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Tesla Model S flexes its muscles against S197 Ford Mustang GT in drag race

[Credit: Drag Racing and Car Stuff/YouTube]

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The Model S has been Tesla’s flagship sedan for years now, and through its numerous iterations, it has become synonymous with power and quickness, particularly in straight-line races. This became even more evident when Tesla started releasing its P-branded vehicles, which are equipped with dual motors that give the electric cars an added boost in performance. Eventually, Tesla also introduced software enhancements to its P-series cars, making them even faster.

Before the arrival of the fearsome Tesla Model S P100D, the electric car that struck fear into drivers of high-performance gas-powered vehicles was the Model S P90D, a sedan equipped with a 90 kWh battery pack. Without Tesla’s Ludicrous upgrade, the Model S P90D was already capable of sprinting from 0-60 mph in just 2.8 seconds. With the addition of Ludicrous Mode through a software update, the Model S P90 became the first Tesla to hit 60 mph in 2.6 seconds. So daunting was the Model S P90D’s ferocity in the quarter-mile that it eventually became known as a “Ferrari Killer,” on account of the number of supercars it managed to beat in straight-line races.

Tesla no longer makes the Model S P90D, as the company’s flagship sedan is now the Model S P100D, which is equipped with an even bigger battery pack and even more insane acceleration. That being said, there are still a lot of Model S P90D driving around in America’s roads. One of these is a crimson, pre-facelift P90D that frequents the New England Dragway in Epping, New Hampshire. Just as it was during the pre-P100D days, the Model S P90D could be seen battling against some gasoline-powered high-performance cars on the drag strip.

One of these recent bouts was uploaded by YouTube’s Drag Racing and Car Stuff channel, which shares videos of races the that are held at the track. In one such run, the pre-facelift Model S P90D could be seen battling an S197 Ford Mustang GT that is modified to pass the quarter-mile-mark in 12 seconds. In a way, the battle between the two vehicles seemed to be a match between two American muscle cars — one gasoline-powered, one all-electric — both designed and developed in the United States.

The S197 Ford Mustang GT is the 5th generation of the iconic muscle car. Design to pay homage to the design and theme of the Mustangs of old, the S197 pretty much became the vehicle that resurrected the beloved pony car. Under the hood, the S197 Ford Mustang GT was equipped with an all-aluminum 4.6 L 3-valve SOHC Modular V8 engine with variable camshaft timing and a rugged Tremec TR-3650 transmission system. The Mustang GT’s engine produces 300 hp (224 kW) at 5750 rpm and 320 lb·ft (433 N·m) of at 4500 rpm, allowing the vehicle to roar from 0-60 mph in 5.6 seconds and boast a quarter-mile time of 13.8 seconds.

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Just like the Mustangs of old, knowledgeable mechanics could easily improve the performance of the pony car, making it even faster. The S197 Ford Mustang GT that went against the Model S P90D at the New England Dragway was one of these, as the muscle car was tuned to hit the quarter-mile in just ~12 seconds.

That being said, when faced with the raw power and insane acceleration of a Tesla Model S P90D, the S197 Ford Mustang GT was ultimately forced to bow to the all-American, electric-powered “muscle car.” The Model S P90D’s instant torque immediately made a difference, allowing it to establish an early lead against the S197 GT, and it just continued pulling from there. The Mustang GT pulled a valiant effort, finishing the quarter-mile run in 12.96 seconds at 111.17 mph. Unfortunately, it was still outclassed by the Model S P90D, which ran the quarter mile in 11.29 seconds at 117.37 mph.

Tesla’s newest Performance-branded vehicle, the Model 3 Performance, is also starting to develop a reputation on the drag strip. Over the past weeks, the electric sedan has already competed against several vehicles, including a McLaren 570S, a Dodge Challenger R/T, an Infiniti G35 coupe, and even a Chevrolet Corvette C7 in the quarter-mile. Just like its larger siblings, the Model 3 Performance is proving to be quite a competitor in straight line races.

Watch the Model S P90D flex its muscles in a drag race against the S197 Ford Mustang GT 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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