These days if you bring a 700 horsepower Ford Mustang to the strip, you'll usually be at the slower end of the field. Why? Electric cars. We've all seen how Tesla cars dominate at the drag strip, and the bad news is that electric cars are only getting faster. Much faster. The latest EV to make world headlines is the insanely fast Rimac Nevera. This all-electric wunderkind has already broken world records and it's barely on the road yet. It's greatest competitor currently has to be the Tesla Model S Plaid, with the two vying for claims as the fastest accelerating production cars and quickest down the quarter mile. And, as we saw earlier this week, the Nevera had no problem smashing its quarter-mile record. Now we get to see the two go head-to-head thanks to the DragTimes YouTube channel.

Firstly let's look at the numbers. The Tesla Model S Plaid develops 1,020 horsepower and 1,050 lb-ft of torque thanks to its first-ever tri-motor setup. Power is sent to all four wheels via a single-speed transmission. The result is a gut-wrenching 0-60 mph time of 1.99 seconds (as claimed by Tesla on a prepped drag strip with a one-foot rollout), and a top speed of 200 mph. Tesla claims a quarter-mile time of 9.23 seconds at 155 mph. That's not slow. The Rimac Nevera on the other hand produces nearly twice as much power at 1,877 hp and 1,731 lb-ft of torque which it harnesses from four electric motors and a 120-kWh, 6960-cell battery capable of producing 1.4 megawatts of power. Rimac says the Nevera will leap to 60 mph in 1.85 seconds, 100 mph in 4.3 seconds, and 186 mph in 9.3 seconds. The Nevera has been seen murdering the quarter-mile in the 8.60 second region.

The two compete in three races, with the Nevera coming out the winner in each, even when the Plaid gets the better launch. But the second race is the best showcase of the abilities of the two as both cars rocket off the line at the same time with nearly identical reaction times from the drivers. But right from the outset, the Rimac keeps its nose in front of the Tesla, pulling a lead right until the end. The times are a 9.31 at 151.34 mph for the Tesla, and a 8.64 at 166.44 mph for the Rimac. From the three runs, the Nevera recorded a best effort of 8.61 seconds at 166.39 mph and the Tesla manages a 9.29 second run at 151.75 mph.

The results are to be expected, really, as the Rimac has way more power and costs a lot more. Elon Musk may now need to alter his claims about the Plaid being the fastest car around, but seeing these two side-by-side is something pretty damn special.