Tesla Model 3 Performance Drag Races American V8 Muscle, Plaid Says “Bye-Bye”

The supercharged brute flaunts a set of skinnies up front and sticky drag radials out back, a setup that makes a world of difference in the quarter mile. How big of a difference? Think 10.08 seconds at 143.03 miles per hour (make that 230 kilometers per hour in metric) compared to 11.77 seconds at 114.01 miles per hour (183 kilometers per hour).

It should be noted that Rich’s car started the day with 87 percent state of charge. Next up, he dukes it out with a gentleman in a Model S Plaid. A tri-motor sedan with 1,020 horsepower on deck, the MSP makes easy work of the M3P in the quarter mile, clocking a staggering 9.43 seconds at 148.71 miles per hour (239 kilometers per hour). Rich did a respectable 11.75 at 114.87 (just under 185).

On Tesla’s configurator, the Model 3 Performance is advertised with a top speed of 162 miles per hour (260 kilometers per hour) and 3.1 seconds from zero to 60 miles per hour (97 kilometers per hour) for a cool $50,900 without incentives or gas savings.

Obviously pricier, the $89,990 Model S Plaid tops 162 miles per hour and requires 1.99 seconds (including one foot of rollout) to 60. If you want to go faster, you’ll have to spend $20,000 on the track package for 200 mph (nearly 320 kph).

The Model 3 Performance then drags a rather loud Mustang with drag radials. The V8-powered GT puts up a good fight, although it fails to assert dominance over the Fremont-built electric sedan due to a fair bit of wheel spin. Unfortunately, the Mustang’s time and trap speed are not known because Rich was presented with a half slip. If you insist, Rich did 11.78 at 113.67 (almost 183).

A serious-looking Camaro then races the Model 3 Performance, a Camaro whose driver was pretty slow on the light. Even so, the V8-engined pony caught up with the M3P as Rich was approaching the finish line. Yet again, the challenger’s time and trap speed aren’t known. This run also happened to be Rich’s best for the day, recording 11.69 at 114.86 miles per hour (185 kilometers per hour).

The penultimate race puts the Model 3 Performance against a Hellcat-powered Charger with drag radials, a four-door sedan with underpinnings dating back to the DaimlerChrysler era. Despite being a bit on the porky side of sedans, the Charger dealt with the quarter mile in precisely 11.56 seconds compared to 11.78 seconds for Rich On Track's Tesla Model 3 Performance.

As for the final race, Rich went up against an old Z car (either 240Z or 280Z) whose driver made a mess of the launch. As a result, the Model 3 Performance crossed the quarter-mile line first, clocking 11.71 seconds at 114.39 miles per hour (184 kilometers per hour) with 57 percent SOC.