Drag Race Proves 1000 V8 Horsepower Beats 1000 Electric Horsepower Any Day – HotCars

Ever since its debut on June 10, 2021,

the Tesla Model S Plaid has been dominating the drag strips across America
. It’s so fast, that it has become one of the easiest and most popular choices to win a drag race against supercars and muscle cars. It gets its oomph from a tri-motor AWD system pushing a total of 1020 hp to all four wheels with massive, instantaneous torque allowing it to rocket to 60 mph in 2 seconds flat. That’s about as quick as any car ever — let alone a four-door family sedan. And the recipe hasn’t changed since then; Tesla Plaids are still gapping pretty much everything they come across at a stop light or drag strip.

• 

  Tesla Model S Plaid
  

  Starting Price (MSRP)

  $89,990

  Engine/Motor

  Triple Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motors

  Horsepower

  1,020 HP

  Torque

  1,050 LB-FT

  Drivetrain

  Single Front And Dual Rear Electric Motors, AWD

  Transmission

  Single Speed Direct Drive

  0-60 MPH

  2.0 Seconds

  Expand

• 

  2024 McLaren 750S Coupe
  

  Starting Price (MSRP)

  $324,000

  Engine/Motor

  4.0L Twin-Turbo V-8

  Horsepower

  740 @ 7,500 RPM

  Torque

  590 LB-FT @ 5,500 RPM

  Drivetrain

  MId-Engine, RWD

  Transmission

  7-Speed SSG Automatic

  0-60 MPH

  2.3 Seconds

  Expand

That said, YouTube channel DragTimes is happy to show its viewers that there are still supercars out there that are happy to wipe the floor with a Tesla Plaid. In the latest video, they pit it against a

brand-new V8-powered McLaren 750S
, which, according to the owner, pushes just over 900 hp to the wheels, courtesy of an ECU tune, exhaust, and upgraded turbo. That’s still a far cry from the Tesla’s 1020 hp, and not to mention its massive torque from its three electric motors. But is it enough to beat a Plaid? If you’re a fan of combustion engines and love your V8s, this drag race is worth a watch.

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The 1000-HP V8 Vs EV Drag Race

The results speak for themselves and make a compelling case for the

combustion engine
. Firstly, as opposed to the AWD Tesla, the McLaren is completely rear-wheel-driven. It also needs to row through no less than four gears before it reaches the 1/4-mile finish line at 160 mph. The Tesla has none of these disadvantages and gets an edge in power too, and yet the races are not even close. In addition to that, the argument that the Tesla’s weight is the reason it can’t keep up is also moot, since the fact that it’s electric is the very reason for the weight differential.

1/4-Mile Drag Race Results

The McLaren regularly records 8.9-second 1/4-mile runs, while the Tesla struggles to break under 9.3 seconds. Both are impressive, even if the McLaren does cost about four times as much as the Tesla. But, what about good-ol’ V8 muscle cars? For example, the

Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170 also proved it could beat the fastest electric cars
on the drag strip but at a cheaper price (it retailed at under $100,000), covering the quarter mile in just 8.91 seconds – about as quick as this McLaren. These kinds of results showcase that electric powertrains aren’t inherently faster or more impressive in the real world than gas-powered ones, as long as the latter are properly set up. They are, however, easier to sell.