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Tesla Model 3 battles Chevy Camaro SS and classic Ford Mustang in drag race
When Elon Musk unveiled the Model 3, he remarked that Tesla doesn’t “make slow cars.” Looking at the specs of Tesla’s vehicles, Musk’s statement definitely rings true. Even the company’s most conservative car today — the Mid Range Model 3 RWD — after all, is still quick on its feet, with a 0-60 mph time of 5.6 seconds and a top speed of 125 mph. The Model 3’s non-Performance AWD variant is even faster, capable of hitting 60 mph in just 4.5 seconds and reaching a top speed of 145 mph.
Drag racing videos featuring the Model 3 usually feature the vehicle’s top-tier variant, the Model 3 Performance. Since its release, the electric car, just like the Model S P100D and the Model X P100D, has been developing a reputation for being a formidable competitor on the drag strip. Earlier this year, the Model 3 Performance even stood toe-to-toe with a Dodge Demon in a 1/8-mile race. That said, drag races featuring the non-performance Model 3 AWD have been a bit harder to come by.
That is, until recently. A recent drag racing video uploaded on YouTube by user FROGMAN524 features a rather rare instance of a non-Performance Model 3 AWD competing on the drag strip against some true-born American muscle cars. In the recent video, the electric sedan battled two vehicles — a sixth-generation Chevrolet Camaro SS and a car that appears to be a modified first-gen Ford Mustang — in a drag race.
On paper, the Chevrolet Camaro SS is a pretty formidable vehicle. Equipped with a 6.2-liter LT1 V8 engine that produces 455 hp, the Camaro SS is among GM’s most impressive performance cars, capable of going from 0-60 mph in 4.0 seconds and reaching a top speed of 165 mph. Fitted with a 6-speed manual transmission, the Camaro SS could be considered a true driver’s car, with Car and Driver Deputy Editor Daniel Pund describing the vehicle as a “berserker” and stating that the muscle car can “barely contain its rage.”
The Chevrolet Camaro SS’ race against the Model 3 AWD shows that it takes more than rage and raw specs to beat Tesla’s electric sedan. The Model 3’s instant torque from its dual motors immediately came into play, allowing the vehicle to establish a quick lead against the GM-made muscle car. The Model 3 maintained a slight edge until the end of the race, finishing the quarter mile in 12.72 seconds while traveling at 112.63 mph. The Camaro SS, on the other hand, ended up crossing the quarter-mile mark in 13.34 seconds at 110.40 mph.
A drag race-modified first-generation Ford Mustang attempted to topple the electric sedan in a following drag race. Just like the Chevrolet Camaro SS before it, though, the Mustang ended up staring at the tail lights of the non-performance Model 3 AWD for the entire duration of its run. Showing impressive consistency of performance, the Model 3 AWD completed its quarter-mile run in 12.79 seconds at 110.50 mph. The drag-race modified Ford Mustang, on the other hand, finished the run in 17.70 seconds at 76.18 mph.
The Tesla Model 3 AWD Dual Motor is arguably the most bang-for-your-buck variant of the electric sedan today. At $53,000 before any additions, like Autopilot, the vehicle offers capabilities close to the Model 3 Performance for $11,000 less.
Tesla continues to ramp the production of the Model 3. In a recent announcement on Twitter, Elon Musk noted that all vehicle orders placed by November 30 would be assured of delivery by December 31. Other variants of the vehicle, such as the $35,000 Standard range Model 3, are expected to be available sometime in the first half of 2019.
Watch the non-performance Model 3 AWD battle a Chevrolet Camaro SS and a modified Ford Mustang in the video below.
Elon Musk has been pretty open about the idea of FSD being the difference maker for Tesla’s future.
If Tesla succeeds in achieving FSD, it could become the world’s most valuable company. If it doesn’t, then the company would not be able to reach its optimum potential.
FSD Supervised’s safety benefits:
- But even if FSD is still not perfect today, FSD Supervised is already making a difference on the roads today.
- This was highlighted in Tesla’s Q4 2024 Vehicle Safety Report.
- As per Tesla, it recorded one crash for every 5.94 million miles driven in which drivers were using Autopilot technology.
- For comparison, the most recent data available from the NHTSA and FHWA (from 2023) showed that there was one automobile crash every 702,000 miles in the United States.
This morning, Tesla FSD proved to be an absolute godsend. I had to take my brother-in-law to the hospital in Sugar Land, TX, which is 40 miles away, at the ungodly hour of 4 AM. Both of us were exhausted, and he was understandably anxious about the surgery.
— JC Christopher (@JohnChr08117285) January 29, 2025
The convenience of…
FSD user’s tale:
- As per an FSD user’s post on social media platform X, FSD Supervised was able to help him drive a relative to a medical facility safely even if he was exhausted.
- During the trip, the driver only had to monitor FSD Supervised’s performance to make sure the Tesla operated safely.
- In a vehicle without FSD, such a trip with an exhausted driver would have been quite dangerous.
- “This morning, Tesla FSD proved to be an absolute godsend. I had to take my brother-in-law to the hospital in Sugar Land, TX, which is 40 miles away, at the ungodly hour of 4 AM. Both of us were exhausted, and he was understandably anxious about the surgery.
- “The convenience of sending the hospital’s address directly from my iPhone to my Tesla while still inside my house, then just a single button press once inside, and 40 miles later we were precisely in front of the hospital’s admissions area.This experience really underscores just how transformative this technology can be for society,” Tesla owner JC Christopher noted in his post.
Don’t hesitate to contact us with news tips. Just send a message to simon@teslarati.com to give us a heads up.
There are few things that prove an enthusiast’s love towards a company more than a dedicated short film. This was highlighted recently when YouTube’s SoKrispyMedia posted a 10-minute action movie starring Optimus, Tesla’s humanoid robot, as well as several of the company’s most iconic products.
The video:
- Shot like a Hollywood action flick, the video featured a rather humorous plot involving a group of thieves that mistakenly targeted a Tesla Model 3 driver.
- The Model 3 driver then ended up speaking to Tesla for assistance, and some high-octane and high-speed hijinks ensued.
- While the short film featured several Tesla products like the Model 3, Superchargers, and the Cybertruck, it is Optimus that truly stole the show.
- Optimus served several roles in the short film, from an assistant in a Tesla office to a “robocop” enforcer that helped out the Model 3 driver.
Future Robo-cop @Tesla_Optimus
— SOKRISPYMEDIA (@sokrispymedia) January 12, 2025
full video: https://t.co/TXpSRhcP5K pic.twitter.com/YFHZ7siAP7
Cool inside jokes:
- The best Tesla videos are those that show an in-depth knowledge of the company, and SoKrispyMedia definitely had it.
- From the opening scenes alone, the video immediately poked fun at TSLA traders, the large number of gray Tesla owners, and the fact that many still do not understand Superchargers.
- The video even poked fun at Tesla’s software updates, as well as how some Tesla drivers use Autopilot or other features without reading the fine print in the company’s release notes.
- The video ended with a tour de force of references to Elon Musk products, from the Tesla Cybertruck to the Boring Company Not-a-Flamethrower, which was released back in 2018.
Check out SoKrispyMedia’s Tesla action short film in the video below.
Don’t hesitate to contact us with news tips. Just send a message to simon@teslarati.com to give us a heads up.
Tesla definitely seems to be determined to release the coolest lineup of accessories for its coolest vehicle. As could be seen in an update to the Tesla Shop, the electric vehicle maker has now launched a metal key card for the Cybertruck—because why not?
Cybertruck keys:
- The Cybertruck, similar to Tesla’s other vehicles, is shipped with a regular key card.
- The vehicle could also be accessed and locked through a phone key.
- As per the Cybertruck’s Owner’s Manual, the all-electric pickup truck is capable of supporting a total of 19 keys.
The Cybertruck’s Metal Key Card:
- Tesla’s Cybertruck Metal Key Card functions much like the vehicle’s regular key card, but it is finished using premium stainless steel
- As per Tesla’s description of the item:
- “Convenient, durable, versatile. The Cybertruck Metal Key Card is a premium stainless-steel alternative to our traditional plastic key cards, making it easy to access your Cybertruck without your Phone Key. Ideal for when your phone is unavailable or when sharing your vehicle with a friend or valet.”
- The Cybertruck Metal Key Card costs $60.
- In comparison, the Cybertruck’s regular key card is sold for $40.
- The Cybertruck Metal Key Card comes with the metal key card itself, as well as a bifold key card wallet.
Tesla Cybertruck merch push:
- Being the company’s most eye-catching vehicle, it is no surprise that that Tesla has been releasing quite a lot of merchandise inspired by the all-electric pickup truck.
- These include a $250 levitating Cybertruck model, as well as a $35 Cybertruck wind-up racer, both of which are out of stock.
- Tesla also sells the $35 “CyberMug,” a $40 “CyberStein,” and a $50 “CyberVessel.”
- Other Cybertruck-inspired merchandise are the $60 Cyberwhistle Stealth, and the $50 CyberOpener.
Don’t hesitate to contact us with news tips. Just send a message to simon@teslarati.com to give us a heads up.
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