What is Launch Control?

You’ve heard of launch control mentioned and maybe you simply smile and nod like the penguins of Madagascar because you don’t understand what it is.

Thankfully, this is a system that’s pretty easy to understand. You won’t need to go over a long list of features and qualities that make this system work to understand what it brings to the market. Before we explain, let’s think about this for a second; most cars with this feature are high-powered or high-performance sports cars. With that in mind, let’s get into this feature and what it does for your car.

Take Off Like a Rocket

In a nutshell, the purpose of launch control is to literally “launch” your vehicle forward from a stop. Different cars apply the principles in different ways. Essentially, this system holds your power back when you’re waiting to take off on a sprint. Once you release the control button, you’re off and running down the straightaway. This is how some sports cars that have less power than others are able to win sprint races. Those with launch control have the advantage with power and grip from the start while other cars fight to get a grip on the track.

What Cars Come Equipped with Launch Control?

Instead of going over every car in the market with this feature, we offer you ten that include this fun and active feature. Keep in mind, you need to understand the procedure in your car to engage this feature and allow it to work as designed, otherwise, you’ll be left at the starting line.

BMW M3

You should expect to find just about every possible fun and active feature you can on the Ultimate Driving Machine. The BMW M3 has been described in this way and it has the desired feature along with the build and drive you want. Get ready to leave some of your friends in the dust when you engage your system.

Bugatti Veyron

Of course, one of the fastest cars on the planet has everything you can think of to ensure it can rocket off the line in a hurry. While the Bugatti Veyron probably doesn’t require launch control to be fast, it certainly helps. This car can scream down a straightaway and hit that 60 mph mark in only 2.7 seconds.

Audi R8 5.2 FSI Quattro

The pinnacle of Audi performance is the R8 and this supercar isn’t one to be outdone by the likes of BMW. You can bet the system in this car will take it off the line in a hurry, making it one of the quickest cars you’ll see in the market.

Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 with Performance Traction Management

Here’s a sports car that we love to drive, but the launch control system might be a little complicated for some to operate it. Once you figure it out, you’ll be off and running in one of the most dynamic sports cars in the market. it will take you a few tries to get the system right, but once you do, the time to hit 60 mph will blow your mind.

Ferrari California

Hit 60 mph in 3.5 seconds when you have this system engaged in the Ferrari California. Not only is this one of the coolest looking cars in the world, its one of the fastest. The system in this iconic sports car is a little less complicated than that of the BMW M3. That said, you better hang on once the system engages the power, you’re in for a ride that will push you hard back into your seat.

Lamborghini Murcielago LP670-4 SuperVeloce

You might look at Lamborghini as the brand that continues to try and do things the old way, which might surprise you that a launch control system is present in this car, but it is. In fat, the system in this car is pretty simple to operate, which makes it useful and fun when you want to hit 60 mph on only 3.2 seconds. Take a few tries and get things right before you show off to your buddies.

Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG

Leave it to the team at Mercedes-Benz to complicate something that should be pretty simple. There should be a manual just to make this system work in this car. That said, once you master this feature, you can hit 60 mph in 3.6 seconds and leave everyone else in the dust. You’ll need a few practice runs to make sure you have all of the steps right, but once you do, the results are worth the effort.

Mitsubishi Evolution X MR Touring

That’s right, a Mitsubishi Evo is on the list and it has a relatively simple launch control system. You don’t have to be a rocket scientist like the operator of the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG. The system for the Evo is only five steps and they all make sense for the purpose of this feature. Too bad this quick and impressive little car isn’t made any longer, it was a lot of fun to drive.

Porsche 911 Turbo

The Porsche process for operating this system isn’t quite as complicated as that of the Mercedes-Benz, but its close. There are preconditions and conditions that must be met. It almost seems like you need a diagram with options for where you need to go to make this work. Of course, the 911 Turbo does have a quoted spirit time of 2.8 seconds, which means you should learn how to use this system if you want to achieve the same results.

Porsche Cayman S

The Cayman S has the same system and steps as the 911 turbo, which means you’re going to spend some time learning how to operate your launch control system. Once you do, this active sports car rewards you with a sprint time to 60 mph of only 4.4 seconds. This is a quick car that can be a lot of fun for you to drive, but you’ll have to learn this system if you want to show off at the track.

Launch control is a simple feature in theory, but in application, some automakers have made it extremely complicated. Which car with this feature will you drive?