Watch Tesla's Model S Plaid Best a Hayabusa in the Ultimate Drag Race

Despite the motorcycle's superior power-to-weight ratio.
Brad Bergan

The Tesla Model S Plaid is a sickeningly quick car.

Already accelerating faster than any production sedan to ever hit the market, the vehicle can go from zero to 60 mph (0 to 100 km/h) in roughly two seconds, according to Tesla. But an ultimate drag race arranged by Edmunds has shown us something truly shocking: The Tesla Model S Plaid can beat the 2022 Suzuki Hayabusa, and the 2021 Kawasaki ZX-14R motorcycles.

There's a reason this drag race is pitting motorcycles against the Tesla Model S, and not other four-wheeled vehicles, besides the fact that it just broke the speed record, and it is this: No other four-wheeled vehicles can effectively keep up with Tesla's sedan. But motorcycles can edge close to even. Their specifications are notable, which is expected (after all, they're supposed to be the quickest newest pair of wheels on Earth). The Hayabusa features 188 horsepower, weighs only 582 lbs, and is propelled by a 1.3-liter inline-four engine that can run up to 11,000 rpm. Its close-cousin Kawasaki is 593 lbs, sports a 1.4-liter inline-four engine, and can rev up to 9,800 rpm with 208 horsepower.

Despite nearly every conceivable advantage in specs, neither of these motorcycles can do more than almost keep pace with the Tesla Model S Plaid. While the Hayabusa took the lead in one of the roll races, this was probably only by virtue of it jumping ahead at the opening. While possessing an outstanding power-to-weight ratio, the Hayabusa can't best the Tesla. And, while the ZX-14R performed slightly better, but it still didn't pull off a clear win. The Plaid's power delivery is just more continuous and lacks the intermittent peaks of output that the motorcycles endure. It also doesn't hurt that Tesla doesn't need to do a gear change in the middle of a no-holds-barred drag race. Watch for yourself to experience the deep inner joy of sustainable schadenfreude.

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