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Tesla and Lucid’s performance specs are opening the door for an ICE exit
Tesla and Lucid Motors are paving the way for an internal combustion car exit in terms of performance vehicles. The two companies, with their impressive specifications, are showing that if a consumer wants a fast car, they should consider battery-powered machines first and foremost.
The Tesla Model S seemed to break the mindset of many EV skeptics who claimed that gas-powered vehicles would always reign superior on a drag strip. For a long time, critics of the electric movement thought that cars powered by battery cells would always be similar to golf cars: slow and boring.
However, the Model S quickly changed the tune of the skeptics, turning in quarter-mile times that snuck under the 11-second mark. Tesla has worked to continuously improve the power output of its vehicles with increased battery and motor efficiency, along with aerodynamic enhancements that came from Software Updates.
Then came along Lucid. The company has been hyping its first vehicle, the Air, for several years. Tesla fans were skeptical, as they should be, but Lucid has proven itself to be a real player in the EV market over the past few months. After showing that its 517-mile range was for real, the company revealed that it had invented a series of new advancements that would improve the performance of its vehicle. These developments were critical to the Air’s performance specifications, and the car became the fastest production car ever to complete a quarter-mile race with a 9.9-second time.
With Tesla still working on its Plaid Mode variant for the Model S, which set a course record at the Nürburgring last year, there is some cause for concern with ICE companies who claim their vehicles can dethrone the instant torque and lightning-quick acceleration from electric cars. Now, these automakers don’t only have to deal with Tesla’s rapidly improving powertrains, but Lucid has proven itself to be a bit of an issue as well.
It turns out that only two other production cars have ever achieved a quarter-mile with a 9.9x-second time from a standing start: The Porsche 918 Spyder at 9.716 seconds, and the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport at 9.9 seconds. The Porsche used some battery power to achieve this time, as it was a hybrid-electric vehicle. Other cars have achieved the time with a one-foot rollout, but the Air and Model S both achieved their times without this rollout.
The Performance of the Lucid Air has virtually opened a revolving door for ICE cars to line up into and rollout of. The Model S was the original benchmark, and Lucid’s team aimed to create a more efficient and aerodynamically superior vehicle than Tesla’s flagship sedan. As of now, they’ve succeeded.
However, Tesla has kept their developments of the Plaid Mode Model S under wraps, and there is no indication of whether it will one-up the Air when it hits the drag strip in the future. One thing, however, is for sure: The culmination of Tesla and Lucid’s development of their performance vehicles has effectively dug the grave of ICE cars in terms of quarter-mile performance. With exceptional range ratings, environmental advantages, and improving technology through software, gas-powered cars will soon find themselves buried by the electric automakers who are striving to create fast and sustainable vehicles for everyone to drive.
Tesla owners are being doxxed by a controversial anti-DOGE website in what it called an act to “empower creative expressions of protest.”
Dogequest, a website that has been created with a clearly outlined use for intimidation against Tesla owners, posted the names, addresses, phone numbers, and other contact information of those who own vehicles made by the electric vehicle manufacturer.
It was spotted by 404 Media.
The site also claims to have the information of employees at the Department of Government Efficiency, as well as the addresses of Tesla dealerships and the locations of Tesla Superchargers. The latter two are public information.
However, the website is hoping to get Tesla owners to sell their vehicles in this evident intimidation tactic. However, the information on the website, while it was seen, was not verified to prove that it contained the information of real-world Tesla owners. The site was not accessible by Teslarati at the time of publication.
The creation of a site like Dogequest is just another level that anti-Elon Musk activists are taking to attempt to destroy a company like Tesla as its CEO works with the Trump Administration to eliminate excessive government spending through the work of DOGE.
It is also the latest attack on Tesla owners, who have seen their vehicles vandalized, damaged, and even destroyed by those who disagree with the actions of Musk.
Tesla as a company has also seen several acts of retaliation against it, as everything from the arson of its showrooms and vehicles to it being kicked from the popular Vancouver Auto Show have come as a result of the recent backlash against the company.
Moving forward, there are still questions surrounding how these attacks will be combatted. The Trump Administration has indicated that acts of vandalism against Tesla would be considered a federal crime, but the tricky part of locating the culprits has proven to be extremely difficult. Only a handful have been found and held accountable.
Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) received an upgraded rating on its shares from Wall Street firm Cantor Fitzgerald, who recently took a trip to Austin to visit the company’s data centers and production lines ahead of several high-profile product launches set for this year.
It was a bold move, especially considering Tesla shares are under immense pressure currently, fending off negative news regarding the company’s sentiment and potentially lower-than-expected delivery figures due to the launch of a new version of its most popular vehicle, the Model Y.
However, the bulls on Wall Street are still considering Tesla to be a safe play, especially considering its robust presence in various industries, including automotive, energy, and AI/Robotics.
Cantor Fitzgerald analyst Andres Sheppard said in a note that, during a recent visit to Tesla’s Cortex AI data centers and the production line at Gigafactory Texas, it was clear there is a lot of potential and runway for Tesla in 2025:
“On 3/18, we visited Tesla’s Cortex AI data centers and the factory’s production lines ahead of the company’s introduction of its Robotaxi segment (targeted for June in Austin, followed by CA later in 2025). With Tesla’s shares now down ~45% YRD, we upgrade Tesla to Overweight (from Neutral) ahead of upcoming material catalysts. Our $425 12-month PT is unchanged. Our Thoughts: Attractive Entry Point Ahead of Material Catalysts.”
Sheppard went on to mention the catalysts, which he believes are the Robotaxi rollout in Austin in June, along with the continued rollout of Full Self-Driving in China, the eventual rollout of FSD in Europe, and the introduction of the affordable models in the first half of this year, and those were just on the automotive side.
There are several others, including Optimus, growth in the energy division, and in the longer term, the Semi.
In terms of potential weaknesses, Sheppard expects the likely removal of the EV tax credit and some of its growth to be offset by tariffs as the two big things that stand in the way of even more growth for the company.
Tesla is up over 5 percent on Wednesday, trading at $236.86.
Tesla has been kicked from a popular automotive show as the organizers of the massive event have succumbed to the pressure of protestors and others who oppose the electric vehicle maker.
The Vancouver Auto Show in Canada announced that it would not allow Tesla to establish a presence at the event this year, citing concerns about potential disruption from protestors and others who have been vocal about their distaste for the company and its CEO, Elon Musk.
Eric Nicholl, executive director of the Vancouver Auto International Show, said (via The Hill):
“The Vancouver Auto Show’s primary concern is the safety of attendees, exhibitors, and staff. This decision will ensure all attendees can be solely focused on enjoying the many positive elements of the event.”
Tesla was reportedly given several opportunities to voluntarily withdraw from the Vancouver Auto Show. The company evidently declined these invitations. Reps of the event itself then took it into their own hands, stating that the company would not be welcome at the event any longer.
Musk’s involvement in the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) under the Trump Administration seems to be the main culprit for so much pushback from the opposition.
Protest groups and organizers have put together various acts of opposition against Tesla, some more reasonable than others, in an effort to show their distaste for the company and Musk. However, many of these acts have turned violent, resulting in the vandalism or even the total destruction of vehicles. It’s one thing to use your right to protest, and it’s another to destroy people’s personal vehicles or property that belongs to the automaker.
The decision by the Vancouver Auto Show sets a dangerous precedent that the violence and destruction tactics used by groups that oppose Tesla will work. Ultimately, people’s safety is most important, but there is the impression that shows will not take the proper precautions to ensure that all companies are able to show off their products and tech at the event.
This could have been resolved with other strategies, and axing Tesla from the show altogether could result in some fans boycotting the show altogether.
Tesla owners doxxed by controversial anti-DOGE website in clear intimidation tactic
Tesla gets an upgrade on ‘upcoming material catalysts’
Tesla kicked from popular auto show as event succumbs to protest pressure
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