Tuned BMW X3 M battles Lamborghini Aventador SVJ in drag races, with haunted glitches adding drama to the underdog showdown.
It’s not every day that a family-friendly SUV tries to take on one of the world’s most exclusive supercars. In a new Carwow feature, a lightly modified BMW X3 M costing around $60,000 went head-to-head against a Lamborghini Aventador SVJ valued at up to $1 million. The matchup, however, came with an unexpected twist: the BMW appeared to be “possessed.”
Before the race even started, the tuned X3 M began acting erratically. Its digital dials cut out, the infotainment displayed a drivetrain fault, and both the heated steering wheel and seats activated on their own. Despite the technical chaos, Carwow’s Mat Watson strapped in for the quarter-mile duel.
The Lamborghini Aventador SVJ entered the race with pedigree and raw power. Its 6.5-liter naturally aspirated V12 produces nearly 760 horsepower and 531 pound-feet of torque, pushing the car from zero to 62 mph in 2.8 seconds with a top speed of 217 mph.
Facing it was the modified BMW X3 M, a 3.0-liter twin-turbo straight-six boosted to 730 horsepower and 649 pound-feet of torque—just shy of the Lambo’s output but with significantly more twist. Despite the power upgrades, the SUV carried an extra 760 pounds of weight into the contest.
In three consecutive drag races, the Lamborghini proved too much to handle. While the BMW briefly edged ahead in one run, the SVJ ultimately crossed the finish line first each time, clocking a best of 10.7 seconds against the BMW’s 10.9. Even in rolling races and braking tests, the Aventador maintained its dominance.
Though the Lamborghini won handily, the BMW’s near-upset highlighted just how much performance can be unlocked with a modest investment in tuning—quirks, glitches and all. The real question left hanging: was the star of the show the half-million-dollar supercar, or the haunted bargain SUV that almost kept up?
