Drag Race: Tesla Model Y Vs. Dodge Challenger Hellcat Redeye

The drag racing scene has been dominated by big muscle cars for decades, with Japanese cars only recently coming onto the scene, but now there's a new kid in town, and he sails down the quarter-mile without making a sound. We are of course talking about the dawn of the electric vehicle, and in particular the Tesla. In the following video, we see a Tesla Model Y duking it out with the mighty Dodge Challenger Hellcat Redeye. This is a battle that stirs the imagination, as old school muscle fans try to hold onto what little respect they have left in a world dominated by Greta Thunberg and other greenies. As we all know, Tesla cars are not slow, but exactly how will a Model Y perform against one of the most powerful American production cars ever?

The Dodge Challenger Hellcat Redeye is powered by a supercharged V8 engine producing 797 hp and 707 lb-ft. Power is sent to the rear via an eight-speed automatic transmission. Dodge claims that this car can sprint to sixty in 3.7 seconds, and continue to a top speed of 203 mph. The quarter-mile time? Under 12 seconds. That is if you can nail the launch.

The Tesla on the other hand is powered by dual electric motors which is paired to a single-speed fixed-gear transmission. The numbers are as follows: 480 hp, a zero to sixty time of 3.5 seconds (in performance guise) and a top speed of 155 mph. So on paper it seems as though these tow cars are meant to duke it out.

In the video we see the two cars line up at the Christmas tree. The Tesla forgoing the obligatory burnout. As the lights go green the Tesla catapults away, leaving the Dodge suffocating in its own tire smoke. The cars cross the line, with the Tesla posting a time of 12.188 seconds at 112.55 mph. The Dodge shows 15.323 seconds at 111.8 mph. The second run is a repeat of the first, with the times and speeds staying more or less the same. On the fourth run, the Tesla still beats the Dodge, but the big American now posts a time of 12.919 versus the Tesla's 12.285. On the final run, both cars post their best times: 12.181 seconds for the Tesla, and 12.534 seconds for the Hellcat. It is clear that the EV absolutely walked the big muscle car.