TESTING THE TESLA MODEL S PLAID: MILESTONES, RECORDS, AND OTHER GEEKY FACTOIDS

ey, have you heard? The Tesla Model S Plaid can run a sub-2.0-second 0–60 time on a prepped surface. Well, sort of. The way we gather acceleration data uses the same launch methodology as does the NHRA, drag racing’s sanctioning body. The official timer starts after 1 foot of forward progress—so, rollout—as the car fully breaks the light beam at a competition dragstrip’s start line. (We factor in this rollout via software when testing without a beam, which is most of the time.) The thing is, on a prepped surface so sticky that it nearly pulls off your shoes, with three electric