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Tesla Model S Plaid gives the P100D killer a headstart in drag race, dominates anyway

Credit: DragTimes/YouTube

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Back in 2017, the drag strip was haunted by a dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric car that was capable of humbling supercars on the quarter-mile. That car was the Model S P100D with Ludicrous Mode, Tesla’s flagship sedan at the time, whose violent acceleration was enough to spawn a thousand reaction videos on YouTube. 

The Model S P100D with Ludicrous Mode had a pretty notable reign, beating internal combustion-powered cars left and right. But that all changed in 2017, when drag race enthusiast Brooks Weisblat of YouTube’s DragTimes channel matched up his Model S P100DL with Ludicrous with his McLaren 720S. The results were shocking to EV fans. 

That video can be viewed below. 

The McLaren 720S humbled the Model S P100D with Ludicrous, and even in subsequent races, the supercar still came out on top. Today, however, the story is much more different. 

Tesla’s flagship sedan is the Model S Plaid, a three-motor, 1,000-hp electric monster whose acceleration could hit 1.99 seconds in ideal conditions. Against this beast, the ICE car that humbled the formidable Model S P100D with Ludicrous suddenly seemed like it was facing a mountain of a challenge. 

Recent drag races shared by Weisblat featured the Model S Plaid facing off against several opponents, including a Dodge Demon, a Hayabusa super bike, and the McLaren 720S. The Model S Plaid dominated the Demon and gave strong competition to the Hayabusa. And when it faced the McLaren 720S, the Plaid even gave the supercar a headstart in the race. 

This headstart didn’t matter. The McLaren 720S is by no means an underpowered car, but it sure appeared that way when the four-door all-electric family sedan absolutely dominated it. It took only a moment for the Model S Plaid to cover the headstart of the 720S, and after that point, it was pure domination. 

Ultimately, the Model S Plaid completed the quarter-mile race in 9.42 seconds at 146.86 mph. The McLaren 720S, one of the few ICE cars that beat the Model S P100D with Ludicrous fair and square, completed the race in 10.17 seconds at 139.50 mph. 

Watch the full video of the McLaren 720S facing off against the Model S Plaid below. 

Don’t hesitate to contact us with news tips. Just send a message to simon@teslarati.com to give us a heads up.

Simon is a reporter with a passion for electric cars and clean energy. Fascinated by the world envisioned by Elon Musk, he hopes to make it to Mars (at least as a tourist) someday.

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Tesla owner highlights underrated benefit of FSD Supervised

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Credit: Tesla

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. 

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.

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Tesla Optimus “stars” in incredible fanmade action short film

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Credit: @SoKrispyMedia/YouTube

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.

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.

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Tesla releases Cybertruck metal key card—because why not?

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Credit: Tesla Shop

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:

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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