When we hear about performance vehicles, it usually means the latest coup to hit record high speeds. This time, a different kind of vehicle is (quite quickly) turning heads. The Nissan Qashqai SUV has claimed the record of world's fastest sports utility vehicle when it used its immense 2,000 horsepower to exceed speeds of 200 mph.

This compact SUV is known elsewhere as the Rogue Sport, but here it's been modified by the UK-based Severn Valley Motorsport. The powerhouse vehicle reached speeds of 237.8 mph on Saturday, besting Toyota's previous SUV record of 230.02 mph, set by their modified Land Cruiser.

Severn Valley has a history of modifying Nissans for high performance, but the Qashqai is the most ambitious project yet. The interior has been fully reworked for safety, and the engine transformed for maximum power. Anything that could be replaced with stronger materials has been and a new turbocharger kit installed. This 2,000 hp monster is the result of such experimentation.

It will be fascinating to see how Toyota responds to this new SUV speed king.