Premium petrol enhances performance in high-performance cars

Drivers may benefit from using premium petrol in their cars, according to a recent test. A YouTube channel called 'Officially Gassed' evaluated four types of premium fuel against standard unleaded petrol. They used a Seat Cupra to collect performance data and drained the fuel tanks after each test. The fuels tested included BP Ultimate 97, Esso Supreme+ 99, Tesco Momentum 99, and Shell V-Power 99, alongside Esso Standard Unleaded E10. Premium fuel usually has a higher octane rating, which can improve engine performance. Higher octane fuel is better at preventing knocking during combustion, allowing for more efficient engine operation. Results from the test showed that premium fuels increased performance. The Esso Standard Unleaded produced only 456 brake horsepower (bhp), while Tesco Momentum 99 achieved the highest at 464.2 bhp. Shell V-Power 99 followed closely with 463.4 bhp. Other premium fuels also performed better than standard petrol. Ben, an expert from Officially Gassed, noted that Tesco Momentum is a reliable choice for tuning cars, while Shell fuel can vary in performance. However, the use of premium fuels remains a topic for debate. Swansway Garages warned that everyday cars may not see the same performance improvements. They recommend that only high-performance vehicles that require premium fuel should use it, as regular unleaded petrol is often more cost-effective for standard engines.