Repair-It

http://www.greencarreports.com/news/109 ... hemi-video

Ok, I have a problem with this. Not because I like the Hellcat, but because this article is disingenuous. First, comparing HP without mentioning weight makes no sense. Second, and more critically, this terrible run by the Challenger does not speak for the capability of the car. Now do I think these results may be fairly accurate for an impromptu street race of about 1/4 mile in length? Well, yes, I do. But to suggest that this video proves anything, when the Tesla ran a 1/4 mile ET and trap that is significantly slower (particularly the 10mph trap difference) than what the Hellcat is capable of (on drag radials, on street tires, ballparky even-ish in the ET) is just irritating. Especially when the author (and probably the site's readers) have a giant chip on their shoulder, and something to prove. This just was not the video to do it and now they look foolish (except to EV fans who wouldn't understand drag racing anyway).

Well, it proves the driver of the Challenger needs more practice. You could have used the GT-R which is about the same performance as the Hellcat but with way less driver skill required. But somehow that one would be unfair and "what do you expect, the GT-R is awesome" comments would ensue. Goddamnit, internet.

The Tesla trapped 115 mph if we round up. That means you can go buy a 12 year old $20k C5 Z06 and be dead even on a roll with this "amazeballs" Tesla. Of course no one talks about that, just the launch. The only thing worse than this article would be if they compared 0-60 times.

Thinking about it more, as I wind myself up for no good reason, it's even worse than I thought. Lay-people probably have a casual understanding that the Hellcat is fast (and that 707hp is a lot). They also have a casual understanding that everything Elon Musk touches is gold. Ok. Well, now they'll see the Challenger spin the tires down the drag strip and, since they're lay-people, conclude that "Well it's burning out, and I associate tire spin with high performance, so man, that thing got destroyed!"

I saw this too on many of the EV websites that I read. The only takeaway I had is how much more accessible the ~700 HP in the Tesla is compared to the ~700 HP in a Hellcat. If the Hellcat was driven by a competent driver, I think it would have been much closer and the Hellcat certainly would have been moving much faster at the trap. As much as I hate cars that are quick to launch and fall flat on their face, I do have respect for what the P85D is capable of and I would very much like to experience a launch in one.

Some interesting facts according to:
http://jalopnik.com/tesla-model-s-p85d- ... 1644637002

"The top-spec Model S, the P85D, comes in at $120k", so twice the price of the Hellcat.


0-60 in 3.2 seconds, is awesome, but also slower than the new Z06, and more expensive. It has more interior space/seats than the Z06.

The GT-R is almost exactly priced here with 0-60 at around 2.9 sec. (GT-R non NISMO is 100 to 115K) While it is pretty incredible that they got a 5000 lb car to move that fast, it will still have the physics of a 5000 lb car - not good around corners.

I think it would be fun, obviously, but I think the weight is a major setback to a performance car. I would like to see what the range is on this when driving hard.
(from this site 295 and 225, respectively) That is also really good if true, and if there isn't significant decay over time.