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, in its marketing of the Taycan, highlighted the vehicle’s capability to post consistent 0-60 mph and quarter-mile times regardless of its state of charge. Tesla decided to change this narrative with the Model S Plaid, with the company noting that the flagship sedan could now post consistent performance figures even as its state of charge decreases. 

Data from drivers who have taken delivery of the Model S Plaid has since proven this claim. But that’s not all. As per a recent video from Brooks Weisblat of YouTube’s DragTimes channel, even a Model S Plaid with only 50% state of charge could accomplish a full quarter-mile run in the mid-9 seconds. That’s 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. Remarkably, the Model S Plaid posted relatively similar times, with the vehicle with 98% charge completing the quarter-mile in 9.39 seconds and the car with just 50% battery finishing the same run in 9.56 seconds. 

Even more importantly, 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, with the vehicle with 98% battery hitting the quarter-mile mark at 152.43 mph and the Model S Plaid with 50% battery hitting 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. And just like the two Model S Plaid owners who posted their Dragy data, the YouTube host has 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, while 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 consistency of performance. 

Watch DragTmes‘ video on the Model S Plaid’s real-world quarter-mile times in the video below. 

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