Is a Tesla Model X Faster Than a Ferrari?

When you think Ferrari, you think speed, and you think performance. There aren’t many companies that are more synonymous with automotive success than the Italian Sports Car manufacturer. 

Vehicles like the Testarossa, Enzo, Lusso, and Spider have tormented race tracks worldwide for nearly a century. Every Ferrari vehicle sold has to earn its bona fides on the infamous Fiorano circuit.  

But that was in the era of combustion engines and gasoline consumption. Now, the dominance of traditional cars is being challenged by electric vehicles. 

Companies like Tesla are now leading the industry on many fronts — parts manufacturing, vehicle design, underlying energy technology — and now they are also vying for the title of the best performance vehicle. 

Is a Tesla Model X Faster than a Ferrari?

There have been a lot of fierce automotive rivalries in the past: Ford vs. Ferrari, BMW vs. Mercedes, and the list go on. Now there's a new addition: Tesla vs. Ferrari.

But regarding sales, Ferrari has always been dominant in the automotive kingdom. The price of a new Ferrari is not just limited by the depth of one's pocketbook but also by one's patience in waiting for their order to be fulfilled. 

With only 7,000 units produced annually, this Italian-bred performance vehicle maker is highly exclusive.

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The Tesla Model X, on the other hand, is widely available to the public.  At a base price of  $79,500, the Tesla Model X is no cheap "beater," but it can't be labeled as a true performance vehicle.

Measuring Vehicle Performance

There are multiple ways to measure a vehicle's performance, including speed. There are two main ways for companies and auto manufacturers to measure the top speed of their vehicles: on the track and on a straightaway. 

The former allows vehicles to reach high speeds while performing steering maneuvers, while the latter is like a full-out sprint to a set speed or distance. Here are common speed performance tests that are conducted in these environments. 

1. 0 to 60 Time: For this test, the vehicle accelerates from a static position until it reaches 60 MPH (or 97 km/h), as measured in a closed setting. To eliminate the factors of wind, traction, and weather, the final time is usually an average of two test trials running in opposite directions and measured using Doppler radar guns. 
2. Quarter Mile: As the name suggests, the quarter-mile test is straightforward. The vehicle in question runs along a track specifically built for the ¼-mile distance.
3. Top Speed: The top speed test is another common measure of vehicle performance. These tests are conducted on specific tracks like the Nurburgring or Nardo Ring. 
4. Lap Time: Completing a lap is another popular measure of performance instead of measuring the top speed on the track. High-profile tracks like the Nurburgring and Nardo Ring are also commonly used for this type of test.

Although it’s difficult to achieve unanimous consensus from experts, the most applicable “real world” test of vehicle performance is acceleration. 

Vehicles are always moving forward, so acceleration is one of the most relevant tests for everyday driving.

Tesla vs. Ferrari: Determining Top Performance

The drag race is the way to go for those who want a pure assessment of a vehicle's power. The drag race is the purest form of vehicle competition on an even playing field, giving rise to some of the most impressive machines ever built. But to simulate a real-world driving scenario, lap times and quarter-mile speeds may be more realistic. 

For this assessment, we’ll look at how the top vehicles from each make and class fare across a few of the tests mentioned above. This will help create a more comprehensive picture of the Tesla vs. Ferrari battle in real life. 

But first, we need to select the participants. 

The Top Ferrari 

Given the Ferrari brand's age and pedigree, numerous vehicles deserve consideration as the top-performance vehicle from the Italian manufacturer. 

As iteration after iteration of the model is improved alongside the underlying technological advancement of the entire industry, Ferrari has put out numerous high-performance vehicles. Unfortunately, we need to select just a few. 

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The Enzo is the fastest Ferrari vehicle from a pure top speed perspective. With a cool price tag of 2.6 million dollars, this pinnacle of performance reaches a top speed of 218 mph (351km/h) and has a respectable 0-60 time of 2.5 seconds. 

As for the fastest acceleration from standstill to 60 mph, Ferrari’s LaFerrari model is one of the faster vehicles on the road. With a reported acceleration time of 2.4 seconds 

The Top Tesla

According to MotorTrend, the Tesla Model S Plaid holds the top 0-to-60 time for any vehicle. The Plaid is the newest iteration of their previous Ludacris mode that garnered lots of attention a few years ago, and it's already showing great results. It's the first vehicle to achieve a sub-2.0-second score on the test, although there is some contention regarding track modifications. 

Regardless, the vehicle has achieved below or at the 2-second level numerous times and is currently the record holder for 0-60 acceleration. 

But instead of simply crowning the Model S Plaid as the de facto champion of speed, let’s look at a more common Tesla vehicle, the Model X. 

Like the Model S, this vehicle also comes in a Plaid version with a drastically increased performance compared to the standard models. 

So, let’s see how the Tesla Model X fares against the LaFerrari.

Tesla Vs. Ferrari Drag Race

A standing drag race between a Tesla Model X Plaid and a LaFerrari is much closer than most people would believe at first glance. Again the LaFerrari’s 0-60 drag race time sits around 2.4 seconds, while the Model X Plaid is just one-tenth of a second behind at 2.5 seconds. 

So, while the acceleration and top speed edge go to this exclusive Ferrari model, the fact that a much less expensive, widely owned Tesla EV is even in the same realm is monumental. 

And to the added benefit of you Tesla drivers out there, here’s a list of Ferrari models that the Model X Plaid is faster than when it comes to a 0-60 performance test:

• GTC4 Lusso - 3.4 seconds
• 812 Superfast - 2.9 seconds
• 458 Spider - 3.3 seconds
• 599 GTB Fiorano F1 - 3.2 seconds
• Portofino - 3.5 seconds

Look out, performance car traditionalists, the electric car vs. Ferrari race is just starting to heat up.

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