Is A Cybertruck Faster Than A Hellcat?

Because of its unique design, powerplant, and performance, the Tesla Cybertruck is a substantial advancement for pickup trucks. By integrating high-tech features with the traditional pickup strengths of cargo capacity and heavy-duty capability, the Cybertruck sold well on its release, and received good reviews. Like the other Tesla cars, the Cybertruck is also known for its speed and acceleration, owing to its powerful electric motors and advanced drivetrain. As a fast truck, Cybertruck speed comparisons are expected, including pitting it against the Dodge Hellcat, a high-performance variant of several Dodge vehicles. But regardless of which Hellcat it comes against, the Cybertruck has a slower top speed. 

The performance specs of the long-range version of Cybertruck include 845 horsepower, giving 11,000 pounds of towing capacity, 112 mph top speed, and a zero-to-sixty time of 6.2 seconds. The Hellcat trim is available for the Challenger, Charger,and, the Dodge Durango. In contrast, the performance stats for the Hellcats are as follows: the original Challenger Hellcat released in 2015 came with a V8 engine rated at 707 horsepower, 199 mph top speed, and 3.6 seconds as its zero to sixty time. 

Next is the Charger Hellcat, which had its last production year in 2023, and its final version, called the Redeye, sported a V8 that gave 797 horsepower, a top speed of 203 mph, and a 3.5-second zero-to-sixty time. Nonetheless, because both the Charger and Challenger are cars, the Hellcat Durango SUV could be a closer match for the Cybertruck. First introduced in 2021, the Durango Hellcat version is a full-sized SUV powered by a 6.2-liter V8, churning out 710 horsepower, giving it a 180 mph top speed, and a zero-to-sixty time of 3.5 seconds. 

As seen from the performance data for the three Hellcats, the standard Cybertruck loses out on both acceleration times and top speeds. There is, however, a higher-trim, more powerful version of the Cybertruck called the Cyberbeast that has better specifications. Launched together with the all-wheel-drive and long-range trims, the Cyberbeast features a tri-motor design, which bumps its horsepower rating to 845, which is 245 more horsepower than the standard version. This then gives the truck 11,000 pounds of towing capacity, a 2.6-second zero-to-sixty acceleration time, and a top speed of 130 mph. 

These improved performance figures of the Cyberbeast come at a cost, because the Cyberbeast range is only 320 miles, 40 miles less than the entry-level version, and is $20,000 more expensive than the mid-tier all-wheel-drive model. With its 2.6-second zero-to-sixty time, the Cyberbeast is quicker than all the Hellcat models, but has a slower top speed. What's important to keep in mind is that there is a difference between speed and acceleration, because speed is how fast a vehicle is moving, while acceleration is how quickly the vehicle can speed up. 

Within its model lineup, Tesla actually has a car that can match all Hellcat models. Released in 2020, the high-performance Tesla Model S Plaid will out-accelerate and keep pace with any Hellcat without any modifications needed. With a zero-to-sixty time of 1.99 seconds and a top speed of 200 mph, it may be 3 mph slower than the fastest Hellcat Charger, but is 1.5 seconds quicker. As a pickup truck, the Cybertruck is slow compared to special variant cars, but when measured against other trucks, the Cybertruck is both the fastest and the quickest.