Q400 is faster than 72-500, but my understanding is that some of the ATR's will be -500 and -600. The -600 is a different story performance wise, suppose to have just as good or better performance as a DH4
New ATR-600 and -500 have the PW127M which has increased power available for take-off and max continuous operation, not for cruise. The ATR 72-600 will have the same cruise performance as the -500 but better hot and high uplift capability and about another 1000ft single engine altitude capability. I can not see how the same aircraft with the same cruise power available would be any faster, the -500 being a 270kt aircraft. The main difference between the -600 and -500 is increased MTOW (23000kg) and MZFW (21000kg), a new electronic "paperless" flight deck and cabin inporvements.
I'm sure if the 72-600 could achieve or exceed Q400 performance ATR would paste it all over their advertising.
Sorry dude but without drop downs, a Braz is limited to 25k.
The braz has drop downs.
That is assuming that the Q400 operator runs the thing on book power settings, very few if any do, doesn't really say a lot about its efficiency if they have to retard the thing to be efficient.
Even at reduced settings they still cruise at 320kts and can high speed climb at 240kts.