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Tesla Model 3 Performance battles Dodge Challenger, Model X & Model S in multiple drag races

[Credit: DÆrik/YouTube]

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The Tesla Model 3 Performance might be the most affordable among the company’s performance-branded vehicles, but it is still a very quick driving machine in straight line races. This was recently proven on the drag strip, where the electric sedan battled a series of opponents including a Dodge Challenger R/T, a Tesla Model X 100D, and a Tesla Model S P100D with Ludicrous Mode.

The video of the races was posted by Tesla owner-enthusiast Erik Strait, who is also the host of YouTube’s DÆrik channel. The Model 3 Performance that Erik took to the strip was the same vehicle that he used for acceleration tests before. In a past test with the electric car’s battery fully charged, the Model 3 Performance was able to run from 0-60 mph in as little as 3.18 seconds according to VBOX data — and that’s with the vehicle being completely stock.

This time around, the Model 3 Performance was taken to the drag strip to compete, and its first challenger was a fellow Tesla — a Model X 100D. The Model 3 Performance’s 0-60 mph acceleration, which is listed at 3.5 seconds by Tesla, beats the Model X 100D’s listed 0-60 time of 4.7 seconds. The two electric cars battled each other twice, and on both times, the Model 3 Performance came out on top, finishing the quarter mile in 11.81 seconds at 114.64 mph compared to the Model X 100D’s 12.86 seconds at 109.73 mph. 

Perhaps the most notable rival of the Model 3 Performance in DÆrik’s recent upload was a vehicle that is the complete antithesis of the electric sedan — a Dodge Challenger R/T. The Dodge Challenger is an iconic American muscle car with a lot of history, and its current iterations stay true to its roots. The Challenger R/T is equipped with either a 375 hp 5.7-liter or 485 hp V8 engine paired with a 6-speed manual or 9-speed automatic transmission.

Both drivers of the gas-powered Dodge Charger and the all-electric Model 3 Performance launched at the same time. Just a fraction of a second later, it was evident that the Tesla’s dual electric motors, which produce a combined 450 hp and 471 lb-ft of torque, was a key difference-maker. The Model 3 Performance got a headstart on the Challenger R/T, and then it just kept pulling away from there. The electric car finished the race in 11.85 seconds at 114.06 mph, while its gas-powered rival completed the run in 14.42 seconds at 99.53 mph.  

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After beating the Model X 100D and the Dodge Challenger R/T, the Model 3 Performance prepared to race Tesla’s fastest vehicle in the market today — the Model S P100D with Ludicrous Mode. The Tesla Model S P100D is a legendary electric car, capable of humiliating supercars in a consistent basis on the drag strip. The electric sedan is listed with a 0-60 mph time of below 2.5 seconds with Ludicrous Mode, which is a full second faster than the Model 3 Performance’s 0-60 time of 3.5 seconds.

Unfortunately for the Model S P100D’s driver, he ended up having a hard time setting up the vehicle for a launch in Ludicrous Mode before the light turned green; thus, preventing the cars from having a proper side-by-side race. The results of the two runs show that the Model S P100D completed the quarter mile in 11.14 seconds at 121.17 mph, while the Model 3 Performance finished the run in 11.79 seconds at 115.07 mph.

The Model 3 Performance seems to be the first of Tesla’s new breed of vehicles. Equipped with the company’s newer, larger 2170 cells, the Model 3 Performance is actually capable of being driven on the track. The car even has an upcoming feature dubbed as “Track Mode,” which Elon Musk described as an “Expert User Mode” for the vehicle’s drivers.

Watch the Model 3 Performance battle a Dodge Challenger R/T, a Model X 100D, and a Model S P100D in the video below. 

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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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Lifestyle

Tesla brings perhaps the coolest interior feature to cars in latest update

Tesla adds on to the “fun” aspect of its vehicles.

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Credit: Tesla

Tesla has brought perhaps the coolest interior feature to its cars in a new update that is rolling out to vehicles now.

The feature will require a newer vehicle that has interior ambient lighting, which is present on the new Model S, Model X, Model 3 “Highland,” and Model Y “Juniper.” The Cybertruck also has ambient lighting strips throughout.

Tesla Model Y’s ambient lighting design changes revealed in leaked video

With the Version 2025.26+ Software Update, Tesla is rolling out a new “Sync Accent Lights w/ Music” feature, which is available on the Tesla Toybox:

To enable the feature, you’ll access the Toybox, choose “Light Sync,” and then choose “Sync Accent Lights w/ Music.”

Although it does not improve the performance of the vehicle, it is yet another example of Tesla making one of the coolest cars out there. This is truly a cool add-on that can be used to impress your friends and family.

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xAI, Musk Foundation helps schools near Memphis supercomputer site

Reports of xAI and the Musk Foundation’s work were recently posted by local news media.

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(Credit: xAI)

Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence startup xAI and the Musk Foundation have been supporting Memphis-Shelby County Schools with HVAC repairs and facility upgrades, while also funding youth programs for students in the area. 

Reports of xAI and the Musk Foundation’s work were recently posted by local news media.

xAI’s school visits lead to facility repairs

Representatives from xAI visited John P. Freeman Optional School, Fairley High School, and Westwood High School, all of which are located near its Colossus supercomputer site, to assess HVAC systems, plumbing, gym facilities, and athletic fields. The visits resulted in a list of priority repairs, some of which were completed in April and May.

In addition to the repairs, xAI also shared a number of initiatives that are planned for students in the area, as stated in a Commercial Appeal report.

“xAI is working on providing STEM workshops for local students, donating equipment to technical training programs, and supporting job fairs to boost employment opportunities. These initiatives reflect xAl’s commitment to fostering education and economic growth in Memphis,” xAI noted in a statement.

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Musk Foundation donation

Apart from xAI, the Musk Foundation also donated $350,000 to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Memphis, enabling the reopening of two club sites located at Booker T. Washington High School and Westwood High School. Both locations had closed earlier this year due to lapses in funding. As per xAI, the Musk Foundation’s donation allows clubs to reopen for almost 1,000 students. 

The donation will fund staffing, supplies, and transportation, among others. “Kids are the future of humanity,” Elon Musk said in a statement, adding that students need “every chance to shoot for the stars.”

“We’re honored to support the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Memphis in reopening these sites, giving kids in underserved communities the tools to build brighter futures,” Musk said.

The gift was praised by local officials, including Boys & Girls Clubs board chair Michael Garriga, who stated that the “commitment will ensure the youth of our community have the opportunities they need to develop their skills and talents to become successful students and future citizens.”

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EV fans urge Tesla to acquire Unplugged Performance for edge in fleet and security industry

Unplugged Performance has built a name for itself by producing performance upgrades for Tesla vehicles.

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Credit: Unplugged Performance

A growing number of Tesla enthusiasts and longtime community voices are calling on the electric vehicle maker to acquire Unplugged Performance, a California-based aftermarket company best known for tuning Tesla vehicles and developing specialized government fleet solutions under its UP.FIT division.

The idea was once considered a niche proposal among EV fans, but it is now gaining serious attention not just as a performance play but as a strategic move to deepen Tesla’s roots in the fleet and security industry. 

A strategic fit

Unplugged Performance has built a name for itself by producing performance upgrades for Tesla vehicles, from track-optimized components to visual and aerodynamic upgrades. But in recent years, its UP.FIT division has pivoted toward a more functional future by outfitting Tesla vehicles like Model Ys for police, military, and government use.

That work has sparked growing calls for closer collaboration with Tesla, especially as the EV maker increasingly leans into autonomy, AI, and fleet services as core components of its next chapter.

“I posted this four years ago, but I think it’s more true now than ever,” wrote Whole Mars Catalog, a well-known Tesla investor and FSD Beta tester, on X. “Tesla should buy Unplugged. But not just as a Performance division. What they are doing with UP.FIT unlocks large government and commercial fleet purchases that can improve utilization.”

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Tesla fans such as shareholder Sawyer Merritt echoed the sentiment, calling Unplugged a “great fit within Tesla.” adding, “They are literally located directly next to Tesla’s design studio in Hawthorne.”

Enabling the next wave

Supporters of the idea noted that integrating Unplugged into Tesla’s corporate structure could help accelerate the adoption of autonomous technologies in government sectors. With UP.FIT patrol cars already in use across some U.S. police departments, Tesla fans envisioned a future where self-driving Teslas could potentially revolutionize law enforcement, search-and-rescue, and public service logistics.

“Just imagine how autonomous patrol cars could transform policing and bring us into a safer future,” the veteran FSD tester wrote.

The benefits could also extend to Tesla’s existing consumer base. “They also have some incredible products in the works that I think will appeal to many ordinary Tesla drivers — not just those looking for performance or mods. Stuff that’s so good it should have come straight from the design studio next door,” Whole Mars Catalog noted.

Unplugged Performance, founded in 2013, shares not just a product vision with Tesla, but also geography. Its Hawthorne headquarters sits directly adjacent to Tesla’s design studio, and the two companies have maintained a close working relationship over the years. The aftermarket firm has long positioned itself as a “mission-aligned” partner to Tesla.

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In response to the recent calls for acquisition, Unplugged Performance acknowledged the support from the community. “Our very existence is to support the Tesla mission with @UpfitTesla and @UnpluggedTesla,” Unplugged CEO Ben Schaffer posted on X. “We love working with Tesla and are grateful for the community’s support since 2013!”

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