One bad rap about electronic vehicles is that even though they are great for the environment and certainly save at the gas pumps, they are nowhere near fast, or even zippy. But the Tesla Model S is on a mission to change the sluggish reputation for electric cars and the recent head to head action against the powerful BMW M5 was a part of showing the world how the Tesla will really compare when it comes to power and performance. The video below will show you how that all ended up.
As a quick refresher, if you’ve been following along the new BMW M5 has a twin scroll turbocharged 4.4 liter V8 that has a lightning fast 7 speed dual clutch transmission. There are 560 horses and 500 pound feet of torque, plenty to go up against some of the most popular super sports cars coming out. Now the Tesla Model S has a battery operated system. That system is still good for 416 horsepower and 443 pound feet of torque, and let’s face it, that is much more than many of the sedans coming out today. The BMW M5 is clocked at going from 0 to 60 in 4.2 seconds and the Tesla Model S Signature Performance edition, which is what you’ll see racing will go the same in 4.4 seconds.
While those figures looked good on paper, seeing the Tesla Model S and the BMW M5 in action is really the only way to put them up against each other. The two luxury sedans met up at the Gingerman Raceway in western Michigan for a little 1 to 100 miles per hour drag race. The Tesla Model S starts at $102,270 and the BMW M5 that you’ll see in the video is priced at $106,695. So while the Tesla is an obvious winner with fuel efficiency over the gas guzzling M5, the power and pricing is lower on the Tesla, but how does it stack up? You will see the results for yourself in the video.
Source Automobile Mag