News
Tesla Model 3 Performance drag races McLaren 570S in impressive 1/4 mile showdown
There is no denying that the Model 3 Performance is quick, especially considering VBOX data validating the car’s 0-60 mph acceleration figures. But the question is, would it be fast enough to beat an actual supercar on the drag strip? Perhaps, even something as daunting as a McLaren 570S?
This was something explored recently by Tesla owner-enthusiast Erik Strait, better known as the host of YouTube’s DÆrik channel. Thanks to a friendly owner in the area, Erik has been able to test out the capabilities of the Model 3 Performance, which adds dual motors and a $5,000 Performance Upgrade package to the base trim, including 20″ Performance Wheels, Michelin Pilot Sport 4S summer tires, a carbon fiber rear spoiler, aluminum alloy pedals, and a top speed boost that enables the electric car to max out at 155 mph.
Tesla lists the Model 3 Performance with a 0-60 mph time of 3.5 seconds, which is plenty fast for a high-performance midsize sedan. Erik’s tests have shown that the Model 3 Performance is actually quicker than Tesla’s estimates, with the electric car hitting 60 mph in as low as 3.18 seconds when fully charged. Nevertheless, with a McLaren 570S as its opponent, the cards are stacked against the Model 3 Performance.
McLaren’s supercars are actually embedded in the history of Tesla, with CEO Elon Musk famously buying a McLaren F1 when he made his first millions after selling Zip2, his first company. Musk would later infamously wreck his McLaren F1 in a joyride with Peter Thiel, but the supercar would hold a special place in the Tesla CEO’s heart for years to come. When Musk unveiled the Model S P85D, for example, he made it a point to highlight that the electric car’s 0-60 mph time of 3.2 seconds is comparable to the acceleration of the supercar.
The 570S is McLaren’s “baby” supercar, slightly less powerful than its flagship vehicles like the 650S but incredibly fast just the same. The 570S is equipped with a twin-turbo 3.8-liter V8 engine making 562 hp and 443 lb-ft of torque. The car is also fitted with a slick-shifting 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, which helps propel the vehicle from 0-60 mph in 3.0 seconds. The 570S’ top speed of 204 mph places it beside popular supercars like the Lamborghini Huracan 610-4 Spyder and the Ferrari 488 Spider 3.9 V8 Turbo. Compared to the McLaren 570S, the Model 3 Performance appears completely outclasses, with its dual motors producing a combined 450 hp and 471 lb-ft of torque and its top speed of 155 mph.
The Model 3 Performance dueled the McLaren 570S twice, and on both times, the electric car left the gas-powered supercar off the line. The Model 3 Performance did get the jump on the 570S to the quarter-mile mark, but stats-wise, Tesla’s electric car fell just around .2 seconds short of the supercar. The Model 3 Performance finished the quarter mile in 11.79 seconds at a speed of 115.18 mph in the first round, which was just slightly lower than the McLaren 570S’ 11.62 seconds and 124 mph. A second race rendered similar results, with the Model 3 Performance finishing the run in 11.79 seconds at 115.35 mph and the 570S completing the run in 11.58 seconds at 125.68 mph.
The Model 3 Performance is not a supercar, both in design and in function. While the McLaren 570S had bad launches on both races, the time differences between the two vehicles’ quarter-mile runs were just way too close. With stickier tires and a possible Ludicrous upgrade in the future, the Model 3 Performance could most certainly establish itself as a force to be reckoned with on the drag strip, just like its two larger siblings — the Model S P100D and the Model X P100D.
Watch the Model 3 Performance stand up to the McLaren 570S in the video below.
Tesla has landed a massive deal to expand its charging infrastructure for heavy-duty electric trucks — and not just theirs, but all manufacturers.
Tesla entered an agreement with Pilot Travel Centers, the largest operator of travel centers in the United States. Tesla’s Semi Chargers, which are used to charge Class 8 electric trucks, will be responsible for providing energy to various vehicles from a variety of manufacturers.
The first sites are expected to open later this Summer, and will be built at select locations along I-5 and I-10, major routes for commercial vehicles and significant logistics companies. The chargers will be available in California, Georgia, Nevada, New Mexico, and Texas.
Each station will have between four and eight chargers, delivering up to 1.2 megawatts of power at each stall.
The project is the latest in Tesla’s plans to expand Semi Charging availability. The effort is being put forth to create more opportunities for the development of sustainable logistics.
Senior Vice President of Alternative Fuels at Pilot, Shannon Sturgil, said:
“Helping to shape the future of energy is a strategic pillar in meeting the needs of our guests and the North American transportation industry. Heavy-duty charging is yet another extension of our exploration into alternative fuel offerings, and we’re happy to partner with a leader in the space that provides turnkey solutions and deploys them quickly.”
Tesla currently has 46 public Semi Charger sites in progress or planned across the United States, mostly positioned along major trucking routes and industrial areas. Perhaps the biggest bottleneck with owning an EV early on was charging availability, and that is no different with electric Class 8 trucks. They simply need an area to charge.
Tesla is spearheading the effort to expand Semicharging availability, and the latest partnership with Pilot shows the company has allies in the program.
The company plans to build 50,000 units of the Tesla Semi in the coming years, and with early adopters like PepsiCo, DHL, and others already contributing millions of miles of data, fleets are going to need reliable public charging.
🚨 Pilot working with Tesla to install and expand Semi Chargers is a perfect example of two industry leaders working together for the greater good.
As more commerce companies expand into EVs, Semi Charger will be more commonly available for electrified fleets, making efforts… pic.twitter.com/VPLIYyq15b
— TESLARATI (@Teslarati) January 27, 2026
Tesla is partnering with other companies for the development of the Semi program, most notably, a conglomeration with Uber was announced last year.
Tesla lands new partnership with Uber as Semi takes center stage
The ride-sharing platform plans to launch the Dedicated EV Fleet Accelerator Program, which it calls a “first-of-its-kind buyer’s program designed to make electric freight more affordable and accessible by addressing key adoption barriers.”
The Semi is one of several projects that will take Tesla into a completely different realm. Along with Optimus and its growing Energy division, the Semi will expand Tesla to new heights, and its prioritization of charging infrastructure.
Elon Musk
Elon Musk’s Boring Company opens Vegas Loop’s newest station
The Fontainebleau is the latest resort on the Las Vegas Strip to embrace the tunneling startup’s underground transportation system.
Elon Musk’s tunneling startup, The Boring Company, has welcomed its newest Vegas Loop station at the Fontainebleau Las Vegas.
The Fontainebleau is the latest resort on the Las Vegas Strip to embrace the tunneling startup’s underground transportation system.
Fontainebleau Loop station
The new Vegas Loop station is located on level V-1 of the Fontainebleau’s south valet area, as noted in a report from the Las Vegas Review-Journal. According to the resort, guests will be able to travel free of charge to the stations serving the Las Vegas Convention Center, as well as to Loop stations in Encore and Westgate.
The Fontainebleau station connects to the Riviera Station, which is located in the northwest parking lot of the convention center’s West Hall. From there, passengers will be able to access the greater Vegas Loop.
Vegas Loop expansion
In December, The Boring Company began offering Vegas Loop rides to and from Harry Reid International Airport. Those trips include a limited above-ground segment, following approval from the Nevada Transportation Authority to allow surface street travel tied to Loop operations.
Under the approval, airport rides are limited to no more than four miles of surface street travel, and each trip must include a tunnel segment. The Vegas Loop currently includes more than 10 miles of tunnels. From this number, about four miles of tunnels are operational.
The Boring Company President Steve Davis previously told the Review-Journal that the University Center Loop segment, which is currently under construction, is expected to open in the first quarter of 2026. That extension would allow Loop vehicles to travel beneath Paradise Road between the convention center and the airport, with a planned station located just north of Tropicana Avenue.
News
Tesla leases new 108k-sq ft R&D facility near Fremont Factory
The lease adds to Tesla’s presence near its primary California manufacturing hub as the company continues investing in autonomy and artificial intelligence.
Tesla has expanded its footprint near its Fremont Factory by leasing a 108,000-square-foot R&D facility in the East Bay.
The lease adds to Tesla’s presence near its primary California manufacturing hub as the company continues investing in autonomy and artificial intelligence.
A new Fremont lease
Tesla will occupy the entire building at 45401 Research Ave. in Fremont, as per real estate services firm Colliers. The transaction stands as the second-largest R&D lease of the fourth quarter, trailing only a roughly 115,000-square-foot transaction by Figure AI in San Jose.
As noted in a Silicon Valley Business Journal report, Tesla’s new Fremont lease was completed with landlord Lincoln Property Co., which owns the facility. Colliers stated that Tesla’s Fremont expansion reflects continued demand from established technology companies that are seeking space for engineering, testing, and specialized manufacturing.
Tesla has not disclosed which of its business units will be occupying the building, though Colliers has described the property as suitable for office and R&D functions. Tesla has not issued a comment about its new Fremont lease as of writing.
AI investments
Silicon Valley remains a key region for automakers as vehicles increasingly rely on software, artificial intelligence, and advanced electronics. Erin Keating, senior director of economics and industry insights at Cox Automotive, has stated that Tesla is among the most aggressive auto companies when it comes to software-driven vehicle development.
Other automakers have also expanded their presence in the area. Rivian operates an autonomy and core technology hub in Palo Alto, while GM maintains an AI center of excellence in Mountain View. Toyota is also relocating its software and autonomy unit to a newly upgraded property in Santa Clara.
Despite these expansions, Colliers has noted that Silicon Valley posted nearly 444,000 square feet of net occupancy losses in Q4 2025, pushing overall vacancy to 11.2%.
Tesla lands massive deal to expand charging for heavy-duty electric trucks
Elon Musk’s Boring Company opens Vegas Loop’s newest station
