On paper, an SUV should have no business competing against a supercar in a drag race. But the cars in question, a Ferrari 812 Superfast and a Tesla Model X P100D, aren’t exactly too far apart in the performance category. One produces 588 horsepower and 910 pound-feet of torque, while the other has 790 horsepower and 530 pound-feet of torque on tap. Line them side-by-side on a drag strip and the question of who wins isn’t as ridiculous as it sounds. In the end, such a race took place at the Drag Times home track of Palm Beach International Raceway. As for which car won? Watch the video and find out.

The Full Story

Normally, an SUV that weighs 5,700 pounds would have no shot against a 3,594-pound supercar with a Prancing Horse badge in front of it. But this isn’t a normal SUV. This is a Tesla Model X. Not only that, it’s the top-of-the-line Model X P100D with 588 horsepower and 920 pound-feet of torque. Sure, it’s at a disadvantage in the horsepower category, but those torque numbers allow it to get off the line a lot quicker than the Ferrari. Does the Tesla Model X have enough to sustain its lead off the block?

To answer that question, you’ll need to watch the video of the drag race. As expected, the Model X gets the jump on the 812 Superfast. It doesn’t take long for the Tesla to extend its lead, giving the Ferrari a perfectly good look at its rear end, at least for a few seconds. Unfortunately for the Model X, the tide slowly turns as the Ferrari starts stretching its legs. What was once a commanding lead evaporates as the 812 Superfast catches, takes the lead, and leaves the Model X eating its dust. The finish isn’t as exciting as you might expect as the Ferrari crosses the quarter-mile line with a time of 10.845 seconds at 133.65 mph. The Tesla, however, clocked in a time of 11.341 seconds at 117.48 mph, giving the 812 Superfast the win by 0.5 seconds.

Here’s the thing, though. Even if the Tesla Model X lost, it’s not like it didn’t bother to show up in the race. The fact that it covered a quarter-mile drag strip in a little over 11 seconds is a feat in it of itself. Doing it while weighing 5,700 pounds? That deserves its own round of applause.

In the end, the Ferrari 812 Superfast prevailed for the same reasons why Ferraris are awesome. The Italian supercar is a performance machine of the highest order. The Tesla Model X P100D gave it all it had, and for a moment, it appeared that an upset was in-the-making. But order was restored when the Ferrari 812 Superfast turned up the heat. In the end, the Italian supercar won convincingly, just as many expected it to.

Further Reading

Read our full review on the 2016 Tesla Model X.

Read our dull review on the 2018 Ferrari 812 Superfast.