Crazy SUVs More Powerful Than Lamborghini Urus

Some modified, others not. All ludicrous.

Today’s gold standard for SUVs is the Lamborghini Urus. Sure, the Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk has 707 hp whereas the Urus delivers 650 ponies, but the Lambo is superior in all other categories, like luxury, technology, and refinement. However, there are other SUVs that are not only more powerful, but are as luxurious and focused on the finest of details as the Urus. While some are the products of aftermarket tuning firms, like the Urus, these ten SUVs pride themselves on being outlandish, some more so than others.

Bentley Bentayga by Mansory (700 HP)

The Bentley Bentayga may be built in the UK, but Swiss aftermarket tuner Mansory will be more than happy to inject the SUV with additional testosterone, for a price of course. There are several possible enhancement modifications, such as a wide body kit, 22-inch wheels and a sport exhaust system. But why settle for the Bentayga’s stock twin-turbo 6.0-liter W12 with 600 hp and 660 lb-ft of torque when Mansory will work its magic to create a new output of 700 hp and 774 lb-ft? Bentayga’s aren’t exactly cheap, but if you’re willing to spend at least $195,000 then what’s a few bucks more?

Hennessey Escalade HPE800 (805 HP)

Welcome back to America. Time for some Texas lunacy with the one and only Hennessey Escalade HPE800. Starting with the always bling-tastic Cadillac Escalade, Hennessey Performance sticks with its familiar formula of leaving the exterior and interior stock (save for some Hennessey badges), and making all modifications under the hood. The result is a large and luxurious SUV with 805 hp and 812 lb-ft of torque. This was accomplished by, among other things, adding a 2.9-liter supercharger to the 6.2-liter V8, a new high-flow air to water intercooler system, high-flow intake manifold, and a stainless steel exhaust upgrade. The performance result is a 0-60 mph time of 3.7 seconds and a quarter-mile sprint of 11.7 seconds at 116 mph.

Mercedes-AMG GLE 63 S Coupe by Brabus (850 HP)

…and back to Germany. Meet the Mercedes-AMG GLE 63 S Coupe by Brabus. Why accept the slick GLE 63 S Coupe with its stock 576 hp when you can add up to 274 hp more? That’s right, you’re looking at an output of 850 hp and a beyond nuts 1,069 lb-ft of torque. Performance is equally impressive. Zero to 62 mph takes no more than 3.8 seconds and top speed, according to Brabus, is electronically limited to 200 mph. Could it go even faster? Probably. Along with engine modifications, Brabus has attached a front lip spoiler to the AMG’s lower front bumper for a visual upgrade as well as further optimizing handling speeds and handling ability. Out back there’s a new diffuser, upgraded exhaust, and roof spoiler.

Tesla Model X P100D (762 HP)

Let’s switch gears here slightly with something similar but different: the 762-hp Tesla Model X P100D. With its 0-60 mph time of just 2.9 seconds, the top of the line Model X is an all-electric SUV that can haul up to seven passengers. It also has plenty of advanced safety features and a towing capacity of up to 5,000 pounds. The interior is not only luxurious, but also high-tech, thanks to the 17-inch touchscreen display that receives regular over the air updates. For an extra few thousand bucks, one can add Autopilot, Tesla’s somewhat controversial self-driving aide. The P100 D (‘P’ stands for ‘Performance’) begins at around $150,000, some $50k less than the less powerful Urus.

Jon Olsson's Mercedes-Benz G500 4x4 Squared (800 HP)

Professional Swedish skier Jon Olsson has long been known as an all-wheel drive supercar enthusiast. Turns out he’s a fan of off-road SUVs too. A couple of years ago he purchased a Mercedes-Benz G500 4x4 Squared. He didn’t waste any time before beginning modifications. The result is the 800-hp Lord Hans SUV, named for his brother “who loves exploring the wilderness.” The G500 4x4 Squared already comes with 400 hp, but hey, technology enables that figure to be doubled, so why not just go for it? Dutch aftermarket tuner Absolute Motors was tasked with reworking the engine and modifying the suspension. Oh, and did we also mention Olsson sliced off the SUV’s roof after discovering it was too tall to fit in parking garages?

TechArt Porsche Cayenne Magnum Sport (720 HP)

Meet the 720-hp TechArt Porsche Cayenne Magnum Sport, built to celebrate the tuning firm’s 30th anniversary. This modified Porsche Cayenne has a twin-turbo 4.8-liter V8 which produces an impressive 570 hp and 590 lb-ft of torque. But TechArt has managed to squeeze an extra 150 hp and 88 lb-ft for a grand total of 720 hp and 678 lb-ft. This was accomplished by improving the turbochargers, altering the engine control software, and a new exhaust system. Based on the previous generation Cayenne Turbo S, TechArt’s creation has the same 0-62 mph time as the stock version but top speed is another matter. The TechArt Cayenne Turbo S can hit 193 mph, whereas the stock version goes no faster than 176 mph.

BMW X6 M Typhoon RS Ultimate V10 by G-Power (888 HP)

And how could we not include a BMW X6. Fortunately, we found one with 888 hp: the X6 M Typhoon RS Ultimate V10 by G-Power. It’s not exactly new, dating back to 2010, but its output remains formidable. G-Power wanted to pay tribute to the then outgoing BMW M V10 engine, so it swapped out the first generation X6 M’s twin-turbo V8 with a 5.0-liter V10. And then it modified it. Displacement was increased to 5.5-liters, a pair of superchargers were added, the ECU revised, among many other upgrades. The result? 888 hp and 642 lb-ft of torque. Heck, there’s even a six-speed manual sending power to the rear wheels. Does the Urus offer a manual? Nope. G-Power claims a 0-62 mph time of 4.2 seconds and a top speed in excess of 205 mph.

Hennessey VelociRaptor SUV (650 HP)

Okay, so you perhaps you want another U.S.-built option. No problem, because Hennessey Performance is here once again to offer something wonderfully bonkers. It’s the special order only VelociRaptor SUV, based on the Ford F-250 Lariat pickup truck. Essentially it’s a truck to SUV conversion project that requires 6 months to build. The most powerful engine option available s a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 with 650 hp – exactly the same output as the Lamborghini Urus, but the VelociRaptor SUV offers a third row bench seat for a total of up to seven or eight passengers. With exterior styling directly from the ferocious F-150 Raptor, it’s hard to see how one could go wrong here. Hopefully you have at least $159,000 to spend.

Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG Sahara Edition by Mansory (828 HP)

First and foremost, Mansory focused on the love it or hate it styling with its Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG Sahara Edition. With its camouflage paint scheme, and unique grille, headlights, hood scoop, rear spoiler, and roof-mounted lights, it’s obvious this won’t appeal to everyone. Riding on a set of 22-inch alloys, the Sahara Edition also features a modified interior with a similar camouflage theme. But at its heart, the SUV is a horsepower beast. Mansory increased output of the twin-turbocharged V8 to 828 hp and 737 lb-ft of torque. That’s actually a 292 hp and 177 lb-ft improvement over the stock version. The Swiss tuner didn’t provide performance figures, but that increased output will surely make things quite a bit quicker.

Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk (707 HP)

And last, but not least, is the Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk. It comes straight from the factory with 707 hp and 645 lb-ft of torque thanks to its supercharged 6.2-liter Hellcat V8 engine. With its 0-60 mph time of 3.5 seconds, the Grand Cherokee Trackhawk is actually faster off the line than the Dodge Challenger Hellcat. Top speed is a claimed 180 mph, only 10 mph less than the Lamborghini Urus. It also costs a lot less. While the Lambo begins at $200k, you can buy a Trackhawk for just under $90k. That’s more than half the cost, but at the sacrifice of luxury, refinement and the prestige of owning a Lamborghini. But hey, fast is fast.

Cadillac Goes Trademark Crazy, Are New Models On The Way?

This could be the start of a Cadillac product onslaught.

We have known for a while now that Cadillac was set to change its naming scheme, with 'CT' models to signify cars and 'XT' models to denote SUVs. Right now Cadillac's lineup is split between older models like the ATS and CTS and newer models like the CT6. The company has already replaced the SRX with the newly named XT5 and introduced a smaller XT4 to compete against models like the Audi Q3, BMW X3, and Mercedes GLA. Cadillac is far from finished with adding new models, however, as GM Inside News reports that the company is preparing a trademark spree.

Cadillac has already reserved the rights of CT2 through CT8 as well as XT2 through XT8. Of course, Cadillac may not necessarily use all of these names, but it prevents other automakers from having them. BMW similarly applied for patents for a range of M names and i models ranging from i1 up to i9. We know that a CT5 model is set to replace the ATS and it has been hinted that an XT6 will be introduced above the XT5. There have also been rumors of a Cadillac halo model, which could use the CT7 or CT8 name.

Among all of the possible new models, we are really hoping for a two-door luxury flagship powered by Cadillac's new 4.2-liter twin-turbo V8 that was first introduced in the CT6 V-Sport. Cadillac has been on a roll building stunning concept cars, now all that's left is for the company to put one of them into production. This patent filing opens up Cadillac to produce a ton of new products that could help the brand compete in many more segments.

Crazy, High-Performance SUV Concepts That Never Made It

These awesome SUVs remained concepts forever. But we will never forget them.

Stuffing powerful engines under the hood of a vehicle designed specifically for off-roading isn’t a new phenomenon. Automakers have been doing this for years for one reason, and one reason only: it’s awesome. SUVs, specifically those with a body-on-frame chassis, are the go-anywhere, up-for-anything vehicle people want in their lives, but having more power is never a bad thing.

High-performance SUVs are typically special editions, providing carmakers with some always needed street cred and a relatively easy way to make a few extra bucks. A regular SUV with an upgraded engine is a win-win for everybody – automakers, customers, and gas station owners. Sadly, some of the craziest, most powerful SUVs never made it to production, forever remaining concepts.

Volvo XC90 Supercharged

Today, it’s not uncommon to see a performance vehicle from Volvo, including SUV crossovers. But back in 2005 it was almost unheard of. Meet the Volvo XC90 Supercharged. It’s yellow. Very yellow. It also has a Yamaha-developed V8 that, under normal circumstances, makes 311 hp and 325 lb-ft of torque. Volvo wanted more than normal, so added a massive supercharger that dialed up the output to an estimated 600 hp. Power was sent to all four wheels through a six-speed automatic gearbox. That system was also “pre-charged,” meaning power could be instantly routed to the wheel with the most traction.

Compared to the production XC90 at the time, its Supercharged evil twin rode two inches lower to the ground and wore nine-inch wide ultra-high-performance alloy wheels wrapped in Pirelli P-Zero rubber. Volvo also made changes to the front fascia and added custom fabricated wheel arches. Quad exhaust pipes can be found at the rear. Although production never happened, the XC90 Supercharged was a demonstration of what Volvo could do and what it wanted to become.

Chevrolet Tahoe SS

Back when gasoline was stupid cheap Chevrolet figured ‘Hey, why the hell not… let’s build a Tahoe SS for fun.’ And so it was. The ‘SS’ moniker, famous for its muscle car heydays of the 1960s and early 70s, was called upon once again. The Tahoe SUV, at the time in its second generation (at least with that nameplate), was given a few cosmetic changes from the standard version, such as a clean front grille and wide-mouth air intakes under each headlight. Its stance was also lowered by two inches up front and four at the rear. Under the hood was a 6.0-liter Vortec V8 with 345 hp. That power was directed to the rear wheels only.

Chevrolet wanted to go with a stealthy look similar to the Tahoe cop SUV, and it managed to pull this off nicely. Unfortunately, despite being production ready, or close to it, Chevy opted not to build it in the end. Instead, it was merely a display of the brand’s performance capabilities. Bummer, because this could have been an instant classic.

Cadillac Escalade Twin Turbo

The Cadillac Escalade was always a bit nuts. Big, bold and bling tastic, this luxury SUV never has and never will apologize for being what it is. During the same time Chevrolet was toying with the idea of a Tahoe SS, Cadillac had a lunatic idea of its own: a twin-turbo Escalade.

Under its hood is a 6.0-liter V8 that borrowed the cam from the C6 Corvette LS6 engine and ported aluminum Vortec heads. Cadillac even added a custom carbon fiber intake. A pair of Aerodyne turbochargers were then added. Combined output: 580 hp and 580 lb-ft of torque. Total weight came to around 5,700 pounds. Engineers also lowered the SUV’s ground clearance at the front and rear axles by 25 and 35 millimeters, respectively. The interior received an entertainment system consisting of a DVD player and voice control. The exterior featured silver metallic paint and chrome-plated 20-inch wheels. Production? You wish.

Ford SVT Tremor

The world was a different place in 1998 and so was Ford Motor Company. Remember, this was before the era of the crossover, a vehicle body style Ford has committed itself to for the foreseeable future. But it was during the 1990s when Ford also cherished the SUV, specifically the Explorer (before its crossover days). Anyone remember the SVT Tremor Concept? It’s okay if you don’t. Maybe you weren’t even born yet. “The Tremor is a further evolution of America’s best-selling sport utility vehicle, the Ford Explorer,” said Tom Scott, director of the Advanced Design Studio at the time. “While it maintains the Explorer’s well-known attributes of performance, ruggedness and a well-packaged interior, this concept vehicle creates a new niche of fun-to-drive vehicle.”

So, why was the SVT Tremor particularly cool? Built together with Yamaha, under the hood was an all-aluminum 4.6-liter V8 with an estimated 380 hp and 340 lb-ft of torque. To compare, the 1998 Mustang Cobra had 305 hp. Top speed was said to be about 140 mph and a less than 7-second 0-60 mph was predicted. But once again, we never got the chance to see everything this performance SUV was capable of.

Jeep Trailcat

When you have an engine as incredible as the supercharged 6.2-liter Hellcat V8, you might as well use it. Not only is the Hellcat found in the Dodge Challenger, Charger, and Jeep Grand Cherokee, but also in a Wrangler. Yes, really. The Jeep Trailcat was a concept first shown in 2016. With a total of 707 hp, you’d think the engine could somehow rip the Wrangler in half but Jeep engineers made sure this wouldn’t happen.

And yes, this concept was really put to the test when it made its debut appearance at Jeep’s 50th annual Easter Safari gathering in Moab, Utah. Along with a six-speed manual, the Trailcat received a set of massive tires, a big roll cage, and – this is where engineering is really needed – a 12-inch wheelbase extension in order for the engine to fit. Although the Trailcat never reached production, you could argue that it paved the way for the Grand Cherokee Trackhawk.

BMW X5 Le Mans

This isn’t the first time we’ve come across the BMW X5 Le Mans and no doubt it won't be the last. Why? Because back in 2000, BMW had the wonderfully nuts idea to stuff a V12 engine under the hood of a first-generation X5. Production was never intended, but a trip to the Nurburgring was. BMW managed to get this one-off X5 up to 192 mph at the Green Hell. Oh, and that 6.0-liter V12 came directly from the BMW V12 LMR Le Mans endurance racer. Total output: 700 hp and 520 lb-ft of torque. The race car had about 100 hp less.

And just when you thought this couldn’t get any crazier, engineers opted for an M-division six-speed manual transmission. As for its Nurburgring aspirations? The X5 Le Mans managed a lap time of 7:50. To compare, the 2018 Honda Civic Type R set its own ‘Ring lap time of 7:43.8.

Can't Afford The Crazy Toyota Supra Prices? Buy One Of These Instead

Who would have thought the Supra would ever be the "expensive" option?

The A80 Toyota Supra was once the blue collar hero car. But people in anticipation of the new Supra's arrival, old Supra prices have been skyrocketing. Twin turbo models with the six-speed manual can cost anywhere from $50,000 to $100,000 in 2018. We all know the scene from The Fast and the Furious with the Supra versus the Ferrari. The Ferrari mocks the Supra for being "cheap" and proceeds to be defeated in a drag race. The Ferrari may have been more expensive then, but take a look at Supra prices and prepare to be shocked.

While Supra prices have skyrocketed recently, almost no one wants a Ferrari 348. We love the Supra, but we would never pay almost $100,000 for one. That is why we have compiled five cheaper alternatives that deliver a similar experience for less.

BMW 3 Series

Even though the Supra started out as a blue collar sports car, it has now reached legendary status accompanied by equally legendary car prices. Tuners loved the Supra because it had a twin-turbocharged inline-six that could be heavily tuned to produce more power. We have picked a pair of BMWs that each come with twin-turbo inline six engines. The E90 335i produced 320 hp from a twin-turbocharged N54 engine. The 3 Series coupe eventually became the 4 Series, which came with a 300-hp N55 twin-scroll turbo engine. Both could be had with a six-speed manual transmission, and both can be found for under $40,000, which is less than a low mileage Supra.

Cadillac ATS-V

The second of our newer options on this list is the Cadillac ATS-V. We were blown away when we found out that Cadillac was marking down new ATS-V models by as much as $20,000. We found several ATS-V models with low mileage in the low $40,000 range. These cars have a 3.6-liter twin-turbo V6 with 464 hp. This is far more than the Supra produced back in 2002, and it can be paired to an eight-speed automatic or a six-speed manual. The Cadillac ATS-V is comfortable and luxurious like the Supra, but comes with more modern creature comforts.

Mitsubishi GT3000 VR-4 Turbo

Back in the '90s and 2000s, the Supra had a few direct competitors and the Mitsubishi GT3000 VR-4 Turbo is the first one on our list. This car was also known as the Mitsubishi GTO in Japan, and was rebadged as the Dodge Stealth in the US. By the time the car ended production in 2000, the twin-turbocharged V6 produced 320 hp, the same as the Supra. Unlike the Supra, the 3000GT was AWD. Also unlike the Supra, prices for the GT3000 haven't become insane. It is possible to get one with less than 100,000 miles for under $20,000.

Nissan 300ZX

Like Mitsubishi and Toyota, Nissan also built a comfortable, turbocharged sports coupe in the '90s. The Nissan 300ZX lasted for two generations, but the later Z32 Turbo model is far more desirable. The twin-turbo 3.0-liter V6 produced 300 hp through a four-speed automatic or a five-speed manual. The turbocharged manual cars are the most expensive, but can still be found with very low miles for under $30,000. These cars are rising in value, but you can still get in before everyone catches on to this '90s gem.

Lexus SC

The final car on our list has often been referred to as the Lexus Supra. The first generation Lexus SC was built from 1991 to 2000 and was sold with either a 3.0-liter inline-six or a 4.0-liter V8. The V8 SC400 was only sold with an automatic, but the inline-six SC300 could be had with a five-speed manual. Like the base Supra, the SC300 is powered by a 2JZ engine, so it can easily be turbocharged. Even though the SC300 comes with a fancier badge, they are actually cheaper than used Supras. We found a few really nice examples for between $5,000 and $10,000.