STOCK · SIMULATED RESULTS
2020 Ford Mustang vs 2024 Tesla Model 3
Exact configurations. Separate winners at each distance.
1/4 mile
Tesla Model 3 wins10.994 s · 1.106 s ahead · 57.9 m gap
1 km
Tesla Model 3 wins20.788 s · 1.193 s ahead · 77.4 m gap
Simulated estimates, not instrumented tests. Stock inputs · standing start · dry, level baseline · 120 Hz.
| Metric | 2020 Ford Mustang | 2024 Tesla Model 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Trim | GT Fastback · 5.0L V8 · 10AT RWD (460 HP) | Performance · Dual Motor AWD (510 HP) |
| Drive / transmission | RWD · 10-SPEED AUTO | AWD · DIRECT DRIVE |
| Power | 460 hp · 343 kW | 510 hp · 380 kW |
| Torque | 569 Nm | 751 Nm |
| Vehicle mass | 1747 kg | 1835 kg |
| 1/4 mile | 12.100 s | 10.994 s |
| 1/4 mile trap speed | 193.1 km/h | 201.1 km/h |
| 1 km | 21.981 s | 20.788 s |
| 1 km trap speed | 235.3 km/h | 233.2 km/h |
| 0–60 mph | 3.799 s | 2.793 s |
| 0–100 km/h | 4.007 s | 2.929 s |
| 0–150 km/h | 7.607 s | 5.617 s |
| 0–200 km/h | 13.015 s | 10.855 s |
| 0–250 km/h | Not reached | Not reached |
| 0–300 km/h | Not reached | Not reached |
| 100–200 km/h interval | 9.008 s | 7.927 s |
| 60–130 mph interval | 10.941 s | 9.578 s |
| Stock top-speed reference | 251.0 km/h | 264.0 km/h |
| Maximum speed within 1 km | 235.3 km/h | 233.2 km/h |
“Not reached” means within this 1 km run. Rolling intervals are measured within the standing-start run. Gap is measured between timing reference points, not bumpers.
Sources & assumptions
2020 Ford Mustang
Ford Motor Company + Car and Driver manufacturer-verified correction + Open Vehicle Specs
- Source-declared exact fields
- rated power, rated torque, curb weight, dimensions, transmission, drivetrain, 0–60 mph reference, quarter-mile reference, top-speed reference, gear ratios, final-drive ratio, model-year and trim identity, SAE rated power, engine displacement, body style, instrumented curb weight, instrumented 0–60 mph reference, instrumented quarter-mile reference, quarter-mile trap speed, stock top-speed ceiling
- Supplemental fields
- Not specified
- Estimated inputs
- launch traction, drag coefficient, 0–100 km/h reference
- 1/4 mile calibration
- Car and Driver instrumented stock-vehicle test
- 1 km calibration
- unanchored physics estimate
- Top-speed reference basis
- Car and Driver observed governor-limited stock ceiling
- Rider / added load
- No additional passenger, payload or fuel mass beyond the configured vehicle mass.
2024 Tesla Model 3
Tesla + Car and Driver · manually verified
- Source-declared exact fields
- model years, body style, combined peak power, combined torque, curb weight, dimensions, all-wheel drivetrain, direct-drive transmission, 0–60 mph reference, quarter-mile reference, quarter-mile trap speed, top-speed reference, front and rear tyre sizes, drag coefficient
- Supplemental fields
- Not specified
- Estimated inputs
- launch traction, frontal area, effective motor reduction ratio
- 1/4 mile calibration
- Car and Driver instrumented stock-vehicle test; 1-foot rollout subtracted
- 1 km calibration
- unanchored physics estimate
- Top-speed reference basis
- instrumented vehicle governor limit
- Rider / added load
- No additional passenger, payload or fuel mass beyond the configured vehicle mass.
How to cite this result
DragGap simulated stock-vehicle comparison, 2026-08-31. Include the exact year, trim and drivetrain.
v1-6be2c1211ea001df · physics-217619152ac007b7
Limitations and reproducibility
- Only acceleration, stock configuration and the documented simulation conditions are covered. No price, reliability, fuel-cost or handling verdict is inferred.
- Race results are model estimates even when calibration anchors come from instrumented tests. Source fields and estimated inputs are listed per vehicle.
- Null speed gates mean not reached during this 1 km run. Rolling intervals are differences within this standing-start run.
- The configured stock top-speed ceiling and the maximum speed achieved within 1 km are different values.
- A replay uses these frozen stock inputs with the currently deployed engine. The versioned citation result remains fixed if the engine later changes.
- Canonical vehicle-ID order fixes lane assignment. Each lane retains the production simulator’s slight throttle variation; reversing the query does not change this published comparison.