Top 5 Fastest Electric Cars According to MotorTrend
Electric cars have taken the automotive industry by storm in recent years. Nearly every manufacturer realizes they need some sort of electrification on their lineup. This realization creates excellent competition, especially for the fastest and most advanced cars. Although there are plenty of metrics to measure this, the most universal is the 0-60 mph test. MotorTrend recently released a list of the fastest EVs on the market. Here are the top 5 cars from that list.
1. 2021 Tesla Model S Plaid: 0-60 MPH in 2.3 seconds
Upon release, the 2021 Tesla Model S Plaid won over fans and haters of electric cars for its raw, unadulterated speed. It is the fastest EV ever, thanks to its monstrous drivetrain, and at the top of Motortrends list. So what is inside the Tesla Model S Plaid that makes it so fast? A combination of three extraordinarily efficient but powerful electric motors. Two of these motors are placed at the rear and one at the front. This layout is excellent for weight distribution and what makes up the all-wheel drive system that digs in from a stop. The 2021 Model S Plaid makes 1,020 horsepower and 1,050 lb-ft of torque. While there are cars that make more power, the instant torque of an electric motor throws you back in your seat like a roller coaster launch.
2. 2020 Porsche Taycan Turbo S: 0-60 MPH in 2.4 seconds
Now you might be wondering, where is the turbo on an electric car? Porsche decided to keep their naming conventions with their electric cars, although they don’t quite make sense from a literal standpoint. However, this odd naming convention doesn’t stop the Taycan Turbo S from rocketing you down a quarter mile. Much like the original 930 Turbo, this car brings a feeling of pure excitement from the speed it produces. The 2020 Porsche Taycan Turbo S shares its skeleton with the Audi RS E-Tron GT. However, we think the Porsche is a bit classier in its design. Even though the Porsche isn’t very long-range equipped, it is worth the sacrifice for the ride.
3. 2022 Lucid Air Grand Touring Performance: 0-60 MPH in 2.7 seconds
Even with huge manufacturers like Tesla and big-name brands like Porsche on this list, there is still room for the up-and-coming EV brands. Lucid is the new kid on the block, but they have one of the best electric cars all around. It takes everything you like about the Tesla and packages it in a mature but futuristic design. So much so that it won the Motortrend car of the year award. Its warm and inviting nature is still a mask of its brutal performance. In Sprint mode, the Lucid comes alive and uses all the 1,050 horsepower it has on tap. Even though it is not the most powerful Lucid vehicle, it has enough to feel like everyone else is standing still.
4. 2022 Audi RS E-Tron GT: 0-60 MPH in 2.9 seconds
Almost unheard of in recent years would be going to a dealership and buying a 10-second quarter-mile car. Fresh out of the box, many of these high-performance electric cars do just that. Not only are they shockingly fast, but they are gorgeous too. The 2022 Audi RS E-Tron GT is near the top of that list. An incredible design upon release, the E-Tron breathed life into Audi’s somewhat boring model design in recent years. Combining an excellent traction control system and a modest 522 horsepower gives the E-Tron an exciting feeling when you put your foot down. Not only is it exciting for you, but anyone who sees this car missile down the road will be just as happy.
5. 2022 Mercedes AMG EQS 4Matic+ Sedan: 0-60 MPH in 3.0 seconds
A surprising way to round off this list is the unsuspecting Mercedes sedan. The EQS 4Matic+ cements itself in this list of electric cars by squeaking an impressive 3.0 second 0-60. Loaded with brand-new technology, the EQS 4Matic+ resembles the same feelings as the luxury brand’s top-trim gasoline-powered cars, the S-class. Several usual features are found in the EQS, such as voice-activated infotainment, a 15-speaker audio system, heated and ventilated front seats, and even massaging seats. Who wouldn’t enjoy a heated massage while you jolt onto the freeway?
An exciting time for EV lovers and haters
Overall, it is hard to deny that electric cars are here to stay. Brands have spent millions of dollars on making some of the fastest and best-performing vehicles ever that utilize electrification to do so. Not only is this an exciting time for enthusiasts, but for regular consumers as well. This development at the top level will trickle down to standard cars, and some of it already has.