Can’t find the excitement in SUV drag racing? Obviously, you haven’t checked out the latest generation of high-performance sport “utes” from places like Germany, Great Britain and Italy. These mid and full-size crossover SUVs offer spacious passenger compartments, ample cargo area and the powertrain of a top tier sports car. Let’s have a closer look at the competitors that will take to the track in this video.

Full disclosure: From a purely mechanical standpoint, the Audi RS Q8, the Lamborghini Urus and the Porsche Cayenne are basically the same vehicle. They all share a powertrain made by Lamborghini (owned by the Volkswagen Group). While each vehicle is unique with its own styling cues, each one is also tuned and equipped with its own respective performance equipment. Things like exhaust, intake and tuning may yield slight performance advantages.

The Audi RS Q8 is equipped with a twin turbocharged (intercooled) 4.0-liter V8 engine. The motor is all aluminum (block and cylinder heads) with dual overhead camshafts and direct fuel injection. Utilizing an all-wheel drivetrain with an 8-speed automatic transmission, the Audi RS Q8 is capable of producing 591hp and 590 lb.-ft. of torque. At a curb weight of 5,490-pounds, the RS Q8 can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 3.6-seconds. Price: $114,500.

Slightly lighter than the Audi, the Lamborghini Urus weighs in at 4,844-pounds and has a sticker price of just over $218,000. The same twin turbo 4.0-liter V8 is retuned to produce 641hp and 627 lb.-ft. of torque. The Urus can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 3.1-seconds, turn the quarter-mile in 11.3-seconds and has a top speed of 190 mph.

The all-aluminum 4.0-liter twin turbo mill in the Porsche Cayenne Turbo is again reconfigured. This version can produce only 541hp and 567 lb.-ft. of torque. It weighs 5,056-pounds and can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 4.2-seconds. The Cayenne has a hot price tag of $126,500.

The sole British entry has a price of $245,000. The Bentley Bentayga Speed utilizes a 6.0-liter W12 engine to generate 626hp. The Bentley weighs in at 5,529-pounds and can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 3.6-seconds.

With these high dollar grocery-getters on the track, we intend to get to the bottom of this SUV performance situation.

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