Quality issues, overzealous enthusiasts, an overpromising head honcho, and overvalued stock. Tesla is a bit controversial at face value, but the question is, why is the Palo Alto-based automaker so damn successful?
First things first, “automaker” is an understatement on my part. Tesla dropped Motors from its nomenclature three years ago because it’s a tech-driven company that has ventured into solar roofs, energy storage, and pretty crazy stuff like a flamethrower and tequila that costs $250 per bottle.
Secondly, rewind to the first generation of the Roadster. Yeah, the one that looks similar to a Lotus Elise. Right off the bat, the EV specialist made electric vehicles exciting by means of performance. Over the years, this philosophy morphed into brand awareness. Pretty much everyone out there, including people who aren’t knowledgeable in cars, know that Teslas are cool.
Consumer recognition extends to performance, which is why the Model S Performance is one of the sweethearts of the drag racing community. Available from $91,990 excluding potential savings, this version of the full-size sedan will rocket to 60 mph (96 kph) in 2.3 seconds with the standard tires. In other words, it’s a perfect match for the almighty Dodge Demon.
This particular example of the breed didn’t find a Demon on the blacktop, though, but three unlikely contenders. Filmed at the Bradenton Motorsports Park, the all-electric sedan posted 10.8 seconds at 120 miles per hour (193 kph) against a McLaren 650S that ran 10.4 seconds at 133 mph (214 kph).
Second time out on the strip, the factory-standard Model S Performance in Ludicrous Mode lines up alongside a Dodge Charger with the 392 HEMI. As expected from a rear-wheel-drive muscle car that spins the rear tires at launch, the Mopar machine crossed the line after the dual-motor sedan.
The final pairing sees the Tesla duke it out with a Ford F-150. As opposed to 10.7 seconds at 121 mph (195 kph) for the all-electric interloper, the light-duty pickup settled for 14.1 seconds at 99 mph (159 kph). Pretty respectable times for these two, right? Be that as it may, the Model S has more to offer.
Coming next year as a 2022 model, the Plaid is rocking a three-motor drivetrain that promises 60 miles per hour in less than two seconds. As far as the quarter-mile time is concerned, look forward to “under nine seconds."
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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