The World's Quickest Cars: Lucid Air Sapphire v Bugatti Chiron v Tesla Plaid - Cammisa's Drag Race
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Published 2022-12-15
With a staggering quarter-mile performance of 9.1 seconds at 156 mph, this 1200+ horsepower 3-motor Air beat out the reigning champion, the triple-motor, 1020-hp Tesla Model S Plaid, which runs the 1/4-mile in 9.3 seconds at 152 mph.
The cars are "tied" at 2.1 seconds 0-60, though some trivia: the Lucid Air Sapphire gets to 60 mph 0.03 seconds before the Tesla Model S Plaid.
We weren't satisfied with just that race, so we also brought along the fastest-accelerating gas-powered production car, the Bugatti Chiron Pur Sport. This is the 1479-hp (1500-PS) Chiron with shortened gear ratios, grippy Michelin Cup 2R tires, a fixed rear wing, and weight-reduction measures.
Even despite these hyper-aggressive Michelins' distaste for cold tarmac, the Chiron ripped off a 2.3-second, four-wheel-burnout launch from 0-to-60 mph, and then continued on to a 9.3-second, 156-mph quarter-mile performance. That is a tenth quicker to 60 mph than the "regular" Chiron has managed, and a tenth quicker through the quarter, too. That's an internal-combustion production-car 1/4-mile record for the Chiron Pur Sport — and we suspect that, in warmer conditions, this Pur Sport would be even quicker!
That's not the case with the 210-hp Ducati Panigale V4 SP2, one of the quickest superbikes in the world. It had no traction issues as MotoAmerica Supersport champion rider Josh Herrin cracked the throttle wide open, dumped the dry clutch, and ripped off a stupefying 9.3-second, 157-mph run through the quarter-mile.
This beat our last outing with the same Panigale, when it handily dusted a 2023 C8 Corvette Z06. This time, Ducati softened the suspension and dropped the fork; Josh sacrificed the clutch and kept the wheelie at bay. It's safe to say this is the limit for the SP2 — except that Ducati offers a factory Akrapovic exhaust and tune that boost horsepower. We'd love to come back and try that again!
But for the moment, it's clear: among production cars with four wheels, the Lucid Air Sapphire is now the acceleration king, with the Chiron Pur Sport in second place. In one video, Tesla went from first to third.
May the fight continue.
This episode of Ultimate Drag Race Replay is brought to you by WeatherTech: www.weathertech.com/?utm_source=hagerty&utm_medium…
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0:00 Introducing Lucid Air Sapphire, Tesla Model S Plaid, Bugatti Chiron Pur Sport, and the Ducati Panigale V4 SP2
0:56 German 155-mph Autobahn Gentleman's Agreement - within 1/4 mile
1:29 Tesla Model S Plaid vs E39 M5
2:04 Lucid Air Sapphire Prototype
2:30 Bugatti Chiron Pur Sport
3:13 Main Event: Drag Race Sapphire vs Plaid vs Chiron!
3:55 Walkback: Sapphire Drag Race explanation
4:18 Why is Sapphire so much quicker than Air Dream Edition?
5:05 Tesla Plaid in Last Place
5:49 Bugatti Chiron Launch Control is violent
6:00 EV vs ICE traction control: The 1000-Hz advantage
7:07 Josh Herrin in the Ducati Panigale V4 SP2
7:35 Bonus Race: Ducati Panigale V4 SP2 vs Lucid Air Sapphire
8:24 The Ducati's quarter-mile-long wheelie
9:03 Overall Drag Race Results — Rimac & Bugatti join forces
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All Comments (21)
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Dude, the production quality of the video is amazing. The stop-motion to pronounce the Lucid as the winner in the first race is INSANE. Props to the editor(s)!
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I can’t wrap my head around how the edit pauses mid-race so flawlessly beyond literal time travel control!
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the chiron chasing them down is downright scary goddamn
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I work at a Lucid Motors factory here in Arizona and its so unreal watching and building these cars. When theyre driving by to go to the testing area, they sound like little space ships its SO cool! Absolute love seeing Lucid cars getting the love they deserve! Things are absolutely insane
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This is not only a drag race comparison, but also an insane level of vfx and videography. Enjoyed each second of it.
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You know what's cooler than the Lucid Air Sapphire? The editing on this video. Absolutely knocked it out of the park!
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3:46 The way the Chiron starts recovering ground to the Plaid is absolutely WILD
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Wow.... The most immersive drag race ever filmed anywhere, period... Now that's some top of the line Hollywood production quality right there, no cap.
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Doesn’t matter how many races I watch from you guys, that effect where you get out of the car at the finish line while the cars are still moving is one of the coolest editing techniques in existence!
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How Chiron starts to burnout with the four wheels at the start is looks insane.
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Now do it again with the Rimac Nevera and the Koenigsegg Gemera
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These races be having me on the edge of my seat!!! Robert Sanders is INCREDIBLE with the edits and sound choice!!! Just wow!!
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Graphics in this video are top notch. Benchmark setter for the reviewers and an amazing video for the viewers
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I am struggling to get my head round how insane the production value of this video is. It’s perfect. You guys have taken drag race journalism to new heights.
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I watch an enormous amount of automotive YouTube content but strangely don’t seem to have come across this channel before. Not only was the video content great, but the post-production FX are mind-boggling. This is Hollywood level. Wow.
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Finally, a drag race channel which has enough cameras and a drone camera. Really nice records guys, and sapphire's record is also spectacular!
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can we appreciate how mental this video production is, no matter what the energy kept going.
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The four-wheel burnout of the Chiron, the way the Lucid just disappears, the way the Chrion regains everything it lost to the Tesla by the line, and that motorcycle rider -- all of it is just INSANE. Low 9''s for everyone on a dusty racetrack... these things are all stupid stupid fast. I'm glad you could capture the drama for this incredible video!
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This quality of this video is A-M-A-Z-I-N-G! Very well done to the editors, they've done an phenomenal job! :)
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After seeing the lucid in a real world test that isn't JUST numbers, I'm starting to think electric cars might be a good future even without sound.
