0-60 head-to-head · Sourced figures
Is the Tesla Model S Plaid faster than a Lucid Air Sapphire?
No. The 2024 Air Sapphire is quicker, hitting 60 mph in 1.89 s vs 1.99 s (1-ft rollout) for the 2021 Model S Plaid (manufacturer figures), and it's quicker through the quarter mile too (8.95 s vs 9.23 s).
By CarWhere Research · Figures checked 2026-11-14 · Every number links to its source · How we compare
Model S Plaid 0-60
1.99 s
Tesla-claimed
Air Sapphire 0-60
1.89 s
Lucid-claimed
Model S Plaid power
1,020 hp
AWD
Air Sapphire power
1,234 hp
AWD
Model S Plaid vs Air Sapphire: specs side by side
Manufacturer figures first; a named instrumented test only where the automaker publishes none (or as context). Bracketed numbers link to the source.
| 2021 Tesla Model S Plaid | 2024 Lucid Air Sapphire | |
|---|---|---|
| Model years | 2021–present | 2024–present |
| Figures quoted for | 2021 model year | 2024 model year |
| Powertrain | Tri-motor electric, single-speed | Tri-motor electric, single-speed |
| Drive | AWD | AWD |
| Body | sedan | sedan |
| Horsepower | 1,020 hp[1] | 1,234 hp[2] |
| Torque | — | 1,430 lb-ft[2] |
| Curb weight | — | — |
| Pounds per hp | — | — |
| 0-60 mph (manufacturer) | 1.99 s[1]Tesla-claimed · with 1-ft rollout subtracted | 1.89 s[2]Lucid-claimed |
| 0-60 mph (instrumented test) | Not published | Not published |
| Quarter mile | 9.23 s @ 155 mph[1]Tesla-claimed | 8.95 s @ 158 mph[2]Lucid-claimed |
| Top speed | 200 mph[1]Tesla-claimed | 205 mph[2]Lucid-claimed |
| Launch MSRP | $129,990[3]2021 base MSRP · excl. $1,200 destination; raised from about $119,990 days before launch | $249,000[2]2024 base MSRP · 'fully equipped before tax, title, registration and other fees' |
Which is quicker?
0-60 mph
The Air Sapphire is quicker to 60 mph by 0.1 s: 1.89 s vs 1.99 s (manufacturer figures). One of these times excludes the first foot of travel (a "1-ft rollout", the drag-strip convention), which makes it look quicker than a standing-start time.
Quarter mile
The Air Sapphire is quicker through the quarter mile: 8.95 s vs 9.23 s (manufacturer figures).
Top speed
The Air Sapphire has the higher top speed: 205 mph vs 200 mph.
Price new and what buyers paid
- Tesla Model S Plaid: launched at $129,990 (2021 base MSRP).
- Lucid Air Sapphire: launched at $249,000 (2024 base MSRP).
Deal medians are model-level discounts from approved, deduplicated CarWhere buyer deal sheets (snapshot 2026-11-08), shown only with 5+ deals. More on what people paid.
How we compare
We compare like with like: two automaker claims when both exist, otherwise two instrumented tests, and we say so when we have to mix them. Where a source lists several configurations, we lead with the quickest one it states (and name it). Acceleration times depend on surface, temperature, tires, fuel and launch technique, so a gap of 0.1 s is within the noise.
No figure here is simulated or estimated. Blank cells mean no automaker figure and no named instrumented test we could cite. Figures are for the model year shown; later updates can change them.
More on these cars
More head-to-heads
FAQ
Is the Tesla Model S Plaid faster than a Lucid Air Sapphire?
No — the 2024 Air Sapphire is quicker, hitting 60 mph in 1.89 s vs 1.99 s (1-ft rollout) for the 2021 Model S Plaid (manufacturer figures), and it's quicker through the quarter mile too (8.95 s vs 9.23 s).
What is the 0-60 time of the Tesla Model S Plaid?
1.99 seconds (Tesla-claimed, with 1-ft rollout subtracted) for the 2021 model year, from 1,020 hp.
What is the 0-60 time of the Lucid Air Sapphire?
1.89 seconds (Lucid-claimed) for the 2024 model year, from 1,234 hp.
Which has the higher top speed, the Model S Plaid or the Air Sapphire?
The Air Sapphire has the higher top speed: 205 mph vs 200 mph.
Which costs more new, the Model S Plaid or the Air Sapphire?
At launch, the 2021 Model S Plaid started at $129,990 and the 2024 Air Sapphire at $249,000 (base MSRP before destination and options).
Sources
Automaker press releases and spec sheets first; instrumented tests are credited to the publication that ran them.
- The Drive, “1,020-HP 2021 Tesla Model S Plaid Revealed: Here's What You Need to Know”, 2021-06-11.
- Final production specs: Lucid Air Sapphire — Lucid Motors, 2023-08-08. Accessed 2026-11-14.
- InsideEVs, “Tesla Model S Plaid Price Increases Just Ahead Of Market Launch”, 2021-06-10.