Lucid Air Takes On Tesla Plaid And Porsche Taycan Turbo S In 3000 Horsepower Electric Drag Race

Three of the most powerful sedans in the world, three-wide down a dragstrip. DragTimes returns to Hennessey's private track to see who reigns supreme as the fastest four-door money can buy.

DragTimes is at it again with the third and final installment in the series that has previously seen the Model S Plaid beating the Lucid, and the Lucid wiping the floor with the Porsche Taycan Turbo S. This is the big one; three of the quickest, most powerful sedans in the world, on a drag strip, at the same time. I say "three of" and not "the three most powerful sedans" thanks the Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Redeye holdin' it down for internal combustion with seven hundred and ninety-seven old-fashioned, loud and angry horsepower from its coal-burning V8.

Anyway, back to the EV Three, and some quick stats on each:

Lucid Air Dream Edition Performance

• 2022
• 1111 hp., 1025 lb.-ft.
• 5300 lbs.
• Two electric motors
• $169,000

Tesla Model S Plaid

• 2021
• 1020 hp., 1050 lb.-ft.
• Three electric motors
• 4800 lbs.
• $129,000

Porsche Taycan Turbo S

• 2020
• 750 hp., 774 lb.-ft.
• Two electric motors
• Two-speed transmission
• 5300 lbs.
• $220,000

Let's Go Racing
If you watched the other videos in this series the result of the first race will probably come as no surprise. Despite the Porsche using its launch control function the fact that its down 270 horsepower and up 500 lbs. means it doesn't stand a snowball's chance in hell against the Plaid. It's unclear whether the Plaid was using launch control, and the Lucid Air has no such system.

With the Porsche relegated to being more of a camera car than a competitor this race is all about Tesla versus Lucid, and much like in the previous video the Plaid is more than a match for the Dream Edition Performance. The Lucid gets a good start and puts up an admirable fight, but the Tesla just keeps pulling away over the full race distance. The same is true for the second race, with the Lucid nearly able to hang with the Tesla and the Porsche left far, far behind again.

Roll Race
Results repeat once more in the third race, which features a rolling start and sees the Dream Edition do a little better, likely because the big luxury Lucid doesn't have to get all that sound deadening and vegan leather moving from a standstill. Still, it's the Model S Plaid's day, as again it keeps pulling ahead throughout the race. Tesla -3, Lucid and Porsche - 0.

Fit For Purpose
Thinking about the different design briefs for each car, it's not surprising that the Model S Plaid walked away with all three races. The Taycan, lower horsepower figure aside, is designed more for handling through corners than flat-out straight-line speed. The Lucid is a luxury limousine aimed at the Mercedes S-Class set with a massive power figure and engaging handling. The Plaid is "The World's Quickest-Accelerating Production Car" designed to add ridiculously rapid sprinting to the Model S's already impressive resume. That's something it clearly and decisively achieved here, with or without its launch control system. I'd love to see these three put in some autocross times!

For more on the Lucid Air's handling dynamics click here.

Images and video by DragTimes licensed by CC BY 2.0.

James Walker is an automotive journalist at Torque News focusing on Lucid Motors. If it's got wheels he's interested, and he's looking forward to seeing what kind of cars the EV revolution brings us. Whether it's fast, slow, new, or old, James wants to have a look around it and share it in print and on video, ideally with some twisty roads involved. You can connect with James on Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.