Although they're often of no value to the average motorist, it's hard to take your eyes off automotive tug-of-war battles, especially when they involve modern EVs, vehicles that tend to excel at the task. Tesla famously filmed the Cybertruck easily winning a tug-of-war against a Ford F-150 but Ford fired back by challenging Tesla to a fairer test as the EV automaker originally used a rear-wheel-drive F-150 to prove its point. Anyway, another Tesla - this time a Model X - has just been involved in a tug-of-war in what initially appears to be a mismatch. The electric SUV was put up against the outrageously brawny Mercedes G550 4x4 Squared.

At least this G550 looks a bit more at home trying to out-pull a Tesla than the new version of the 4x4 did when it was seen hauling itself around a track. The action gets underway at the 04:40 mark in the video above and it takes less than 20 seconds for the G550 to win. Things were different in the next round, the Model X spinning its rear wheels and successfully pulling the G550 in its direction. The same was repeated in the final round, with electric power ultimately triumphing over a roaring V8. For the battle, the most powerful non-Plaid Model X was used which has a 0-60 mph time of well under three seconds.

The outgoing G550 4x4 Squared produced 416 horsepower from its 4.0-liter V8 and the all-new model spotted earlier this year should be at least as powerful, with a possible high-performance AMG variant in the pipeline. Perhaps that future model would be a perfect opportunity for a tug-of-war rematch with the new Tesla Model X Plaid. This tri-motor all-wheel-drive electric SUV is capable of reaching 60 mph in just 2.5 seconds and a top speed of 163 mph - those are the performance figures that 1,020 hp will get you. It carries a starting price of $119,990 but the upcoming G550 will be close to double that.