Tesla’s Model S P85D is so powerful, this Evo X self-destructs before the race even begins

By Andrew Hard Published May 7, 2015

500+HP Mitsubishi EVO breaks during race against 691HP Tesla Model S P85D

Tesla’s wicked, 691-horsepower Model S P85D is perhaps the darling child of the Internet, lighting up the YouTubes on frequent occasion with its high-profile drag races.

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In recent memory, we’ve see the silent Tesla take on a Ferrari 550, Lamborghini Aventador, and the ever-popular Dodge Challenger Hellcat with varied success.

For its latest race, the P85D turned its crosshairs to a new target: a heavily modified Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X.

The Evo may be retiring soon, but its all-wheel drive traction and boosted 2.0-liter powerplant will forever go down in the annals of tuner car history. The Lancer’s turbo four is famous for squeezing out unnaturally high power numbers, with outputs regularly surging past the 500 hp mark.

And that’s exactly what the Tesla is up against in this race, however things go wrong for the Evo right from the beginning.

In a video posted by Drag Times, the same source that brought us the ‘Insane Mode’ reaction video and the P85D’s highly-anticipated Hellcat rematch, you can see the Evo bog down right at the beginning as a result of some all-electric hex from the Model S.

In reality, it was a transmission issue that prevented the Mitsubishi from setting off, mostly likely due to holding the engine at its limiter and dumping the clutch repeatedly. Or it self-destructed to avoid humiliation, you decide.

Still, watching the dual motor Tesla rocket away from a stop is always a sight to behold. With 864 pound-feet of torque on tap, 0 to 60 mph takes almost no effort at all.

We’ll keep you posted if the two vehicles rematch down the line, but it’s fair to say this is a bad omen for the Evo.

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Former Digital Trends Contributor

Andrew first started writing in middle school and hasn't put the pen down since. Whether it's technology, music, sports, or…

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