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Tesla Model 3 Performance rips 0-60 mph in blistering 3.18 seconds on 100% battery state of charge

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There was once a time when a 0-60 mph time of 3.2 seconds was reserved only for the world’s most prestigious supercars. The McLaren F1, a car dubbed by Elon Musk as one of the best automobiles ever made, hit 60 mph in 3.2 seconds, and so did other powerful gasoline-powered vehicles like the Lamborghini Huracan LP 580-2 and the Pagani Huayra. Then, in 2014, a heavy family sedan did 0-60 runs in 3.2 seconds. That was the Tesla Model S P85D, a seven-seater family sedan capable of humiliating supercars on the drag strip.

Now, that mark has just been attained by Tesla’s latest high-performance vehicle. In a recently-uploaded video on YouTube, a completely stock Model 3 Performance with a full charge was able to hit 60 mph in just 3.18 seconds, .02 seconds faster than the McLaren F1 — and the whole thing was recorded on a VBOX.

The amazing clip of the high-performance midsize sedan’s 0-60 mph run was shared by Tesla owner-enthusiast Erik Strait, better known as the host of YouTube’s DÆrik channel. Erik borrowed the Model 3 Performance from a friendly owner in the area, and over the past week, the Tesla enthusiast has been testing the vehicle’s acceleration. DÆrik uploaded a series of VBOX-recorded 0-60 mph runs with the electric car not having a full charge recently, and in those tests, the vehicle already showed impressive figures, consistently hitting 60 mph in 3.3 seconds.

If DÆrik‘s most recent runs in the Model 3 Performance are any indication, it appears that when fully charged, the electric car is definitely capable of going the extra mile. Considering that the Model 3 Performance is a midsize sedan, its 3.18-second 0-60 mph sprint is incredibly impressive, placing the vehicle’s quickness at the borders of supercar territory. With such figures coming out of a car that is 100% stock, it would not be surprising to see a Model 3 Performance fitted with improved suspension, tires, and other mods manage to hit 60 mph in less than 3 seconds.

Tesla markets the Model 3 Performance as a vehicle that can go from 0-60 mph in 3.5 seconds. When the vehicle’s specs were announced on Twitter, Elon Musk stated that the electric car should be quick enough to beat track legends like the BMW M3 on a racecourse. Over the weeks leading up to the vehicle’s production, Musk posted a couple of updates about the car on Twitter, stating that Tesla might be able to increase the power output of the Model 3 Performance slightly. Musk also noted that the tires and wheels the vehicle was bundled with are optimized for performance and range. For drivers willing to sacrifice some range for maximum power, Musk suggested that thicker and stickier tires be fitted on the electric car’s rear. According to the CEO, this change should improve the Model 3 Performance’s 0-60 mph time to 3.3 seconds.

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As it turns out, Musk was underrating the vehicle when he quoted those numbers. As DÆrik‘s VBOX runs have shown, a completely stock Model 3 Performance can already do 0-60 mph in 3.3 seconds, even with a battery that’s not fully charged. With a full charge, the Model 3 Performance’s 20″ Performance Wheels and Michelin Pilot Sport 4S summer tires are more than enough to carry the vehicle to 60 mph in less than 3.2 seconds.

Watch the Model 3 Performance do a 0-60 mph run in 3.18 seconds in the video below.

https://youtu.be/N4TJDidF-fw

Simon is an experienced automotive reporter with a passion for electric cars and clean energy. Fascinated by the world envisioned by Elon Musk, he hopes to make it to Mars (at least as a tourist) someday. For stories or tips--or even to just say a simple hello--send a message to his email, simon@teslarati.com or his handle on X, @ResidentSponge.

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Tesla Model S Plaid battles China’s 1500 hp monster Nurburgring monster, with surprising results

There is just something about Tesla’s tuning and refinement that makes raw specs seem not as game-changing.

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Credit: Carwow/YouTube

The Tesla Model S Plaid has been around for some time. Today, it is no longer the world’s quickest four-door electric sedan, nor is it the most powerful. As per a recent video from motoring YouTube channel Carwow, however, it seems like the Model S Plaid is still more than a match for some of its newer and more powerful rivals. 

The monster from China

The Xiaomi SU7 Ultra is nothing short of a monster. Just like the Model S Plaid, it features three motors. It also has 1,548 hp and 1,770 Nm of torque. It’s All Wheel Drive and weighs a hefty 2,360 kg. The vehicle, which costs just about the equivalent of £55,000, has been recorded setting an insane 7:04.957 at the Nurburgring, surpassing the previous record held by the Porsche Taycan Turbo GT.

For all intents and purposes, the Model S Plaid looked outgunned in Carwow’s test. The Model S Plaid is no slouch with its three motors that produce 1,020 hp and 1,420 Nm of torque. It’s also a bit lighter at 2,190 kg despite its larger size. However, as the Carwow host pointed out, the Model S Plaid holds a 7:25.231 record in the Nurburgring. Compared to the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra’s record, the Model S Plaid’s lap time is notably slower. 

Real-world tests

As could be seen in Carwow’s drag races, however, Tesla’s tech wizardry with the Model S Plaid is still hard to beat. The two vehicles competed in nine races, and the older Model S Plaid actually beat its newer, more powerful counterpart from China several times. At one point in the race, the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra hit its power limit due to its battery’s temperature, but the Model S Plaid was still going strong.

The Model S Plaid was first teased five years ago, in September 2020 during Tesla’s Battery Day. Since then, cars like the Lucid Air Sapphire and the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra have been released, surpassing its specs. But just like the Model Y ended up being the better all-rounder compared to the BYD Sealion 7 and the MG IM6, there is just something about Tesla’s tuning and refinement that makes raw specs seem not as game-changing. 

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Check out Carwow’s Model S Plaid vs Xiaomi SU7 drag race video below.

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500-mile test proves why Tesla Model Y still humiliates rivals in Europe

On paper, the BYD Sealion 7 and MG IM6 promised standout capabilities against the Model Y.

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Credit: Tesla China

BYD is seeing a lot of momentum in Europe, so much so that mainstream media has taken every opportunity to argue that the Chinese automaker has beaten Tesla in the region. But while BYD sales this year in Europe are rising and Tesla’s registrations remain challenged, the raw capabilities of vehicles like the Model Y are difficult to deny. 

This was highlighted in a 500-mile challenge by What Car? magazine, which showed that the new Tesla Model Y is more efficient, cheaper to run, and more reliable than rivals like the BYD Sealion 7, and even the nearly 400 KW-charging MG IM6.

Range and charging promises

On paper, the BYD Sealion 7 and MG IM6 promised standout capabilities against the Model Y. The Sealion 7 had more estimated range and the IM6 promised significantly faster charging. When faced with real-world conditions, however, it was still the Model Y that proved superior.

During the 500-mile test, the BYD nearly failed to reach a charging stop, arriving with less range than its display projected, as noted in a CarUp report. MG fared better, but its charging speeds never reached its promised nearly-400 kW charging speed. Tesla’s Model Y, by comparison, managed energy calculations precisely and arrived at each stop without issue.

Tesla leads in areas that matter

Charging times from 25% to 80% showed that the MG was the fastest at 17 minutes, while Tesla and BYD were close at 28 and 29 minutes, respectively. Overall efficiency and cost told a different story, however. The Model Y consumed 19.4 kWh per 100 km, compared to 22.2 for MG and 23.9 for BYD. Over the full trip, Tesla’s charging costs totaled just £82 thanks to its supercharger network, far below BYD’s £130 and MG’s £119. 

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What Car? Magazine’s testers concluded that despite BYD’s rapid sales growth and the MG IM6’s seriously impressive charging speeds, Tesla remains the more compelling real-world choice. The Model Y just offers stability, efficiency, and a proven charging infrastructure through its Supercharging network. And as per the magazine’s hosts, the Model Y is even the cheapest car to own among the three that were tested.

Watch What Car? Magazine’s 500-mile test in the video below.

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Tesla Cybertruck slapped with world’s least intimidating ticket, and it’s pure cringe

One cannot help but cringe and feel second-hand embarrassment at the idea of a person just driving around with a stack of these babies.

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Credit: Ryan Torres/X

A Cybertruck parked at Stanford Shopping Center in California was recently hit with what might be the most try-hard piece of paper ever slipped under a wiper blade: a “fake citation” accusing the driver of supporting a “fascist car.” 

The note, shared on X by Tesla staff program manager Ryan Torres, quickly made the rounds on X, where it quickly gained attention as an example of how not to protest.

The world’s least intimidating ticket

According to the citation, the supposed “violation” was “driving a fascist car.” The remedial action? Take the bus, call an Uber, or ride a bike. The note also dubbed Elon Musk a “chainsaw-wielding Nazi billionaire.” Now, protests against Tesla and Elon Musk have become commonplace this year, but one cannot help but cringe and feel second-hand embarrassment at the idea of a person just driving around with a stack of fake anti-Tesla/Musk citations.

Torres pointed out the irony himself in his post on X. Tesla currently employs over 140,000 Americans, and SpaceX has put the U.S. firmly back at the top of space technology. As Torres put it, maybe the person behind the world’s least intimidating ticket should “read a book on innovation before vandalizing” other people’s property.

Peak performative clownery

Not to mention that the fake ticket’s logic collapses under its own weight. EVs like the Cybertruck are literally designed to reduce emissions, not “destroy the economy.” If anything, Tesla has bolstered the United States’ economy by fueling jobs in engineering, manufacturing, and clean energy. It’s not the first time a Tesla has been the target of vandalism or politically charged notes, but this one stands out for sheer cringe value. 

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Torres summed it up neatly: “Peak clownery.” On that point, at least, the citation earns full marks. In a way, though, perhaps cringe fake tickets are not as bad as the literal firebombs that were being thrown at Tesla stores and cars earlier this year because some critics were gleefully misinformed about Elon Musk.

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