Katsudon
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Summary via AI (Gemini)
Vehicle Specs & Test Setup
- Powertrain: Dual permanent magnet motors producing 656 horsepower [02:45].
- Drivetrain: Rear-biased all-wheel drive [03:09]. When set to Sport Mode, the front clutch stays engaged for full-time AWD [03:28].
- Chassis & Suspension: MacPherson struts in front and a 5-link rear setup paired with active single-valve dampers set to Firm for the track [05:41], [08:18].
- Wheels & Tires: Stock 21-inch wheels wrapped in range-optimized Pirelli Scorpion MS tires set to factory spec at 42 PSI cold [06:33], [08:52].
- Battery State: Started at 98–99% State of Charge (SoC) with a mild initial battery temp of 93°F [09:37], [11:41].
- Rally-Car Character: Soft, long-travel suspension gives the R2 a distinct, playful rally-car personality [06:18], [13:19]. It rolls heavily, slides easily, and rewards trail-braking and throttle steer [10:44], [11:06].
- Low Tire Grip: The range-optimized Pirelli tires offered minimal lateral traction on track, causing substantial understeer if weight wasn't properly transferred to the front axle before turn-in [07:05], [11:11].
- Power Delivery: Launch off the line is moderate, but acceleration ramps up significantly above 45–50 mph [05:14], [17:31].
- Best Lap Time: 1:48.25 [21:39]
- Top Speed: Hit 129 mph crossing the start/finish line [15:56], [20:00].
- Consistency: The first, looser/drifting lap and the second, cleaner attempt were virtually identical (separated by roughly half a second) [22:53].
- Brake Thermal Fade & ABS Glitch: Heavy brake degradation occurred rapidly over two laps [19:43]. On Lap 2, the brake pedal experienced an anomaly where ABS stayed fully engaged and refused to release immediately even after off-throttle [18:43], costing time and balance [23:02]. By the end of Lap 2, the brakes were heavily smoking [22:00].
- Thermal Management: Unlike previous testing on R1 models, the R2's battery (4695 structural cell format) and electric motors managed heat exceptionally well, exhibiting zero thermal de-rating or dash fault codes during the sprint [07:49], [21:16].
While not a dedicated track EV (like an Hyundai Ioniq 5 N or Porsche Macan EV) due to its soft suspension and range-focused tires [24:06], the tester called the R2 Performance one of the most fun and playful electric SUVs tested [24:21].
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