Tesla Model S Plaid Smokes the ZR1 in a Drag Race – But That’s Not the Whole Story

MaximilianSci/Tech2025-07-233460

Tesla Model S Plaid Smokes the ZR1 in a Drag Race –But That’s Not the Whole Story originally appeared on Autoblog.

The American Supercar Versus Musk's Super EV

The Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 C8 isn't just another high-powered Corvette – it's the most powerful road-going 'Vette. Well, at least until the mighty (and electrified) ZR1X reaches its owners.

With 1,064 horsepower from a twin-turbo 5.5-liter V8 and a top speed of 233 mph, it's already left its mark on some of America's toughest circuits, shattering production car records at Watkins Glen, Road Atlanta, VIR, and Road America. Even at drag races, the ZR1 managed to out-sprint two of Italy's fastest hypercars: the Lamborghini Revuelto and Ferrari SF90 Stradale.

But in the era of electric instant torque and AWD grip, there's one elephant in the room: the Tesla Model S Plaid. With sub-10-second quarter-mile runs and a brutal, silent launch, the Plaid is rewriting the rulebook on straight-line speed.

That said, can Chevy's latest track weapon hang with the Model S Plaid at a drag strip?

Tale of the Tape: C8 Corvette ZR1 vs Model S Plaid

The Corvette ZR1 and the Tesla Model S Plaid are wildly different from each other on paper. The ZR1 is designed for record-setting lap times, equipped with aero to keep it glued at high-speed corners. Meanwhile, the Tesla is a luxury electric sedan with gut-wrenching acceleration and instant torque delivery.

In the drag race, the ZR1 managed a best quarter-mile run of 9.86 seconds at 140.84 mph, with a 60-foot time of 1.57 seconds and a near-perfect reaction time of 0.075 seconds.

On the other hand, the Model S Plaid completed the same quarter mile in 9.24 seconds at 150.58 mph, hitting the 60-foot mark in just 1.48 seconds. Its 1/8 mile split came in at 5.99 seconds at 122 mph, and it simply kept pulling. The Tesla clawed more traction at every interval thanks to its all-wheel drive and instantaneous electric torque. No turbo spool, no gear shifts –just brutal, seamless acceleration.

Chevrolet

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Now Take the Contest to the Track

In a straight line, the Tesla Model S Plaid is the clear winner. It's faster from launch, quicker across every benchmark, and doesn't need perfect conditions to deliver. The ZR1, despite its staggering power, struggled to match the Tesla's pace on the drag strip, especially with the ZTK aero package, which adds significant downforce (and drag).

But let's be clear: the ZR1 wasn't built to win at red-light drags. It's a track weapon, through and through. We doubt the Model S Plaid can match the Corvette ZR1 in terms of lap times, especially with repeated, flat-out sessions.