I know you remember when Porsche pulled that Airbus A380 for more than 130 feet, but this story is a bit different. See, in this case, Tesla set the record for the heaviest tow by a production passenger electric vehicle. To set the record a Tesla Model X, as it rolls off the production line, pulled a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner a total of 987 feet. It did so in Melbourne, Australia and pulled a Quntas branded jet down the runway.

If that doesn’t sound tough to you, well it is. The Model X used was a P100D model, which packs 603 horsepower and 713 pound-feet of torque. Its towing capacity is rated at just 5,112 – a decent number for an electric SUV, but far, far below the 286,600-pound weight of that Qantas jet. In fact, that jet weighs 56.0641 times that of the Model X P100D’s towing capacity.

So, for now, Tesla holds a new record and, until the rest of the big boys start putting out their powerful, torquey electric SUVS. I wouldn’t count on Tesla holding this record for long. Something tells me that Porsche will be more than happy to recreate that Airbus A380 pull with something that doesn’t rely on an internal combustion engine.

Tesla Model S Pulls a Dreamliner 787-9

Tesla Model S Races a Qantas Passenger Jet

Tesla Model X Drivetrain Specs

P100D

100D

75D

Battery

100 kWh

100 kWh

75 kWh

Acceleration

2.9s 0-60 mph

4.7s 0-60 mph

4.9s 0-60 mph

Range

289 miles

295 miles

237 miles

Drive

All-Wheel Drive

All-Wheel Drive

All-Wheel Drive

Seating

Up to 7 Adults

Up to 7 Adults

Up to 7 Adults

Wheels

20” or 22”

20” or 22”

20” or 22”

Weight

5,531 lbs

5,421 lbs

5,307 lbs

Cargo

88 cu ft

88 cu ft

88 cu ft


References

Read our full review on the 2017 Tesla Model X.

Read more Tesla news.