Watch a drag race between Tesla’s Model S Plaid and the Lucid Air | Engadget

Now that the Lucid Air is a sensible actuality, there is a looming query: how effectively does it fare in a drag race in opposition to the opposite well-known electrical luxurious sedan, Tesla’s Model S Plaid? You now have a greater thought. DragTimes has shared a long-teased video of a quarter-mile faceoff between the Air and Model S Plaid, and the end result is without delay anticipated however nonetheless stuffed with insights.

It will not shock you to listen to the Model S Plaid wins three of the 4 runs, together with one with a rolling begin. It has a shorter claimed 0-60MPH time (1.99 seconds versus 2.5), and its lighter curb weight (4,828lbs versus about 5,200lbs), helps offset the horsepower deficiency. The Tesla did not have its drag strip prep mode enabled, both. If you are lucky sufficient to cross-shop these EVs, the Model S remains to be your decide for uncooked acceleration.

The Lucid Air nonetheless holds up effectively, although, and it even gained a race when the Model S Plaid’s launch mode wasn’t engaged. That added energy nonetheless issues, to place it one other means — and that is value contemplating should you’re extra all for inexperienced gentle races (the place a launch mode probably will not be an possibility) than drag strips. Lucid additionally identified you could precondition the Air for higher straight-line efficiency, and that it is presently centered extra on “luxury and efficiency” than velocity.

The circumstances weren’t ultimate between comparatively chilly temperatures for the Houston-area strip and robust winds. You’ll probably see sooner occasions elsewhere. Even so, the video is worth it as a uncommon likelihood to see how totally different electrical automotive platforms handle in actual circumstances. It additionally reveals simply how far EVs have come — these are figures you’d have beforehand related to higher-end supercars, not four-door folks carriers.