Ever since Tesla introduced the Model S Plaid a few years ago, we have seen it subjected to all kinds of tests. But while it may not be in its element at the racetrack, it is one place where it truly shines: at the drag strip.
Countless quarter-mile battles between the electric hyper sedan and all sorts of other machines have kept enthusiasts up at night. The ultra-powerful EV took on the supercar establishment and was pinned against various modified rides. It won some races, lost others, and has always returned to the drag strip to prove its mettle, dropping jaws because this vehicle runs 9s without any modifications.
In fact, it was even clocked at roughly 8.7 seconds, with an exit speed of 157.8 mph (254 kph). It seems out of this world for a car intended to be a daily driver, with a posh and comfortable interior and generous cargo capacity. It's not a bargain, but it doesn't break the bank either, with an MSRP of just under $110,000 in today's market.
The Tesla Model S needs some pre-race prepping to hit 60 miles an hour in less than two seconds (albeit not from zero, as you probably know). First, the driver must engage the Drag Strip mode, which sharpens the parameters for a few minutes. The Cheetah Stance adjusts the adaptive suspension on its own a few seconds after pushing the brake pedal and hitting the right one, and only then you're good to go. And it will stay true to its official spec sheet if the asphalt is covered in a grippy resin for extra off-the-line traction.
This is a true beast that can cause mayhem with a skilled driver holding the wheel. And the guy behind the Tesla Plaid Channel on YouTube has proved numerous times that he can handle all that power. One of his latest ventures into the world of drag racing took him to the Bradenton Motorsports Park in Florida earlier this month. The video you are about to watch shows his Model S Plaid engaging in a quarter-mile battle with something you don't normally see at the drag strip: a hearse.
But this is no ordinary hearse intended for peaceful final rides, as it has been heavily modified. It, too, is an extremely-fast machine in a straight-line sprint and has a nitrous system for temporary boosts. But does it have what it takes to put the Tesla in its corner? You are one mouse click away from finding out. The footage is a little over six minutes long and shows other fun stuff, so if you were looking for an excuse to take a short break, then this is it. Without further ado, scroll down and click the play button.
After a series of unfortunate events put an end to Cristian's dream of entering a custom built & tuned old-school Dacia into a rally competition, he moved on to drive press cars and write for a living. He's worked for several automotive online journals and now he's back at autoevolution after his first tour in the mid-2000s. Full profile
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