The Tesla Model S has a reputation for neck-snapping thrust in a four-door EV sedan. However, when it comes to straight-line speed from the factory, there’s a name that always seems to enter the conversation: the Dodge Challenger SRT Demon. So, could Mopar’s most unhinged monster take on one of Tesla’s swiftest new offerings like the Model S Plaid?

How much HP and torque does a Tesla Model S Plaid have?

The 2023 Tesla Model S Plaid produces 1,020 horsepower and 1,050 lb-ft of torque. That’s enough to turn the Plaid into a cruise missile with seating for five. Moreover, with tri-motor all-wheel drive (AWD) grip, the Plaid’s launches are efficient; very little power is lost with wheel spin. 

What is the horsepower of the Dodge Demon?

Dodge’s halo car of the current generation is the 2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon, which produces 840 horsepower on 100-octane-plus race fuel. Without the addition of the premium gas, the Demon makes 808 horsepower. 

Still, that was enough to establish the Challenger SRT Demon as the most powerful offering from the Mopar stable by some margin. At the time, the most powerful vehicle in the Dodge lineup was the 707-horsepower Challenger SRT Hellcat. Compared to the Demon and its 840 ponies, the Hellcat is a tame affair. In fact, the Demon had a stable of records right from its inception, including being the only stock car capable of a wheelie. 

How fast is a Dodge Demon without a limiter?

While the Dodge SRT Demon is limited to 168 mph, it’s faster without a limiter. Without the limitation of a speed governor, the Demon will hit 203 mph, after which it’s drag limited by its angular shape and weight. 

That’s a faster top speed than the Tesla Model S Plaid, which tops out at 162 mph. Like the Dodge model, the Plaid is governed to a reasonable top speed. 

Can a Tesla Model S beat a Dodge Demon?

Unfortunately for Mopar muscle fans, the Tesla Model S Plaid will beat a Dodge SRT Demon in a sprint to 60 mph. Specifically, Dodge’s mighty halo car hits 60 mph in 2.3 seconds. However, Tesla says the Plaid will do it in just 1.9 seconds under favorable conditions. 

Of course, both cars need prepping to lay down times like those. For instance, the Demon requires the contents of a $1 crate, including an ECU and drag radials. Moreover, Car and Driver’s best time with the Model S Plaid was 2.1 seconds, just 0.2 seconds quicker than the brutish Demon. 

In addition to 60 mph sprints, the Model S Plaid will finish a quarter-mile run in just 9.4 seconds. That is quick enough to best the Dodge model, which can cross the line at around 9.65 seconds.  

Can you modify a Demon to outrun a Model S Plaid?

The Dodge SRT Demon is a prolific nod to the old-school rock n’ roll muscle car era, but it’s not quite up to the task of taking on the Model S Plaid’s instant torque and AWD grip. However, Demon fans who want to take it to the limit can opt for Hennessey’s HPE1200 upgrade. That option will bump the Mopar monster’s output to 1,200 horsepower, around 180 more than the Plaid. 

Still, CarBuzz says the HPE1200 will hit 60 in around 2.1 seconds, and that’s just 0.2 seconds behind Tesla’s claimed time for the Plaid. However, in Car and Driver’s testing, the best the Tesla model managed was the same 2.1 second-sprint.