News
Tesla Model S Plaid at 50% charge pulls faster than supercars, data shows
During the reign of the Tesla Model S Performance, P100D, P90D, and P85D, electric car critics typically pointed out that the flagship sedan could only achieve its peak performance when the car was fully charged. Critics stated that once the top-tier Model S’ battery dropped to about 50%, drivers should expect a notable drop in performance.
The Model S critique was one of the likely reasons why Porsche highlighted the Taycan’s capability to post consistent 0-60 mph and quarter-mile times regardless of its state of charge. Tesla decided to change the narrative with the Model S Plaid’s performance eventually. The company later noted that the flagship sedan could now post consistent performance figures even as its state of charge decreased.
Data from drivers who have taken delivery of the Model S Plaid has since proven Tesla’s claim. But that’s not all. As per a recent video from Brooks Weisblat, from YouTube channel DragTimes, Model S Plaid with only 50% state of charge could accomplish a full quarter-mile run in the mid-9 seconds. With those results, the Model S Plaid is faster than some of the world’s best supercars today and significantly faster than the Porsche Taycan Turbo S.
The DragTimes host was able to get Dragy data from two separate Model S Plaid owners who launched their cars in regular roads. One of the vehicles had a 98% state of charge, while the other only had 50% of its battery charged. Remarkably, the Model S Plaid posted relatively similar times. The vehicle with 98% charge completed the quarter-mile in 9.39 seconds and the car with just 50% battery finished the same run in 9.56 seconds.
Even more notable, the Model S Plaid with 50% battery actually posted a better 0-60 mph time of 2.38 seconds than the vehicle with 98% charge, which posted a 0-60 mph time of 2.42 seconds. The trap speed of the vehicles at the quarter-mile mark was not too far apart either. The vehicle with 98% battery hit the quarter-mile mark at 152.43 mph and the Model S Plaid with 50% battery hit the same mark at 146.64 mph.
Being a drag racing enthusiast, Weisblat has tested some of the world’s fastest supercars on the quarter-mile. Just like the two Model S Plaid owners who posted their Dragy data, the YouTube host also tested a number of supercars on the street for their real-world performance, including the Ferrari SF90, the McLaren 765LT, the Lamborghini Huracan Evo, and the Porsche Taycan Turbo S. Each of these vehicles’ quarter-mile times were not as impressive as the Model S Plaid with 50% state of charge.
The Ferrari SF90, for example, completed its quarter-mile in 9.64 seconds. The McLaren 765LT, one of the supercar maker’s best quarter-mile vehicles, completed the same run in 9.88 seconds. The Lamborghini Huracan EVO, on the other hand, finished the quarter-mile in 10.44 seconds, while the Porsche Taycan Turbo S completed the run in 10.39 seconds. This is an incredible achievement for the Model S Plaid, and it speaks to the vehicle’s consistent performance.
Watch DragTmes‘ video on the Model S Plaid’s real-world quarter-mile times in the video below.
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Investor's Corner
SpaceX IPO is coming, CEO Elon Musk confirms
However, it appears Musk is ready for SpaceX to go public, as Ars Technica Senior Space Editor Eric Berger wrote an op-ed that indicated he thought SpaceX would go public soon. Musk replied, basically confirming it.
Elon Musk confirmed through a post on X that a SpaceX initial public offering (IPO) is on the way after hinting at it several times earlier this year.
It also comes one day after Bloomberg reported that SpaceX was aiming for a valuation of $1.5 trillion, adding that it wanted to raise $30 billion.
Musk has been transparent for most of the year that he wanted to try to figure out a way to get Tesla shareholders to invest in SpaceX, giving them access to the stock.
He has also recognized the issues of having a public stock, like litigation exposure, quarterly reporting pressures, and other inconveniences.
However, it appears Musk is ready for SpaceX to go public, as Ars Technica Senior Space Editor Eric Berger wrote an op-ed that indicated he thought SpaceX would go public soon.
Musk replied, basically confirming it:
As usual, Eric is accurate
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 10, 2025
Berger believes the IPO would help support the need for $30 billion or more in capital needed to fund AI integration projects, such as space-based data centers and lunar satellite factories. Musk confirmed recently that SpaceX “will be doing” data centers in orbit.
AI appears to be a “key part” of SpaceX getting to Musk, Berger also wrote. When writing about whether or not Optimus is a viable project and product for the company, he says that none of that matters. Musk thinks it is, and that’s all that matters.
It seems like Musk has certainly mulled something this big for a very long time, and the idea of taking SpaceX public is not just likely; it is necessary for the company to get to Mars.
The details of when SpaceX will finally hit that public status are not known. Many of the reports that came out over the past few days indicate it would happen in 2026, so sooner rather than later.
But there are a lot of things on Musk’s plate early next year, especially with Cybercab production, the potential launch of Unsupervised Full Self-Driving, and the Roadster unveiling, all planned for Q1.
Tesla has added the 15th automaker to the growing list of companies whose EVs can utilize the Supercharger Network this year, as BMW is the latest company to gain access to the largest charging infrastructure in the world.
BMW became the 15th company in 2025 to gain Tesla Supercharger access, after the company confirmed to its EV owners that they could use any of the more than 25,000 Supercharging stalls in North America.
Welcome @BMW owners.
Download the Tesla app to charge → https://t.co/vnu0NHA7Ab
— Tesla Charging (@TeslaCharging) December 10, 2025
Newer BMW all-electric cars, like the i4, i5, i7, and iX, are able to utilize Tesla’s V3 and V4 Superchargers. These are the exact model years, via the BMW Blog:
- i4: 2022-2026 model years
- i5: 2024-2025 model years
- 2026 i5 (eDrive40 and xDrive40) after software update in Spring 2026
- i7: 2023-2026 model years
- iX: 2022-2025 model years
- 2026 iX (all versions) after software update in Spring 2026
With the expansion of the companies that gained access in 2025 to the Tesla Supercharger Network, a vast majority of non-Tesla EVs are able to use the charging stalls to gain range in their cars.
So far in 2025, Tesla has enabled Supercharger access to:
- Audi
- BMW
- Genesis
- Honda
- Hyundai
- Jaguar Land Rover
- Kia
- Lucid
- Mercedes-Benz
- Nissan
- Polestar
- Subaru
- Toyota
- Volkswagen
- Volvo
Drivers with BMW EVs who wish to charge at Tesla Superchargers must use an NACS-to-CCS1 adapter. In Q2 2026, BMW plans to release its official adapter, but there are third-party options available in the meantime.
They will also have to use the Tesla App to enable Supercharging access to determine rates and availability. It is a relatively seamless process.
News
Tesla adds new feature that will be great for crowded parking situations
This is the most recent iteration of the app and was priming owners for the slowly-released Holiday Update.
Tesla has added a new feature that will be great for crowded parking lots, congested parking garages, or other confusing times when you cannot seem to pinpoint where your car went.
Tesla has added a new Vehicle Locator feature to the Tesla App with App Update v4.51.5.
This is the most recent iteration of the app and was priming owners for the slowly-released Holiday Update.
While there are several new features, which we will reveal later in this article, perhaps one of the coolest is that of the Vehicle Locator, which will now point you in the direction of your car using a directional arrow on the home screen. This is similar to what Apple uses to find devices:
Interesting. The location arrow in the Tesla app now points to your car when you’re nearby. pic.twitter.com/b0yjmwwzxN
— Whole Mars Catalog (@wholemars) December 7, 2025
In real time, the arrow gives an accurate depiction of which direction you should walk in to find your car. This seems extremely helpful in large parking lots or unfamiliar shopping centers.
Getting to your car after a sporting event is an event all in itself; this feature will undoubtedly help with it:
The nice little touch that Tesla have put in the app – continuous tracking of your vehicle location relative to you.
There’s people reporting dizziness testing this.
To those I say… try spinning your phone instead. 😉 pic.twitter.com/BAYmJ3mzzD
— Some UK Tesla Guy (UnSupervised…) (@SomeUKTeslaGuy) December 8, 2025
Tesla’s previous app versions revealed the address at which you could locate your car, which was great if you parked on the street in a city setting. It was also possible to use the map within the app to locate your car.
However, this new feature gives a more definitive location for your car and helps with the navigation to it, instead of potentially walking randomly.
It also reveals the distance you are from your car, which is a big plus.
Along with this new addition, Tesla added Photobooth features, Dog Mode Live Activity, Custom Wraps and Tints for Colorizer, and Dashcam Clip details.
🚨 Tesla App v4.51.5 looks to be preparing for the Holiday Update pic.twitter.com/ztts8poV82
— TESLARATI (@Teslarati) December 8, 2025
All in all, this App update was pretty robust.
SpaceX IPO is coming, CEO Elon Musk confirms
Tesla adds 15th automaker to Supercharger access in 2025
