Edmunds U-Drags: Race to There and Back

What Is U-Drags?

U-Drags is a short, car versus car challenge that tests acceleration, braking and handling. The name U-Drags represents the shape of the course and the initial acceleration phase of the challenge, which resembles a drag race.

The test involves two cars accelerating as quickly as possible down a flat, straight track, side-by-side from a standing stop. The vehicles start at the same time. Once the vehicles pass through a quarter-mile (1,320 ft; 402m) mark, they brake hard into a U-turn and accelerate back to the starting line. After the first run is completed, the drivers return to the start line and switch vehicles. The vehicles also switch lanes to ensure fairness. After both drivers and lanes have been changed, the vehicles do another lap. 

Cars are equipped with sophisticated GPS-equipped digital measurement devices that record speed, distance traveled and g-forces, among other data points.