Based purely on the numbers, Tesla claims that the Model S Performance will sprint from 0-60 in 2.4 seconds, while Porsche claims a 2.6 second 0-60 for the Taycan Turbo S. But Top Gear recently put the two cars up head to head, and found the Taycan was quicker in real-world testing by just a few fractions of a second. Since then people have been coming out of the woodwork to try to debunk the Top Gear testing, declaring it impossible that Porsche’s heavier (by 82 kilos) and less-powerful (by 12 horsepower) car could be quicker. Ah, but they’re forgetting about gearing.
Because Porsche’s Taycan has a two-speed transmission, while the Tesla has a single gear reduction, that allows Porsche to have more aggressive acceleration away from a stop with more gear ratio. I’m hardly a science man, but the facts speak for themselves. In the video above Jason Fenske talks us through the science of wheel torque and how it is applied to the road. Good stuff in this one, even if I don’t understand it all!
And if you need real world proof (despite its test being partially debunked) here is the Top Gear test you can watch.
Sure the Taycan is significantly more expensive than the Tesla, but be honest, do you really want a Tesla?