A drag race in Las Vegas between a Dodge Challenger R/T and a Tesla Model S Plaid ends in a humbling defeat for the muscle car.
In a dramatic display of American muscle meeting cutting-edge tech, a Dodge Challenger R/T went head-to-head with a Tesla Model S Plaid at the Las Vegas Speedway—and the result was as lopsided as the specs suggest.
The showdown, captured and uploaded to YouTube by Wheels Plus, showcases a classic American muscle car trying its luck against what many consider the king of quarter-mile EVs. The two cars lined up at the starting line under the neon lights of Sin City, ready to battle for quarter-mile supremacy.
But the result wasn’t close.
According to video footage, the Tesla Model S Plaid completed the run in approximately 9.5 seconds at a blistering 146 mph, while the Dodge Challenger R/T lagged behind with a 12.3-second finish at just over 110 mph. That near three-second gap on the drag strip is nothing short of domination.
The Tesla, equipped with three electric motors producing a combined 1,020 horsepower, launched off the line with its signature silent ferocity. On the other side, the Challenger, likely sporting its stock 6.4-liter HEMI V8 with 485 horsepower, tried to hold its own—but ultimately couldn’t match the instant torque and traction of the Plaid’s all-wheel drive system.
While the Dodge R/T looked the part in its purple paint and thunderous engine note, the performance gap between internal combustion and high-end electrics was on full display.
For fans of traditional V8 power, the matchup was a tough pill to swallow. But for EV enthusiasts, it was just another example of how the future isn’t just coming—it’s already at the finish line.
