Watch ‘Top Gear’ race a Tesla Model S against a Mercedes-AMG

But that doesn't mean it's no longer fun to watch, and this video captures a quirk about EVs.

In this video, posted to Facebook, "Top Gear" brings to the start line a Tesla Model S P100D and a Mercedes-AMG E63S in a "super saloon showdown." There's little suspense about which car will win — the Model S, with its 791 pound-feet of torque, goes from 0 to 60 in just 2.7 seconds and assures it screams off the line, while the E63S, despite its 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8, trails with (a still impressive) 627 lb-ft, good for a 3.4-second 0-60 time. Still, it's interesting to see whether the Mercedes-AMG can catch up on the quarter-mile course.

Interestingly, the Tesla driver encounters difficulties getting the silent, all-electric Model S to switch on, while his companion sits comfortably in the E63S, its engine purring at the start line, as they await the flag. It suggests one potential chink in the EV armor.