Can "the world's most powerful muscle car" handle a Tesla crossover? Nope. At least, not in base form.
Charger Daytona vs Tesla Model Y: The Drag Race
Since its debut last year, Dodge has billed the Charger Daytona as the "world's quickest and most powerful muscle car." The performance-oriented EV is slowly working its way into the hands of buyers, and with some now heading to the drag strip, we can finally test the accuracy of that statement.
How Does the Charger Daytona Perform?
How does the electric Charger tackle the quarter-mile? For starters, it's not doing a burnout, because it can't. But with its 5,800-pound mass sitting on a dual-motor, all-wheel-drive powertrain, the Charger probably doesn't need to heat the tires for a grippy launch. That holds especially true with this being an R/T, developing 496 peak horsepower. Thusly equipped, it should run a mid-12-second quarter-mile time.
Charger Daytona vs Tesla Model Y: The Race
Its first competitor in this drag race video from Wheels is a Tesla Model Y. We aren't sure if it's a Performance model, but there could be as much as 456 hp turning those white-letter tires. By the numbers, this should be a good race.
Race Results
- Both cars leave the starting line at the same time, but the Model Y immediately puts a car length on the Charger.
- At half-track, the Tesla is still in front, but the Charger seems to gain ground ever-so-slightly.
- The Model Y crosses the line in 12.54 seconds, versus 12.87 seconds for the Charger.
- Remarkably, both had virtually identical trap speeds, with the Charger slightly quicker at 111.84 mph. The Tesla reached 111.52 mph.
Second Race: Charger Daytona vs Ram 1500
The second race at least has some sound, courtesy of a Ram 1500 lining up against the Charger. It doesn't appear to be a howling Hemi, though. Straining our ears, it sure sounds like a 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 giving everything it's got. That's supported by the truck's 17.19-second quarter-mile time, reaching just 79.9 mph. It's an easy win for the Charger Daytona, nearly matching its previous pass with a 12.93-second run at 111.68 mph.
Future of the Charger Daytona
It's worth noting that the Charger Daytona featured here is likely the slowest of all new Chargers, be it the electric Daytona or the forthcoming Charger Sixpack. The Daytona Scat Pack gets 670 hp through its dual-motor powertrain, and the lighter Charger Sixpack will have at least 420 hp from its twin-turbocharged Hurricane inline-six. With rumors of the Hemi V-8 returning to the mix and the 1,000-hp Charger Daytona Banshee still to come, Chargers will only get faster from here.
Conclusion
While the base Charger Daytona couldn't outpace the Tesla Model Y in this drag race, the future looks promising for Dodge's electric muscle car lineup. With more powerful variants on the horizon, the Charger Daytona is set to reclaim its title as a performance powerhouse.
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