Range Rover Sport SVR vs. Caterham 360R Drag Race Proves Power Isn't Everything

There are faster SUVs out there, but we get what Evo was going for: something British and patriotic. The SVR is, after all, very special to its company.

Likewise, the 360R isn't the most extreme car Caterham makes, but it gets the job done. Under its old-fashioned hood is a Ford Duratec 2-liter engine that produces 180bhp and 143 lb-ft of old-fashioned grunt. By comparison, the Range Rover has a supercharger and a 5-liter V8. No fair!

If comfort is your thing, you'll be happy to know that the Range Rover Sport still has an 8-speed automatic. Just place your heavy right foot on the gas and acceleration happen. Even a trained dog could drag race it. But the Caterham Seven makes due with its six-speed manual. Sure, the mechanical rear LSD helps, but getting the 360R off the line smoothly is a matter of skill.

But just look at the weights! The Range Rover weighs a hefty 2,335 kilograms, which is about four times more than the 560 kilograms Caterham.

Despite this, the claimed figures would lead you to believe that that the Range Rover is faster off the line. However, that's not what happens in the drag race. The 360R pulls ahead right off the line and continues to pull away, even after 100 mph is passed. Only once they pass 130 does the extra power of the SUV start to play a role.

Let's face it; there are very few places in the world where you could drive faster than that. So the most expensive and powerful Range Rover ever made is slower than the average super-lightweight Caterham. Let's not forget the small, simple 2-seater is based on a car Lotus launched in 1957. That's 60 years ago!