Latest news with #MatWatson
Yahoo
15-07-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Tesla Model S Plaid Outpaces 1,200-HP Corvette C8 in Lopsided Drag Race Showdown
⚡️ Read the full article on Motorious A heavily modified Chevrolet Corvette C8 boasting a staggering 1,200 horsepower fell short in a recent series of drag strip tests against the Tesla Model S Plaid — a result that has surprised many muscle car fans. The head-to-head was orchestrated by automotive reviewer Mat Watson of Carwow, and despite the significant power advantage of the Corvette on paper, the electric sedan swept all three challenges: the standing quarter-mile, a rolling half-mile, and a braking test from 70 mph. The Corvette, fitted with a twin-turbocharged 6.2-liter V8 engine sending 1,491 Nm of torque to the rear wheels, was custom-built to dominate straights. But the Tesla — powered by three electric motors producing 1,020 horsepower and 1,420 Nm of torque — leveraged its all-wheel-drive grip and instant torque delivery to devastating effect. In the quarter-mile showdown, the Model S Plaid crossed the line in 9.6 seconds, decisively beating the Corvette's 11.0-second time — a gap of over a full second, which is considered substantial in drag racing. The Tesla extended its edge in the rolling race and even won the brake test, despite weighing over 4,700 pounds due to its massive battery pack. Though the Plaid featured lightweight carbon-fiber aero inspired by Koenigsegg, it remained relatively close to stock. Meanwhile, YouTube commenters questioned whether the Corvette was genuinely making 1,200 hp, citing the performance discrepancy. Still, the results speak volumes about the continuing evolution of EV performance. Tesla's dominance in these tests suggests electric vehicles are not just competing with traditional high-performance gasoline cars — they're surpassing them. For buyers interested in raw acceleration, the Tesla Model S Plaid remains a formidable and increasingly affordable option in 2025.
Yahoo
15-07-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Tesla Model S Plaid Outpaces 1,200-HP Corvette C8 in Lopsided Drag Race Showdown
⚡️ Read the full article on Motorious A heavily modified Chevrolet Corvette C8 boasting a staggering 1,200 horsepower fell short in a recent series of drag strip tests against the Tesla Model S Plaid — a result that has surprised many muscle car fans. The head-to-head was orchestrated by automotive reviewer Mat Watson of Carwow, and despite the significant power advantage of the Corvette on paper, the electric sedan swept all three challenges: the standing quarter-mile, a rolling half-mile, and a braking test from 70 mph. The Corvette, fitted with a twin-turbocharged 6.2-liter V8 engine sending 1,491 Nm of torque to the rear wheels, was custom-built to dominate straights. But the Tesla — powered by three electric motors producing 1,020 horsepower and 1,420 Nm of torque — leveraged its all-wheel-drive grip and instant torque delivery to devastating effect. In the quarter-mile showdown, the Model S Plaid crossed the line in 9.6 seconds, decisively beating the Corvette's 11.0-second time — a gap of over a full second, which is considered substantial in drag racing. The Tesla extended its edge in the rolling race and even won the brake test, despite weighing over 4,700 pounds due to its massive battery pack. Though the Plaid featured lightweight carbon-fiber aero inspired by Koenigsegg, it remained relatively close to stock. Meanwhile, YouTube commenters questioned whether the Corvette was genuinely making 1,200 hp, citing the performance discrepancy. Still, the results speak volumes about the continuing evolution of EV performance. Tesla's dominance in these tests suggests electric vehicles are not just competing with traditional high-performance gasoline cars — they're surpassing them. For buyers interested in raw acceleration, the Tesla Model S Plaid remains a formidable and increasingly affordable option in 2025.
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
An Epic Time-Traveling Drag Race of All Dodge Viper Generations
⚡️ Read the full article on Motorious Are you suffering from Viper withdrawal since Dodge yanked the plug on it in 2017? Well, brace yourselves for an antidote—every generation of the Dodge Viper lined up for a clash of titans in a drag race so epic, it makes "Fast & Furious" look like a soapbox derby. For all its muscle, early Dodge Vipers were quite the rebels; think of them as the American muscle cars that snubbed the 'helmet and kneepads' of modern times. No ABS or launch control here—just you, the road, and a gas pedal that demands respect, not a tap dance. From 1991 to 2017, the Viper evolved but never strayed far from its recipe for glory: rear-wheel drive and a naturally aspirated V10 engine. Over time, Dodge has tinkered with its power and aesthetics, but why fix something that's not broken? Mat Watson of CarWow had one question on his mind: which Viper can slither to 60 mph the fastest? And though he only revved them up to that modest speed, the 30+ minute video spectacle gives us a rich tapestry of each Viper's vital stats, including horsepower, torque, and the time it takes to make your heart skip a beat. The video also takes us under the hood, as owners of each generation dish on what makes their Viper the bee's knees—or should we say, the snake's fangs? You get a deep dive into why each generation of Viper owners has developed a potentially unhealthy attachment to their cars. Whispers about a new Viper generation have been slithering through the grapevine, but given Dodge's recent pivot to electrification and federally-mandated regulations, it seems that a turbocharged V10 Viper is about as likely as a vegetarian cobra. However, never say never—an electric Viper could be lurking in the tall grass of the future. So, whether you're a Viper aficionado or simply a fan of things that go 'VROOM,' don't miss out on this drag race that spans decades. It's a spectacle that can only be summed up as "sss-spectacular!"
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
$4.5M Koenigsegg Agera RST Struggles Against Tesla Model X Plaid in Drag Race Standoff
⚡️ Read the full article on Motorious In a matchup few would have predicted, a $4.5 million Koenigsegg Agera RST hypercar went head-to-head with a Tesla Model X Plaid SUV — and the results were far from predictable. The race, organized by the carwow YouTube channel, featured automotive journalist Mat Watson squaring off against collector Tom Beardsmore, who brought his ultra-exclusive, right-hand-drive Agera RST to the line. The Swedish exotic is no slouch on paper, boasting a 5.0-liter twin-turbo V8 pumping out 1,360 horsepower and 1,158 lb-ft of torque, capable of 278 mph in full attack mode. But for all its firepower, the rear-wheel-drive, 3,000-pound Koenigsegg struggled to put it down in a straight line against Tesla's electric grocery-hauler, the 5,400-pound Model X Plaid. Despite being a two-and-a-half-ton family car, the Tesla tri-motor setup offers instant torque, all-wheel traction, and a zero-to-60 mph sprint in under three seconds. In the first race, the Koenigsegg appeared to stumble — so much so that engineers had to diagnose an issue remotely mid-event. While Beardsmore eventually coaxed a 10.2-second quarter-mile from the Agera, the Tesla delivered the exact same time, and later rounds saw the Plaid consistently edging ahead. 'There's no shame in losing to a Tesla,' Watson joked, 'unless your car costs $4 million more.' Beardsmore, unfazed, explained he hadn't yet fully unleashed the Agera's ferocity. 'It's got way more in it,' he said, noting his 9,000-mile experience with the car over the past 18 months. In one late run, with perfect timing and max boost, the Koenigsegg finally pulled clear — proving that while electric torque is relentless, combustion still has its day. But the fact remains: the quickest car on this drag strip might just be the one with the car seats in the back.
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
$4.5M Koenigsegg Agera RST Struggles Against Tesla Model X Plaid in Drag Race
⚡️ Read the full article on Motorious In the world of hypercars, the Koenigsegg Agera RST is a titan—1,360 horsepower, 278-mph capability, and a price tag of $4.5 million. But in a head-to-head drag race against the much heavier, all-electric Tesla Model X Plaid, the Swedish powerhouse found itself in unfamiliar territory: struggling to keep up. The race, organized by YouTuber Mat Watson of carwow, pitted the Agera RST against Tesla's tri-motor, 1,020-horsepower family SUV. While the Agera weighs significantly less at just 1.4 tons compared to the Tesla's nearly 2.5-ton mass, the instant torque and all-wheel drive of the Model X Plaid proved formidable. Despite its engineering marvels, the Koenigsegg posted a quarter-mile time of 10.2 seconds—the exact same as the Tesla. However, the Swedish hypercar ran into trouble mid-race, requiring remote diagnostics from Koenigsegg's tech team. The matchup revealed an unexpected Achilles' heel for the Agera: while its monstrous 5.0-liter twin-turbo V8 can deliver breathtaking speeds, launching it effectively is another challenge altogether. Owner Tom Beardsmore, who has put nearly 9,000 miles on the car, admitted he hasn't yet mastered extracting its full potential. In some runs, when the Koenigsegg's boost was perfectly timed, it effortlessly pulled ahead of the Tesla. But in most cases, the instant torque and seamless acceleration of the electric SUV left the hypercar struggling to keep pace. While the Agera RST remains an engineering masterpiece, the race showcased just how far electric performance has come. When a five-door, grocery-hauling SUV can match a multi-million-dollar hypercar in a drag race, the future of high-performance vehicles might already be here.
