Amid all the internet videos showing legit supercars and Detroit muscle cars hitting the drag strip for 0 to 60 sprints and quarter-mile drag races, the concept of subtlety has completely fallen by the wayside. Even the average driver these days knows that a Tesla seven-seater can take down Lamborghinis with ease. But some rare gearheads still love their sleepers, and it's hard to get any sleepier than a Volkswagen Sharan minivan that recently hit the drag strip where it was caught spitting flames by the streaming YouTube channel Auto Addiction.
Room For The Fam
Possibly the best part about the van is that it's got the stick-figure family stickers on the rear window. The only thing that might give away its non-stock reality is the set of gold wheels, though it's safe to say that anyone with such a dull van might feel obliged to add some flair. All hope of flying under-the-radar goes right out the window, however, when the minivan starts spitting flames on a rainy day while warming up before the drag race.
Under The Hood
The video is relatively scant on any actual details, though the Sharan sports a narrow-angle Volkswagen VR6 that could be its original powerplant but has received what looks like an aftermarket turbo setup in the video and now produces a claimed output off 700 horsepower. Its competition comes in the form of a relatively tame third-generation Volkswagen Golf, which reportedly has a similar turbocharged VR6 under the hood that's producing a more modest 510 ponies.
Traction Is King
With the race underway, the importance of good tires becomes quite apparent — and the minivan's rough start does suggest that perhaps some weight savings could have been in order, like maybe stripping out the family seating. But in the end, the van's trap speed notches an impressive 149 miles per hour. Turn up the sound to hear the sleeper's powerplant warm up and spit flames in a sputtery roar.
Sources: youtube.com and thedrive.com.