At what point does a car cross the line between being a luxury car and a supercar? Price plays a big part in the difference, but power and capability are equally important.
The “Plaid” upgrade Tesla
offers for its Model S and Model X definitely puts them in the running for supercar status. The extra $35,000 puts both EVs in the bottom end of the supercar price range, but it’s the speed of Tesla Plaid that makes it stand out against competitors. Without Plaid status, both electric cars already have more available horsepower than most vehicles on the road, but the upgrade brings both vehicles up to 1020 hp.
That kind of power obviously caught the attention of the guys at Hoonigan, so they decided to test the Plaid upgrade to all the hyper, super, and tuned-up cars they could get their hands on. Jerry
went looking for the results. How did Tesla Plaid power do against internal combustion capability?
MORE: Italy Wants to Shield Supercars From Combustion Engine Ban
Hoonigan didn’t come to play when it came time to test the pinnacle of internal combustion engines (ICE) against the Tesla Plaid. Their two guest Tesla owners went up against some of the craziest custom builds and supercars the show had ever shown.
New episodes of the drag race series are still on their way, but of seven races already posted on YouTube, the Tesla Plaid won four.
None of the losing vehicles are short on power. A 130hp custom Yamaha Banshee death-machine lost by a sliver, but against a 720hp Lamborghini Aventador, 700hp R34 Nissan Skyline GT-R, and 1000hp Mclaren 720S, the Model S Plaid made it look easy.
However, the machines that beat the Tesla are monsters. In the channel’s mascot, the 1400hp “Hoonicorn” Mustang, Hoonigan founder Ken Block’s daughter Lia narrowly beat the Tesla. A 1500hp Twin Turbo Chevy Silverado
and a 1700hp V10 Audi R8 beat the EV pretty conclusively. Will all supercars go electric?
Judging by the attitudes of the guys at Hoonigan, car enthusiasts are still hesitant to embrace electric propulsion. Even in the drag race most definitively won by the Tesla Plaid, bystanders preferred the sound and style of the losing car, the Nissan Skyline.
But in the luxury car market, plug-in power is all the rage. Brands like Aston Martin, Mercedes, and Porsche have multiple EVs in their lineups, and start-ups like Karma and Lucid Motors already offer Plaid-like high-performance upgrades.
Even legendary supercar companies like McLaren, Ferrari, and Lamborghini offer plug-in hybrid models that use battery power to increase performance rather than sacrifice it.
There are still a few supercar makers holding out. Bugatti’s 2022 Chiron guzzles gas like it’s showing off at a keg party. Bentley and Jaguar have yet to release any electric cars. But with the way things are going, these companies’ transitions are likely only a matter of time, too.
How much do super EVs like the Tesla Plaid cost to own?
MORE: You’ll Pay Almost $5,000 a Year To Insure This Luxury Supercar
Like any type of luxury or supercar, high-performance electric cars are expensive to buy and own. Charging a Tesla Plaid is definitely cheaper than filling a Lamborghini with gas, but when it comes to car insurance
, average premiums are pretty similar. But no matter what type of car you buy, shopping for car insurance with Jerry
can save you hundreds of dollars on insurance coverage every year. Jerry is your ultra-talented car insurance broker for life. No need to sit across from him at a desk: Jerry is an app! It takes less than a minute to sign up, and you’ll be presented with competitive rates from dozens of top providers. Don’t lose coverage—find savings with Jerry.