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Tesla Model 3 battles Chevy Camaro SS and classic Ford Mustang in drag race

[Credit: FROGMAN524/YouTube]

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When Elon Musk unveiled the Model 3, he remarked that Tesla doesn’t “make slow cars.” Looking at the specs of Tesla’s vehicles, Musk’s statement definitely rings true. Even the company’s most conservative car today — the Mid Range Model 3 RWD — after all, is still quick on its feet, with a 0-60 mph time of 5.6 seconds and a top speed of 125 mph. The Model 3’s non-Performance AWD variant is even faster, capable of hitting 60 mph in just 4.5 seconds and reaching a top speed of 145 mph.

Drag racing videos featuring the Model 3 usually feature the vehicle’s top-tier variant, the Model 3 Performance. Since its release, the electric car, just like the Model S P100D and the Model X P100D, has been developing a reputation for being a formidable competitor on the drag strip. Earlier this year, the Model 3 Performance even stood toe-to-toe with a Dodge Demon in a 1/8-mile race. That said, drag races featuring the non-performance Model 3 AWD have been a bit harder to come by.

That is, until recently. A recent drag racing video uploaded on YouTube by user FROGMAN524 features a rather rare instance of a non-Performance Model 3 AWD competing on the drag strip against some true-born American muscle cars. In the recent video, the electric sedan battled two vehicles — a sixth-generation Chevrolet Camaro SS and a car that appears to be a modified first-gen Ford Mustang — in a drag race.

On paper, the Chevrolet Camaro SS is a pretty formidable vehicle. Equipped with a 6.2-liter LT1 V8 engine that produces 455 hp, the Camaro SS is among GM’s most impressive performance cars, capable of going from 0-60 mph in 4.0 seconds and reaching a top speed of 165 mph. Fitted with a 6-speed manual transmission, the Camaro SS could be considered a true driver’s car, with Car and Driver Deputy Editor Daniel Pund describing the vehicle as a “berserker” and stating that the muscle car can “barely contain its rage.”

The Chevrolet Camaro SS’ race against the Model 3 AWD shows that it takes more than rage and raw specs to beat Tesla’s electric sedan. The Model 3’s instant torque from its dual motors immediately came into play, allowing the vehicle to establish a quick lead against the GM-made muscle car. The Model 3 maintained a slight edge until the end of the race, finishing the quarter mile in 12.72 seconds while traveling at 112.63 mph. The Camaro SS, on the other hand, ended up crossing the quarter-mile mark in 13.34 seconds at 110.40 mph. 

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A drag race-modified first-generation Ford Mustang attempted to topple the electric sedan in a following drag race. Just like the Chevrolet Camaro SS before it, though, the Mustang ended up staring at the tail lights of the non-performance Model 3 AWD for the entire duration of its run. Showing impressive consistency of performance, the Model 3 AWD completed its quarter-mile run in 12.79 seconds at 110.50 mph. The drag-race modified Ford Mustang, on the other hand, finished the run in 17.70 seconds at 76.18 mph.

The Tesla Model 3 AWD Dual Motor is arguably the most bang-for-your-buck variant of the electric sedan today. At $53,000 before any additions, like Autopilot, the vehicle offers capabilities close to the Model 3 Performance for $11,000 less.

Tesla continues to ramp the production of the Model 3. In a recent announcement on Twitter, Elon Musk noted that all vehicle orders placed by November 30 would be assured of delivery by December 31. Other variants of the vehicle, such as the $35,000 Standard range Model 3, are expected to be available sometime in the first half of 2019.

Watch the non-performance Model 3 AWD battle a Chevrolet Camaro SS and a modified Ford Mustang 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 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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