You might have watched many drag races in your life, but the one we are going to talk about is unique and equally bizarre. The drag race usually showcases many things about each contender, mostly about their power and acceleration.?
But what if the contenders aren't exactly cars? That's what we have here in this drag race staged in South Africa, where a Made in India, Bajaj Qute, was put to test - with a.....bicycle. Yes, it really happened.?
Interestingly and ironically, both contenders aren't cars at all. While one is a bicycle, the other (Bajaj Qute) happens to be a quadricycle.?
Although the BS6 Qute is yet to arrive in India, the quadricycle is emissions-compliant and on sale in South Africa. It is also the most affordable car in the country, and thatĄŻs why Cars.co.za drag raced it against a worthy competitor: a bicycle.?
In the first round, Bajaj Qute was carrying four people to keep things fair for this race. And as shocking as it may seem, it was left in its wake by the cyclist.?You wouldnĄŻt think that any motor vehicle sold in 2021 could be slower than manual labour, but that is how it turned out to be.?
With a full load of passengers, the Qute loses to the cycle. Then in the second and final round, once the passengers are off-loaded, it manages to beat the bicycle by a hairĄŻs length. Given that it is meant to be used as a people carrier, we have to say this drag race was a fun, if not useful, test.
You might mistake the Bajaj Qute for a car but it's actually a "quadricycle" with a 216cc bike engine underneath the rear seats powering the rear axle. It's also differs in many ways from Tata Nano, the most affordable car in India.?
It's one the?cheapest?four-wheeler you can buy in South Africa at?75,000 Rand or around $5,300 (Rs 3.90 lakh) with the current exchange rates.
The Qute is certainly more powerful than the bicycle, making up to 10.8 hp (8.08 kW). But obviously, the Qute is heavier (considering that four people are aboard the tiny vehicle during the drag race).??
Also read:?Based On Bajaj Chetak, Husqvarna To Come Up With A Premium Electric Scooter For India in 2021