Just about everyone knows that weight is the main enemy of performance, but the extra fat can be partially offset by heaps of horsepower and instant torque. The Porsche Taycan Turbo S is a prime example of how a hefty EV can still be tremendously fast and play in the big leagues with fully fledged sports cars. The folks over at Motorsport Magazine wanted to show off the electric sedan’s straight-line acceleration chops in a drag race against two other high-end cars from the Volkswagen Group.
The Taycan Turbo S was pitted against another Porsche, this time around packing a combustion engine as they chose the latest 911 in the range-topping Turbo S specification. The most practical car of the three was an Audi RS6 Avant, a super wagon with a big V8 and a huge cargo area. Needless to say, the Taycan was the heaviest of the lot, weighing in at 5,179 pounds (2,349 kilograms) or 309 lbs (140 kg) more than the RS6. Of the three, the 911 was the lightest, tipping the scales at only 3,648 lbs (1,655 kg).
The drag race took place over the course of 1 kilometer (0.6 miles) and the two Porsche models were neck and neck in the beginning. However, the Taycan’s much higher curb weight reared its ugly head later in the drag race and it wasn’t able to keep up the pace with the two-door sports car. The 911 Turbo S crossed the finish line in 18.9 seconds, making it 0.8 seconds faster than the Taycan. As for the RS6, it had to settle for third place, finishing the drag race in 21.3 seconds.
Perhaps the most impressive fact is the 911 Turbo S’ amazing acceleration, hitting 286 km/h (178 mph) near the end of the drag race. The Taycan’s performance is nothing to sneeze at either given the massive weight penalty and the fact it’s a more practical four-door sedan, making it far more useable in day-to-day use.
Even though it came last, we’re certain the RS6 Avant remains the most desirable of the trio for some people. It’s perhaps the best all-in-one car available from the VW Group by offering the complete package without having to make any compromises, and it’s by far the cheapest here. It starts at $109,000 whereas the 911 Turbo S costs nearly twice as much, kicking off at $203,500. The Taycan Turbo S is positioned between the two combustion-engined cars, priced from $185,000.
Source: Motorsport Magazine / YouTube