Does SPEED Trump ALL Or Does It Still Matter If There's An Engine Note And The Car Looks KILLER?

When electric vehicles first came out, they were produced with one focus in mind: Get as many miles on a charge as possible. The first EVs were not particularly good looking and were not known for performance.

Fast forward to today and it's the complete opposite. Now electric cars look good to the eye — some more than others — and, boy, are they fast. 

Take for example the Tesla Model S and Model X in "D" form. The standard vehicles were already fast enough so when you dump in another motor you get all-wheel drive and way, way more power. The AWD aids traction and you've just upped your instant torque by an assload. 

This means that performance is on par with many of today's leading exotic vehicles. And, in many cases, the Teslas actually exceed supercar benchmarks. 

So, we have to ask the question: Does SPEED trump ALL or does it still matter if a vehicle has a sweet engine note and the car looks KILLER?

While the Model X is a pretty gnarly piece of engineering, it definitely isn't a looker. The McLaren 650S, on the other hand, can do no wrong in any department. Let's get down to brass tacks, folks. Does speed kill? What say you?


In this video we race the all new Tesla Model X P90D with Ludicrous Mode vs the McLaren 650S Supercar down the 1/4 mile with and without launch control.

runninglogan1 - 5/14/2016 3:50:15 AM

+4 Boost

The sense of strong acceleration is probably the most exhilarating thing we experience in an automobile.

Feeling the full torque at zero rpm punch of an electric car launch really is something else.

Nothing against the sweet sound of a good ICE though.

jameswisrik - 5/14/2016 9:25:04 AM

0 Boost

looks are good, sound is good, but at the end of the day...if it don't get you home! a beautiful car is just an expensive paper weight! that will just delay real luxury...RETIREMENT!

give me a Corolla/Prius/Camry/Tacoma/Tundra any day!

https://www.yahoo.com/news/man-drives-toyota-tundra-one-million-miles-170018109.html

TheSteve - 5/14/2016 9:09:07 AM

+1 Boost

For me, it's the entire package as opposed to any one thing that "makes it.". However, one thing can be a deal-breaker for me, such as unattractive styling or range anxiety.

MDarringer - 5/14/2016 9:28:11 AM

+1 Boost

All this crowing about how fast Teslas are is amusing. Yes you can do an exhilarating high speed drag race, but doing so depletes the battery big time. You can't do that repeatedly because your Tesla will need hours of charging to be able to move.

For me, engine note is as important as speed.

TomM - 5/14/2016 3:37:40 PM

+2 Boost

I agree - WE did not spend all that time constructing drag strip vehicles of all types to have them sound like a mouse in a cage powers them - But there is a place for everything - and most of the race cars I have worked on also idled like a long earthquake - rough and shaky and were not suited to street driving.

However - since "Speed" is a Hypothetical thing - you really cannot drive any of these cars at their top speed on public roads - Acceleration (which is not speed) is more important that speed on the road - and it doesn't hurt if the engine roars triumphantly as well. That was how you told the sleeper from the plain car it looked like!

PUGPROUD - 5/14/2016 10:30:39 AM

+1 Boost

There are so many fast cars that exceed your ability or opportunities to fully use it. Most of its for bragging rites. Go for a complete package and be completely happy every time you go for a drive.

mini22 - 5/14/2016 5:24:10 PM

+2 Boost

I would give up some performance and speed for the engine note. If a cement mixer could do 0-60 in 2 seconds it still remains and sounds like a cement mixer. No it must be an engine full of sound and fury for me. I would take that over acceleration any day of the week.

valhallakey - 5/15/2016 9:28:10 AM

0 Boost

They already "pipe" engine sound into the car stereo on a number of performance cars, Tesla should just add a few options to "pipe" an engine note to the outside via the sound system. You could have so many options from Ferrari V12s, big block Hemi, locomotive or even music... Trampled under foot...little deuce coupe...the possibilities are endless. Would not be hard to tie the particular sound into the driving mode selected and potentiometer position.

7msynthetic - 5/16/2016 11:43:58 AM

+1 Boost

Cross out the word "KILLER" to your title please. Much appreciated.