Top Gear sets up the ultimate drag race: Porsche Taycan vs. Tesla Model S
At last someone like Top Gear arranges something that’s really fun to watch, it’s not just a Tesla Model S P100D vs. Porsche Taycan Turbo S quarter-mile drag race, it is the war for pride between two loyal fan-bases — the Porsche vs. the Tesla community.
The last time we saw the first-ever drag race between the Taycan and Model S Performance by a German auto show raised may eyebrows, but this time the race is much more transparent.
Update: So much for the transparency, Top Gear is caught red-handed downplaying Tesla
Tesla Model S P100D still reigns as the quickest production car ever in the 0-60 mph arena (manufacturer specs) — but has now been faced by a worthy challenger, Taycan Turbo S with each passing drag race between the two is proving to be a superior sports car in this department.
As soon as the Porsche Taycan launched last month, Tesla CEO Elon Musk rushed to unleash the Tri-Motor Model S Plaid version, perhaps it was the need of the time, now the Model S Plaid prototypes are visiting the Nurburgring Race Track every month in a quest to beat the Porsche Taycan lap time record for a 4-door electric car.
But according to Porsche, the Nurburgring record was set by the Taycan Turbo, not the flagship Taycan Turbo S, so much remains to been seen yet!
Tesla Model S P100D vs. Porsche Taycan Turbo S – Performanc Specs Summary
| Options | Tesla Model S P100D | Porsche Taycan Turbo S |
|---|---|---|
| Battery-Pack | 100 kWh Performance Version | 93.4 kWh |
| Drivetrain | Dual Motor Performance AWD | Dual Motor, All Wheel Drive |
| 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) | 2.5 sec with Ludicrous Mode | 2.6 sec with launch control |
| Top speed | 155 mph (250 km/h) Software limited | 161 mph (259 km/h) |
| Wheels/Tires | 21" Sonic Carbon Twin Turbine Wheels ($4,500) with Goodyear tires | 21" Mission-E Design Wheels |
| Brakes | Tesla performance brakes | Porsche Ceramic Composite Brakes (PCCB) |
| Launch control | Ludicrous Mode | Launch Control |
| Horsepower | 754 hp with ludicrous mode | 616 hp, 750 hp with launch control |
| Torque | 687 lb-ft | 774 lb-ft |
| Curb weight | 4,960 lb (2,250 kg) | 5,121 lb (2,322 kg) |
The Results
Porsche Taycan Turbo S finished the 1/4 mile drag race in 10.69 secs @ 131.6 mph (211.7 km/h) vs. the Tesla Model S crossing the finishing line in 11.08 secs @ 124.0 mph (199.5 km/h) — the Taycan also topped the 0-60 mph (2.61 vs. 2.68 secs) and 0-100 mph (6.12 vs. 6.46 secs) times in this drag stretch.
Although the Tesla Model S P100D was quicker off the starting line but the Taycan Turbo S caught up later in the race and maintained the lead, a recent acceleration comparison showed that the Taycan is able to accelerate to top speed a lot faster than the Model S.
Although these drag races have little relevance to an electric car owner’s daily routine, it surely is about bragging rights, who reigns supreme on the race tracks, in a straight line or circuits with corkscrews and difficult turns.
Hopefully, Tesla Model S Plaid that is intended to go to production late next year, brings the racing crown back to Tesla with better thermal management, drivetrain and more torque, maybe even torque vectoring.
It’s a start. We expect these track times to be beaten by the actual production 7 seat Model S Plaid variant that goes into production around Oct/Nov next year.
— Treelon (@elonmusk) September 17, 2019
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