CarWow’s latest drag race throws together an odd couple that’s as wild as it is thrilling. In one corner, you’ve got the Lamborghini Aventador SVJ, a 759-horsepower monster that costs half a million bucks. In the other, a BMW X3 M, a family SUV turned supercar rival with a $5,000 aftermarket tune-up.
Right from the start, the BMW’s a hot mess. Its dashboard lights up like a haunted arcade machine, flashing drivetrain warnings while the heated seats and steering wheel turn on like they’re possessed. Host Mat Watson laughs it off, calling it “cursed,” and it’s hard to argue when the SUV seems to have a mind of its own. But under the hood, its tweaked 3.0-liter inline-six is pumping out around 720 horsepower—close enough to the Lambo’s 759 to make you do a double-take. For five grand in mods, this X3 M is a scrappy underdog, though you wouldn’t bet on it lasting a week without a glitch.
Sale
LEGO Technic Lamborghini Huracán Tecnica Advanced Sports Car Building Kit for Kids Ages 9 and up Who Love Engineering and Collecting Exotic Sports Car Toys, 42161
- A build for Lamborghini fans and car collectors – Give sports car enthusiasts ages 9 years old an advanced building challenge as they assemble the LEGO Technic Lamborghini Huracán Tecnica (42161) model toy sports car
- Admire the details – Kids can build and explore the moving V10 engine, steering and opening doors of this Lamborghini Huracán Tecnica model
- Inspired by the original – This Lamborghini model car features a classic green color scheme
$49.99
−$10.00
$39.99
Buy on Amazon
Across the strip, the Aventador SVJ lounges like it owns the place. Its 6.5-liter V12 churns out 759 horsepower, paired with a raw, seven-speed single-clutch gearbox that feels like it’s ready to fight. At 3,362 pounds, it’s leaner than the 4,400-pound BMW, and its rear-wheel-drive setup is all about razor-sharp control.
The first race is a quarter-mile sprint, and the BMW’s all-wheel-drive grip gives it a shocking head start. It surges forward, but the Lamborghini’s V12 wakes up, clawing back to finish in 10.7 seconds to the X3 M’s 10.9. The BMW’s tires can’t quite handle the modded power, slipping just enough to let the SVJ sneak the win by a hair.
Next up is a rolling race, starting both cars at speed to even things out. The BMW’s all-wheel drive should shine here, but those gremlins keep causing trouble. It hangs tight with the Lambo, neck-and-neck, yet can’t quite outrun the supercar’s relentless charge. Even in a braking test, the Aventador stops shorter. For a $5,000 mod job, the X3 M puts up a hell of a fight, but the SVJ’s purebred engineering takes the crown.
