Tesla Model X Plaid is still dominating drag races nearly 2 years after launch
The Tesla Model X Plaid continues to dominate drag racing nearly two years after its launch, showing how much legacy automakers have to catch up.
There is nothing new about the concept of the super high performance SUV. Mercedes has long made the G-Class with its incredible Bi-Turbo V8, Dodge has been making its Durango SUV with supercharged V8s for years, and BMW prides itself on the performance characteristics found in the X5M. But in a video posted by Carwow, it’s clear that the gap between the Tesla Model X Plaid and these vehicles remains enormous years after Tesla’s launch.
Carwow’s SUV drag race includes the Tesla Model X Plaid, Lamborghini Urus Performante, BMW X5M Competition, Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT, and the Mercedes-Benz GLE 63 S. All of them can carry your golf bag and your buddies to the green in style, but which one gets you there the fastest?
It should come as no surprise that the Tesla Model X, being the only electric vehicle on the grid, has demolished the gas options of the legacy manufacturers. With its instant brain-melting torque, the Model X Plaid pulls ahead and stays ahead the entire quarter mile. But perhaps the biggest surprise is the price comparison of the vehicles.
The Tesla is by no means a budget vehicle, starting at $119,990. Still, it certainly comes off that way compared to the Lambo, which starts at $221,506 and, in its highest performance trim, costs $245,381. Ironically, the Porsche Cayenne is practically down to earth in comparison, starting at a mere $72,200 and only reaching $171,300 in its top trim. The BMW X5M, while starting at $108,900, tops out at $114,100 with the Competition spec. And the humble Mercedes-AMG GLE 63 S tops out at $117,050.
Despite Tesla’s middle-of-the-pack luxury pricing, it leads in both horsepower and torque. The Tesla Model X Plaid produces 1,020 horsepower and 752 pound-feet of torque through its three-motor AWD drive system, allowing the mammoth vehicle to shoot from a standstill to 60 mph in just 2.5 seconds.
Unfortunately, Tesla’s closest electric SUV competition in terms of performance, the Rivian R1S, was absent from today’s race, but should make a great follow-up video for the ever-popular YouTube channel.
With each of the automakers that raced the Model X today already planning to introduce higher-performance electric models in the coming years, there’s no doubt that the competition is about to get a lot closer. . As evidenced by the video published today, legacy makers have a lot of ground to make up.
What do you think of the article? Do you have any comments, questions or concerns? Email me at [email protected] You can also reach me on Twitter @WilliamWritin. If you have news tips, email us at [email protected]!
