Everybody knows what a McLaren can do once it gets going. The only question whenever the British supercars are involved in a drag race with an all-wheel-drive opponent is, "is the track long enough?"
Assuming the answer is "yes," then you know the Macca is going to win it. Once those first few yards where finding traction can be a little problematic with just the two wheels are gone, there are very few cars out there that can put their power down as efficiently as the McLarens. That, combined with the excellent dual-clutch transmissions that go from one gear to another in next to no time, is what makes them the last cars you want to see standing next to yours at the start of a drag race.
Well, pretty much the same can be said about the Tesla Model S, even though for very different reasons. Going up against a Tesla Model S Performance in a race that isn't longer than a quarter of a mile means you're likely to lose, or if you drive something pretty special, at least play catchup for most of the confrontation.
Unlike the McLarens, the start of the race is where the Model S shines. The two electric motors power the two axles individually, giving the vehicle all-wheel-drive as well as unparalleled control over how much power each wheel receives. What that means is that the Tesla can put its massive power reserves (nearly 800 hp) on the asphalt in the most efficient way possible, enabling that slingshot launch that EVs are famous for.
Well, this race against the McLaren 650S follows the expected recipe, but unlike most of the ones we've seen so far that were staged on airstrips or closed (or not) public roads, this one takes place on an actual drag strip. That means the two cars are racing on a prepped surface that greatly improves grip compared to your regular asphalt.
In other words, even though the playing field is still perfectly balanced, the change definitely favors the car that would usually struggle for traction. In this case, that would be the McLaren 650S. To make matters even worse for the Model S, its battery isn't at the highest level either, and we've seen very recently what a great influence that can have on the result.
Still, even the owner of the Tesla admits that the time pulled by the McLaren would have been enough to beat his best one ever. Even though he feels he could have done better, it wouldn't have made a difference in the end. Whoops, did we just give away the result? It would appear so, but it still makes for a very interesting watch.
"Boy meets car, boy loves car, boy gets journalism degree and starts job writing and editing at a car magazine" - 5/5. (Vlad Mitrache if he was a movie) Full profile
Would you like AUTOEVOLUTION to send you notifications?
Google News