cars news 10: Tesla Model S P100D Goes Head 2 Head With Audi RS 7 Performance

The Tesla Model S P100D is the quickest car Motor Trend has ever tested, but is it better than the best Autobahn cruise missiles Germany has to offer? Hosts Jason Cammisa and Jonny Lieberman find out on this episode of Head 2 Head by pitting the Tesla against a 2017 Audi RS 7 Performance.

Comparing an EV with a gas-powered car can be difficult, but in this case the two four-doors are surprisingly similar. The cars are within 0.2 inch of each other in length, and both feature liftgate rear openings and a fastback design. They’re also priced similarly, with the Tesla Model S P100D starting at $135,700 and the Audi RS 7 Performance starting at $130,450. And of course, both offer blistering acceleration. The Audi RS 7 Performance makes 605 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque from a twin-turbo 4.0-liter V-8 that drives all four wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission, while the P100D makes a combined 680 hp and 791 lb-ft from two electric motors that drive all four wheels.

The hosts begin by comparing interiors, and the Audi RS 7 is unanimously named the winner. Despite its age, the RS 7 offers a level of opulence that the Tesla can’t touch. Next, interior space is compared using an uncommon measurement tool. After assessing how the cars handle long drives, all that’s left to do is drag race them. With its MT-tested 0-60 time of 2.28 seconds, the Tesla clearly has the edge off the line. But the RS 7 may have a chance to catch it once they get up to speed. If not, the hosts have a second German car waiting in the wings to challenge the P100D. Watch the full episode below to find out what it is.