6M / X5M as to have got within a tenth of the Cayenne Turbo in standard Xdrive50i guise is hugely impressive.
A Cayenne Turbo S vs X5M twin test must surely be on the cards for later in the year?
CyberBilly
June 3, 2009I disagree Jeremy. Many of us are true enthusiasts and own a properly ‘sporting cars’ of some form but have to have a family type wagon too. I thought it was just a bit of fun, ridiculing what preposterous beasts they are. Relevant? No, but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t interesting.
What will be good to see is a lap time for the forthcoming X6M / X5M as to have got within a tenth of the Cayenne Turbo in standard Xdrive50i guise is hugely impressive.
A Cayenne Turbo S vs X5M twin test must surely be on the cards for later in the year?
daytonafan
June 6, 2009Have to agree with you Cyber Billy about mixing sporting and daily use cars the personal conflict of a sporting daily or somthing boring and something silly for the weekend is still vexing me.
daytonafan
June 6, 2009Have to agree with you Cyber Billy about mixing sporting and daily use cars the personal conflict of a sporting daily or somthing boring and something silly for the weekend is still vexing me.