Image: DragTimes on YouTube
After an unsuccessful attempt last year, DragTimes‘s Brooks was finally able to pit the Tesla Model S Performance against the Porsche Taycan Turbo S in an all-out 1/4 mile drag race on an actual drag strip, with the results showcased in a new YouTube video.
Porsche’s Taycan Turbo S features two electric motors with an output of 750HP, a unique 2-speed transmission, the most sports car-like design of any EV, and weighs 5,300 pounds, all for a base price of $218,000 USD.
Tesla’s Model S Performance, with a base price of only $110,000 USD, has a dual electric motor setup, weighs 4,900 pounds, and had its motor output upped to 825HP and 1,300Nm of torque following the Cheetah Stance update.
For the sake of fairness, both electric cars were towed to the track at 100% battery capacity, where they engaged in a best-two-out-of-three set of drag races.
The Taycan Turbo S (marginally) pulled ahead in two out of the three races, with the Tesla winning one when its driver ran a red light and got a 0.2 second head start.
Both cars consistently went 0-60 MPH in under 2.6 seconds, and the Taycan Turbo S had the fastest 1/4 mile finish at 10.39 seconds — the fastest recorded for the Porsche.
Even with Cheetah Mode enabled on the Model S, the Taycan Turbo simply smokes the Tesla when its two-speed transmission kicks in.
Accounting for differences in reaction time, top end to the quarter mile, there was a maximum difference of one car’s length between the Porsche and the Tesla from start to finish, so the bout was incredibly close.
The Taycan also edges out the Model S in terms of endurance, providing consistent performance as its battery is depleted whereas the Tesla’s performance decreases as its battery is drained. But isn’t that the least you would expect with a $108,000 USD difference in price?
The Porsche also has a much nicer and more premium-feeling interior, which is a clear plus point for many.
However, that being said, the Tesla Model S Performance still holds a lot over the luxury electric sports car — a much lower price point, access to Tesla’s vast Supercharger network (Porsche has certainly ran into some problems there), and Tesla’s proprietary Autopilot system.
A previous contest between the Model S Performance and the Taycan Turbo S back in August, also on a drag strip, had revealed similar results. Now, let’s wait for the next round when the Model S Plaid comes to fruition.
