The world might be transitioning to electric cars.
But late-night burnouts and backstreet high speeds don't look like disappearing anytime soon.
Certainly not if the "Teslonda" is anything to go by.
The mutant 1981 Honda Accord uses the electric motor from a Tesla Model S and the battery pack from a Chevrolet Volt (sold Down Under as the now-cancelled Holden Volt).
American enthusiast publication Road & Track tracks creator Jim Belosic's bid to turn the dying Japanese sedan into a dragstrip weapon — without the oil-leaking challenges of fitting engines and gearboxes.
Instead of tuning and testing with exhausts, engine timing and air intakes, making an electric drivetrain work in an old body involved software and data.
“The Teslonda is proof that enthusiasts should embrace the electrified future — the whole experiment feels fresh and breakneck and exciting,” Road & Track reported.
Due to its relatively lightweight body, the Teslonda accelerates faster than a Lamborghini Huracan and Porsche 911 GT3, two heroes of the supercar world.
It’s claimed to reach 60mph (96km/h) in 2.43 seconds, a few tenths of a second quicker than the Ferrari 812 Superfast.
Road & Track's verdict: “The Teslonda is proof that enthusiasts should embrace the electrified future — the whole experiment feels fresh and breakneck and exciting."
Anyone who’s driven a Tesla will know they can accelerate with ferocity.
And manufacturers such as Porsche, McLaren, Ferrari and Lamborghini are all preparing upcoming cars that go faster courtesy of electric motors.
While batteries for long-range electric driving are expensive, electric motors are much simpler and cheaper than petrol engines, adding to their appeal for those who want a quick hit.