A Koenigsegg Agera RST and Tesla Model X Plaid face off in a surprising drag race showdown, with both running neck-and-neck.
Drag racing often pits unmatched opponents against each other for pure entertainment, and the latest battle between a $4.5 million Koenigsegg Agera RST and a Tesla Model X Plaid is no exception. Orchestrated by Mat Watson of carwow, this 1/8th-mile clash showcased a hypercar and an electric family SUV going head-to-head. What happened? Let’s just say the results didn’t go as expected.
On paper, the Koenigsegg Agera RST has every advantage. Weighing in at just 1.4 tons, it packs a monstrous 1,360 horsepower and 1,158 lb-ft of torque delivered to the rear wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. It’s a car designed to obliterate speed records, boasting a top speed of 278 mph.
The Tesla Model X Plaid, by contrast, is a hefty 2.5-ton electric SUV. Powered by three motors producing 1,020 horsepower and 1,047 lb-ft of torque, it uses all-wheel drive to launch off the line with uncanny precision. While significantly heavier and cheaper—costing just a fraction of the Agera RST’s price—it has built a reputation for out-accelerating some of the fastest cars on the planet.
The results were shocking. Despite its astronomical price tag and pedigree, the Koenigsegg struggled to assert dominance over the Tesla. In the closest race, both vehicles clocked 10.2 seconds in the standing quarter-mile, leaving no clear victor. Several subsequent races saw the Tesla pulling ahead, as the Agera RST's driver struggled to unleash the car's full potential.
While the Koenigsegg did manage to show its true power in one perfectly timed run, walking away from the Tesla at higher speeds, the electric SUV’s ability to match the hypercar in most conditions was a stark reminder of the performance EVs bring to the table.
This matchup wasn’t just a race—it was a statement about how performance has evolved, proving that even the priciest hypercars need every ounce of their potential to stay ahead in the age of electric innovation.
