Drag race competitions are a common way to compare the straight-line acceleration of two vehicles
The new Lucid Air Sapphire has been out for a while now and one of its direct rivals is the iconic Tesla Model S Plaid. Lucid is a unique brand which creates some of the most opulent, as well as, fire-breathing EVs on the planet. It is rare to see a vehicle with absolute top-notch interior and tech amenities which is also capable of setting lap records. However, that has affected the price tag significantly. The Lucid is more than two times more expensive than the Tesla.
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New Lucid Air Sapphire vs Tesla Model S Plaid Drag Race
We were able to witness this competition courtesy of car experts at Edmunds Cars on YouTube. They have not just limited this race to a quarter-mile drag. In fact, this is a U-drag race, wherein, after a quarter mile, the cars take a U-turn and return to the starting position. Hence, in addition to straight-out acceleration, even minor turning capabilities and braking performance become important. In essence, it is a bit more testing event.
The Tesla Model S Plaid is a 2023 model with the $20,000-Track Package. This means that it draws power from 3 electric motors with combined power and torque outputs of a mammoth 1,020 hp and 1,050 lb-ft (1,428 Nm), respectively. It has a price tag of $111,380 (incl. Track Package). On the other hand, the 2024 Lucid Air Sapphire also contains 3 electric motors to generate a colossal 1,234 hp and 1,430 lb-ft (1,945 Nm) of maximum power and torque, respectively. However, it carries a retail sticker of a jaw-dropping $250,500. The price gap between these two performance EVs is ginormous.
Talking about the race itself, Track Mode was selected with the Drag Strip option on the Sapphire. Similarly, in the Model S Plaid, the brake and accelerator pedals are pressed for 15 seconds to prepare for the Drag Strip/Cheetah mode. Also, the suspension was set to Sport with the lowest height settings. On the count of 5, the two drivers accelerated hard. The Lucid took the lead from the start and maintained it throughout. To eliminate driving mannerisms and any such errors, the drivers were swapped for the second round. However, the result remained the same. Hence, the 2024 Lucid Air Sapphire emerged as the undisputed winner of this U-drag race with the 2023 Tesla Model S Plaid. For details, watch the video!
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Learn Electric Cars Says
Drag race events have been around for decades and car enthusiasts adopt this technique to analyze the performance of two comparable automobiles. Lately, this trend has even entered the EV industry where acceleration is an inherent trait of the electric powertrain. Hence, we keep coming across such drag races of all sorts of electric cars including pickup trucks like the famed Tesla Cybertruck. Needless to mention, these cases are only for fun and games as it is illegal to drive on public roads in this fashion.
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