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Tesla Model Y vs Audi RS4 drag race reveals practical sports car winner
A Tesla Model Y took on an Audi RS4 Avant in a drag race, highlighting which vehicle is the clear choice for those looking for a practical performance car.
There is an extensive segment of the performance car market for those looking for something fast yet practical. Since the earliest days of the automotive industry, this segment has been the proving ground for most performance vehicles, and now more than ever, the Tesla Model Y Performance has become the clear choice. This has never been better highlighted than in a new drag race, posted on Youtube by Carwow, in which the popular EV takes on the Audi RS4 Avant wagon.
The Audi RS4 has historically been an excellent choice for those looking for a performance car that can do “car things.” Need to go to the grocery store? No problem. Have to grab some tools and supplies at Home Depot? Not even a question. Have to fit your family, dog, and luggage for a multi-day road trip? The wagon will do it all. But with the advent of EVs, this historic titan has finally met its match.
Looking at the specifications of the two vehicles, this is easily one of the closest races that there could be. The Tesla Model Y Performance has a substantial output advantage, 527 horsepower, compared to the 450 from Audi’s twin-turbo 2.9 liter V6. However, it is held back by an equally considerable weight disparity, highlighted in the video. This adds up to an incredibly tight race regarding the power-to-weight ratio.
Surprisingly, despite the Tesla’s off-the-line advantage, the Audi quickly catches up and makes it a tight race each time they run. However, the Audi only beat the Tesla consistently over the half-mile with a 30mph moving start.
For those considering the practicality of both vehicles, the Tesla Model Y has its German counterpart beat. In the proper configuration, it carries more people and stuff (thank you, front trunk), and with its suite of tech offerings, including Full Self Driving, it even beats the Audi in software capabilities.
Perhaps more shocking than the Model Y’s performance parity with the Audi is its pricing. At its base model, the Audi Rs4 is nearly 10,000 pounds ($12,443) more expensive than the Tesla Model Y Performance, and that doesn’t even include generous incentives offered by the British government. Those who splurge for Audi’s top-tier model are looking at an even wider price discrepancy, over 25,000 pounds ($31,108).
Ignoring the performance parity and pricing advantage of the Model Y, the Tesla has one other distinct advantage over its German counterpart; access. As the British government has tightened restrictions regarding where ICE vehicles can be driven, and numerous other European countries look to do the same, choosing the gas Audi over the electric Tesla is quickly becoming impractical.
Overall, the best news for consumers is that high-performance family offerings aren’t going away anytime soon. As Audi and other traditional performance brands continue to improve their electric offerings, the options people can choose from will become increasingly higher quality and of more variety. Hopefully, those upcoming electric offerings can come sooner rather than later.
What do you think of the article? Do you have any comments, questions, or concerns? Shoot me an email at william@teslarati.com. You can also reach me on Twitter @WilliamWritin. If you have news tips, email us at tips@teslarati.com!
Elon Musk
Tesla Giga Berlin growth could stall if not “free from external influences”: Elon Musk
The comments were delivered in a pre-recorded video discussion.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk has reportedly warned that future expansion of Gigafactory Berlin could be jeopardized if the site does not remain “free from external influences.”
Musk’s comments were delivered in a pre-recorded video discussion with employees and came at a sensitive moment for the facility, where union representation has been a recurring issue.
According to reports from Handelsblatt and Der Spiegel, citing participants at the event, Musk suggested that if Giga Berlin is no longer “free from external influences,” further expansion would become unlikely. He did not, however, hint that the plant would shut down.
While Musk did not name IG Metall directly, his remarks were widely interpreted as referencing the union, which is currently the largest faction on the works council but does not hold a majority, as noted in an electrive report.
The video conversation was conducted between Musk in Austin and Grünheide plant manager André Thierig, then played back to the workforce in Germany. Works council elections are scheduled for early March, heightening the tension between management and organized labor.
The CEO has previously voiced concerns that stronger union influence could limit Tesla’s operational flexibility and long-term strategy in Germany.
Despite the warning on expansion, Musk praised the Giga Berlin site during the same address, describing it as one of the most advanced factories worldwide and highlighting its cleanliness and team culture.
The discussion also reportedly touched on battery cell production. According to attendees cited in German media, Musk indicated that Tesla has begun ramping cell production at the site. That would mark a notable shift from earlier expectations that large-scale cell manufacturing in Brandenburg would not begin until 2027.
Elon Musk
Tesla Full Self-Driving’s newest behavior is the perfect answer to aggressive cars
According to a recent video, it now appears the suite will automatically pull over if there is a tailgater on your bumper, the most ideal solution for when a driver is riding your bumper.
Tesla Full Self-Driving appears to have a new behavior that is the perfect answer to aggressive drivers.
According to a recent video, it now appears the suite will automatically pull over if there is a tailgater on your bumper, the most ideal solution for when a driver is riding your bumper.
With FSD’s constantly-changing Speed Profiles, it seems as if this solution could help eliminate the need to tinker with driving modes from the person in the driver’s seat. This tends to be one of my biggest complaints from FSD at times.
A video posted on X shows a Tesla on Full Self-Driving pulling over to the shoulder on windy, wet roads after another car seemed to be following it quite aggressively. The car looks to have automatically sensed that the vehicle behind it was in a bit of a hurry, so FSD determined that pulling over and letting it by was the best idea:
Tesla appears to be implementing some sort of feature that will now pull over if someone is tailgating you to let the car by
Really cool feature, definitely get a lot of this from those who think they drive race cars
— TESLARATI (@Teslarati) February 26, 2026
We can see from the clip that there was no human intervention to pull over to the side, as the driver’s hands are stationary and never interfere with the turn signal stalk.
This can be used to override some of the decisions FSD makes, and is a great way to get things back on track if the semi-autonomous functionality tries to do something that is either unneeded or not included in the routing on the in-car Nav.
FSD tends to move over for faster traffic on the interstate when there are multiple lanes. On two-lane highways, it will pass slower cars using the left lane. When faster traffic is behind a Tesla on FSD, the vehicle will move back over to the right lane, the correct behavior in a scenario like this.
Perhaps one of my biggest complaints at times with Full Self-Driving, especially from version to version, is how much tinkering Tesla does with Speed Profiles. One minute, they’re suitable for driving on local roads, the next, they’re either too fast or too slow.
When they are too slow, most of us just shift up into a faster setting, but at times, even that’s not enough, see below:
What has happened to Mad Max?
At one point it was going 32 in a 35. Traffic ahead had pulled away considerably https://t.co/bjKvaMVTNX pic.twitter.com/aaZSWmLu5v
— TESLARATI (@Teslarati) January 24, 2026
There are times when it feels like it would be suitable for the car to just pull over and let the vehicle that is traveling behind pass. This, at least up until this point, it appears, was something that required human intervention.
Now, it looks like Tesla is trying to get FSD to a point where it just knows that it should probably get out of the way.
Elon Musk
Tesla Megapack powers $1.1B AI data center project in Brazil
By integrating Tesla’s Megapack systems, the facility will function not only as a major power consumer but also as a grid-supporting asset.
Tesla’s Megapack battery systems will be deployed as part of a 400MW AI data center campus in Uberlândia, Brazil. The initiative is described as one of Latin America’s largest AI infrastructure projects.
The project is being led by RT-One, which confirmed that the facility will integrate Tesla Megapack battery energy storage systems (BESS) as part of a broader industrial alliance that includes Hitachi Energy, Siemens, ABB, HIMOINSA, and Schneider Electric. The project is backed by more than R$6 billion (approximately $1.1 billion) in private capital.
According to RT-One, the data center is designed to operate on 100% renewable energy while also reinforcing regional grid stability.
“Brazil generates abundant energy, particularly from renewable sources such as solar and wind. However, high renewable penetration can create grid stability challenges,” RT-One President Fernando Palamone noted in a post on LinkedIn. “Managing this imbalance is one of the country’s growing infrastructure priorities.”
By integrating Tesla’s Megapack systems, the facility will function not only as a major power consumer but also as a grid-supporting asset.
“The facility will be capable of absorbing excess electricity when supply is high and providing stabilization services when the grid requires additional support. This approach enhances resilience, improves reliability, and contributes to a more efficient use of renewable generation,” Palamone added.
The model mirrors approaches used in energy-intensive regions such as California and Texas, where large battery systems help manage fluctuations tied to renewable energy generation.
The RT-One President recently visited Tesla’s Megafactory in Lathrop, California, where Megapacks are produced, as part of establishing the partnership. He thanked the Tesla team, including Marcel Dall Pai, Nicholas Reale, and Sean Jones, for supporting the collaboration in his LinkedIn post.