As electric vehicles enter the mainstream, potential buyers have understandable questions around real-world speed and acceleration. Can these futuristic-looking vehicles match the visceral thrill of slamming a gas pedal in a sports car? Do battery power and quiet motors translate into limp performance? While early EVs struggled in this arena, modern manufacturers aim to dispel myths around electric vehicle speed.
Enter Tesla – the innovative American automaker leading the charge in creating road rockets that outpace 95% of internal combustion cars. Ever since the original Roadster turned heads over a decade ago, Tesla continues finding ways to push boundaries for what an electric vehicle can do performance-wise.
But acceleration and speed metrics vary widely even between different Tesla models. This definitive guide rates and ranks all available and upcoming Tesla consumer vehicles based on real-world driving metrics like 0-60 mph time as tracked by experts. We‘ll uncover why certain Teslas like the featherweight Roadster outpace the hulking Semi truck. And analyze how battery density, motor count, chassis materials and cutting-edge software all combine to enable blindingly quick acceleration.
How We Assess Tesla Speed and Performance
First, let‘s outline the key factors weighed in our Tesla model rankings:
0-60 mph time – The time it takes the vehicle to accelerate from 0 mph to 60 mph. Lower times indicate faster real-world speed.
Top Speed – The maximum speed achievable on a straight, flat road given enough distance. Higher top speeds equal more powerful sustained performance.
Motors – The number and kW power of electric motors providing torque/horsepower. More motors generally provide faster acceleration.
Weight – The vehicle‘s mass which inertia must overcome during acceleration. Lighter weight allows for faster speed gains.
Battery Capacity – The kW capacity of the battery system. Higher density batteries can discharge more instant power.
Here‘s how each current and upcoming Tesla model stacks up across these performance factors:
| Model | 0-60 Time | Top Speed | Motor(s) | Curb Weight | Battery (kWh) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roadster 2 | 1.9s | 250mph | 3 motors | 1,200kg | 200 |
| Model S Plaid | 1.99s | 200mph | 3 motors | 2,233kg | 100 |
| Cybertruck | 2.9s | 130mph | 3 motors | TBD | TBD |
| Model 3 Perf. | 3.1s | 162mph | 2 motors | 1,847kg | 82 |
| Model X Plaid | 3.8s | 155mph | 2 motors | 2,933kg | 100 |
| Model Y Perf. | 3.5s | 155mph | 2 motors | 1,992kg | 82 |
(Table data compiled from official Tesla specs, Motor Trend tests)
The leaderboard shows a wide performance range even among high-end Tesla models – from the 1.9 second 0-60 heavyweight Roadster 2 to the more practical 7-seat Model X SUV. Now let‘s analyze each model‘s unique engineering and design allowing elite acceleration.
Tesla Roadster 2 – The Apex Predator (0-60 in 1.9s)
As the fastest…
