Since the world is shifting away from internal combustion engines (ICE) toward electric vehicles (EVs) today, it may seem like a new technology. That is usually why the public leans towards something because it is new and exciting. In this case, even though the future looks bright and full of thrills within the car industry, the technology has been around for a long time. It was never a prominent aspect of history because until now, the gravity of the situation was either ignored or not taken as scientifically proven. That is the state of the earth as carbon emissions continue to be pumped into the atmosphere, breaking down the protective layer that saves us all from literally frying. Thankfully, Tesla was there to push the world in the right direction, followed closely by other carmakers worldwide. Electric vehicles are here to stay, regardless of how consumers feel about them.
The one thing that this author knows is that even though being a huge fan of classic ICE muscle cars, there are simply some electric cars that would look much better sitting in the driveway. The crazy thing is that the old-school classic muscle cars that could reach 0 to 60 in six to seven seconds are slow compared to some of the EVs that can achieve the same speed in the blink of an eye, under three seconds, such as the Tesla Model X. Let's jump into the driver's seat of some of these fast, technologically filled electric vehicles to better understand why they would be better choices than the carbon emission-producing muscle cars of the past.
1 Porsche Taycan Turbo S
If things had been different, Porsche might have been the first carmaker to convert its line over to electric-driven. However, since it decided to turn Elan Musk down when he wanted an electric Porsche, it pushed a true entrepreneur into taking things into his own hands. Since then, Porsche has pushed out one of the quickest electric sports cars, such as the Porsche Taycan Turbo S. It has dual electric motors, one on each axle, to give the car an all-wheel drive system that can shoot from 0 to 60 in a matter of 2.6 seconds.
2 Tesla Model S Plaid
When Musk was turned away by Porsche, he vowed to create a company specializing in electric vehicles. Since Porsche was the company he was trying to compete with, it only makes sense that Tesla would build a high-performance version of some of its lineup to take market sales away from them. The Tesla Model S Plaid is one such car, sporting three motors on the vehicle for the first time. Two motors are located on the back and one on the front giving the car a combined power rating of 1,020 horsepower, pushing the car from a dead stop to 60 in 2.05 seconds. If that is not fast enough, check out the new 2023 version that can achieve the distance in under two seconds.
3 Lucid Air Grand Touring Performance
The 2022 Lucid Air Grand Touring Performance electric car is not just an average luxury car that can rocket down a straight track and reach 60 mph from a standstill in 2.7 seconds. It is a heavyweight contender for the best sports car on the planet. That may not be entirely true if comparing it to some of the current ICE models, but a driver that can judge without bias will say that the Lucid Air is far better than any other electric version on the market. It can accelerate so fast that coming out of corners is never a problem for it, and since it corners like it is on rails already, Lucid Motors has created a force to be reckoned with.
4 Audi RS E-Tron GT
The Audi RS e-tron GT may not be one of the quickest EVs on this list, but it is well worth mentioning because it is a luxury sedan that can play with some of the best old-school muscle cars and win. The Audi is based on the same platform as the Porsche, sharing several components but still unable to achieve the same speeds. Even so, the 2.9 seconds it takes the e-tron GT to reach 60 from 0 is still fast enough to take the breath away from any driver unaware of their available power. With the three motors (two on the back and one on the front), the Audi RS can reach up to 637 horsepower and achieve a top-end speed of 152 mph.
5 Mercedes AMG EQS 4MATIC+
As could be expected, anything that is produced by Mercedes will be filled with luxury and performance. AMG has been the sports sedan version of the lineup for as long as can be remembered, or at least back to the 1960s when AMG began building cars for the track. Those cars that dominated racetracks worldwide have since been transferred over to AMG cars designed for the streets. Those ICE vehicles have been some of the most popular luxury sports cars on the market, leading up to the 2023 Mercedes AMG EQS 4MATIC+, which is built with electric motors rather than internal combustion engine components. In fact, the car has two electric motors that can push out up to 751 horsepower and propel the Mercedes AMG from 0 to 60 in 3.4 seconds.
6 GMC Hummer EV Edition 1
It may blow some people away to learn that the 2022 GMC Hummer EV Edition 1 is on this list, but the fact is that this SUV can out-launch any classic muscle car on the roads today. The Hummer has three massive electric motors, giving the SUV an overall horsepower rating of 1000. The AWD system is designed for offroad use, just like its previous ICE versions, but since it is mass-produced for the public, it can travel through almost any terrain in any weather. Since SUV and Crossover sales are still going through the roof, the GMC Hummer may be one of the most sought-after EVs of all time, or at least until Jeep can make something to match.
7 Kia EV6 GT
Kia is not especially known for its performance-based car lineup, except for maybe the Kia Stinger, so it is a little shocking when it is said that the 2023 Kia EV6 GT can hang with the big dogs. With the push of a button on the steering wheel, the one that says GT, the car can produce up to 576 horsepower and launch it to 60 from 0 in 3.2 seconds. Even though the EV6 GT is confused with some of the hatchback styles of today, it is actually marketed as an SUV, so it can be used on the track when a little excitement is needed, or it can be loaded up and used as an everyday driver that is relied upon to get the kids to school, and the adults to work.
8 Polestar 2
The 2023 Polestar EV is designed and built as a subsidiary of Volvo, which makes sense why the base-level car is designed more for family driving than fun times. The front-wheel drive version is the one that gives that task a new meaning, but if the owner really wants to put some excitement in their lives, the AWD version is the way to go. It has an electric motor on each axle, giving instant torque and power for better launching, handling, and versatility. The two motors can push up to 469 horsepower and shoot the car down the track from 0 to 60 in 3.9 seconds. Not bad for a car brand that has made its name as one of the safest family cars offered at an affordable price.
9 Jaguar I-Pace
The Jaguar I-Pace SUV is not one of the fastest cars on the list, but it can still take on any classic muscle car on or off the street. Like many other electric vehicles on this list, the I-Pace comes with two motors, one on the front and one on the back. This creates an AWD system that can take on any climate, weather, and most types of terrain. The combined output for both engines ranges right around 394 horsepower, which may be why it can only achieve 60 from a standstill in 4.5 seconds. But it is a Jaguar, so all the amenities expected from a car they build are included in this quick family-built SUV.
10 Ford Mustang Mach-E GT
The Ford Mustang is one of the most iconic muscle cars to ever grace the Earth. Strangely enough, when Ford created the first electric version of the car, they went away from the traditional look and created an SUV that is a Mustang at heart but an SUV by looks. It has a primary electric motor on the back axle that combines with the secondary motor on the front axle, giving a combined power rating of up to 480 horsepower. The 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E GT is one of the few American models that can stand toe-to-toe with the old classic muscle cars, but as most people know, there are more to come in the upcoming years, so Ford will have to stay on its toes to keep its share of the electric muscle car market.