Auto Express Rigs Test Between Tesla Model S P85D and Porsche Panamera Turbo

[32no]

Tesla Model S P85D vs Porsche Panamera Turbo S drag race - YouTube

Very clearly rigged. I don't care what car you put next to the Tesla Model S, the Model S should always have the first jump, even if it lasts a fraction of a second. Also, notice they conveniently change angles as both cars are accelerating. Finally, the braking seems a bit exaggerated as well. What was portrayed was the Model S not braking for a huge amount of tarmac, yet the numbers showed a difference of 8 meters in braking for the cars, so the frame with the fully stopped Model S should have the Porsche Panamera right behind it, but it shows the Porsche as a long way away. Auto Express doesn't know what it got itself into.

 

[JST]

Tesla Model S P85D vs Porsche Panamera Turbo S drag race - YouTube

Very clearly rigged. I don't care what car you put next to the Tesla Model S, the Model S should always have the first jump, even if it lasts a fraction of a second. Also, notice they conveniently change angles as both cars are accelerating. Finally, the braking seems a bit exaggerated as well. What was portrayed was the Model S not braking for a huge amount of tarmac, yet the numbers showed a difference of 8 meters in braking for the cars, so the frame with the fully stopped Model S should have the Porsche Panamera right behind it, but it shows the Porsche as a long way away. Auto Express doesn't know what it got itself into.

Have you ridden in a Panamera Turbo using launch control? It is a really violent experience; it feels like getting hit from behind by a truck.

I haven't driven or even ridden in the Panamera Turbo back-to-back with the P85D, but I have no trouble believing that (using launch control) the Panamera is just as quick or quicker off the line than the Tesla.

The Tesla's instant torque is amazing, but there's no reason to think it will always be faster off the line than every other car out there.

 

[efusco]

Terrible launch for the Tesla...not sure what they were doing there, but clearly a rematch is in order. Perhaps it wasn't fully charged?
Not surprised that the Porsche could stop faster.

 

[30seconds]

Have you ridden in a Panamera Turbo using launch control? It is a really violent experience; it feels like getting hit from behind by a truck.

I haven't driven or even ridden in the Panamera Turbo back-to-back with the P85D, but I have no trouble believing that (using launch control) the Panamera is just as quick or quicker off the line than the Tesla.

The Tesla's instant torque is amazing, but there's no reason to think it will always be faster off the line than every other car out there.

Plus the 0-60 time on the Tesla was 3.6 as shown on the screen

 

[32no]

Plus the 0-60 time on the Tesla was 3.6 as shown on the screen

If you're on a dry road, the Model S acceleration should be relatively consistent. Within 0.2 seconds of 3.1 seconds. But this test shows the Model S being a whole half a second slower. Anyway, look at any tested 0-60 time of both cars at every other review site. The P85D will always be around 3.1 seconds, while the Porsche Panamera Turbo will be in the upper 3 seconds even with launch control.

 

[vgrinshpun]

According to the Car and Driver magazine, P85D beats Panamera Turbo S in all acceleration metrics, by a good margin. The "test" was rigged.

Let's not even mention that Road and Track tested P85D in January, *before* the software update which lowered 0 to 60mph time to 3.1.

If Panamera Turbo S is 0.4 sec slower than P85D 0 to 60, there is no way it is faster than P85D off-line.

	Panamera Turbo S	P85D
0 to 60 mph	3.5	3.2
0 to 100 mph	8.2	7.6
1/4 mile	11.7	11.4

http://www.caranddriver.com/porsche/panamera-turbo-turbo-s

http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/2015-tesla-model-s-p85d-first-drive-review

 

[Insane]

Looks like he did not slam on the accelerator. It took off gradually. Porsche bribed him.

 

[30seconds]

how about the P85D taking the Porsche 918 off the line (and then getting toasted)

Porsche 918 Spyder plug-in hybrid - Page 2

 

[Grendal]

Maybe they had already done a number of high speed runs before the actual race? It seems like some limitation was happening. That limitation could also just be the driver.

 

[gg_got_a_tesla]

I wonder if he kept his foot on the brake pedal rather than on the accelerator pedal at launch time, with Creep turned off. That may explain the difference (his reaction time to switch pedals).

 

[brianman]

Why is the left blinker on at the beginning of the race?

 

[32no]

Why is the left blinker on at the beginning of the race?

I think both cars had their emergency blinkers on at the beginning of the race for whatever reason.

Also, the clips are very clearly edited and snipped. I mean, just look at how the blinkers are on at one angle, and not on in another angle milliseconds later. Also, the Model S is portrayed as stopping MULTIPLE CAR LENGTHS ahead of the Porsche Panamera, yet the braking distance was only 7.3 meters. The Panamera is 5 meters long by the way. Go figure.

 

[smac]

Also, the Model S is portrayed as stopping MULTIPLE CAR LENGTHS ahead of the Porsche Panamera, yet the braking distance was only 7.3 meters. The Panamera is 5 meters long by the way. Go figure.

Probably because they got to 100 faster in the Porsche. It was a 0-100-0 race, so some was made up in the braking, and some in the acceleration.

Overall I agree, they didn't test the Tesla under optimum conditions, and to be honest it makes the journalism look biased. If they really wanted to humiliate the Tesla against the Porsche they'd just run some laps around a track, and the Tesla wouldn't have seen which way the Porsche went.

I can believe, if the Tesla was low-ish on charge, then the Porsche would win (and if the Porsche was low on fuel it would have another advantage). The Tesla very well may have been "heat soaked" if they had been driving it hard before the test. (Again something the Porsche wouldn't suffer with nearly so badly).

So in the real world where you may have been driving the Tesla around a bit before you pull up next to the Porsche at a set of lights and fancy your chances, then this is probably what would happen. Unfortunately this isn't what was stated in the article, so it does come across biased.

TBH though it's all pub bragging rights really. Out on the road you have to be a bit of an idiot to use launch control away from a set of lights in any ICE, if a policeman saw you, you'd get pulled over, and even if you avoid this you'll draw loads of unwanted attention and basically look a nob.

So in real world, on real roads, the Tesla would be quicker. (You can also pick one up miles cheaper than the Porsche too, which will be a depreciation disaster to boot.)

 

[bp1000]

how about the P85D taking the Porsche 918 off the line (and then getting toasted)

Porsche 918 Spyder plug-in hybrid - Page 2

The Germans did it : Video: Model S P85D vs. 918 Spyder (2015) - autobild.de

Skip to 3:10 for the drag.

Lets be realistic here. Those german dudes have created arguably the best most advanced road going "super/hyper" car. Incredible.

The P85D beats it to 60 but then the tesla gets beasted!

I know the 918 is in a completely different league for high speed agility and performance but for a relatively unknown car maker to challenge and beat it in a simple and limited drag is pretty incredible.

But at the end of the day, 1 car is a family, practical car that is incredible fast, the other is a hardcore track car that can be used daily if you wish.

 

[brianman]

I think both cars had their emergency blinkers on at the beginning of the race for whatever reason.

Hazard button activates both blinkers, not just the left one. The video shows just the left one.

Edit:
Just looked again. Indeed, it's the hazards -- but only on the Tesla. Weird.

 

[qwertzy]

He said that there was a hesitation meaning he must of had his foot on the brake instead of kicking the accelerator.

 

[MartinAustin]

He said that there was a hesitation meaning he must of had his foot on the brake instead of kicking the accelerator.

Yeah I think the word "rigged" isn't quite a appropriate, more like "clown-infested."

It is simply astonishing to see any car beat the Tesla... since that shouldn't happen if the Tesla is being driven properly.

The energy readout shows that he had tried some drags before this. But the indications are he was using the brake. Was it something to do with holding it from creep mode? You can just turn creep mode off on level ground, and stomp the accelerator.

 

[3s-a-charm]

Looks like he did not slam on the accelerator. It took off gradually. Porsche bribed him.

I think he tried to "launch" the Tesla by left-foot braking while jamming the accelerator pedal. No need to do so... then there won't be any hesitation he experienced. Tesla should have won that battle.

 

[Mayhemm]

Not surprised that the Porsche could stop faster.

Isn't Model S rated at 108 feet for 60-0? (ie: the same as both Corvette Stingray and 911)

Wouldn't think the larger Porsche could match that.

 

[bp1000]

More evidence how auto express have now downgraded the rating they initially gave to the p85d, originally it was 5/5. Now its suddenly 4/5.

Internet achieve of the original review which has now been removed.

The original review singing its praises

Tesla’s P85D uses dual motor, four-wheel drive technology to deliver a supercar-smashing 682bhp in ‘Insane’ mode. Wow!

Verdict

5














The Tesla P85D is an all-electric car and that means it has one big flaw: the UK’s electric car charging network is still under-developed. But with four-wheel drive and 682bhp in ‘Insane mode’, the P85D is such an incredible feat of technology it’s impossible not to be amazed by it. The flagship Model S offers immense power, Mercedes-like levels of luxury, lots of space and the promise of more Tesla-dedicated ‘Supercharger’ charging points in the near future. The Tesla P85D really pushes the boundaries of electric car motoring and is arguably the first fully-electric car a petrolhead can get excited about without feeling guilty.



Tesla may be a small car company compared to the likes of Ford, Volkswagen or Toyota but it has big ideas. And one of those ideas of founder Elon Musk’s is to prove that electric cars can have supercar-rivaling performance and still deliver all the benefits of zero emissions motoring.
This is the latest product from that vision; the Tesla Model SP85D – an electric car that has 682bhp and can rocket to 60mph in 3.2 seconds. Supercar fans will notice the P85D is as quick to 60mph as a McLaren F1, a car which Musk stated was used as the benchmark when it came to fast acceleration times. And yet, the P85D has a theoretical range of 300 miles, seats five (or even seven if the two boot seats are specified) and has Mercedes-levels of luxury.
• Best electric cars to buy now
The secret to the P85D’s immense power lies with its dual motor technology. A 464bhp electric motor on the back axle powers the rear wheels while up front Tesla has added a smaller motor with 218bhp on the front axle to drive the front wheels.

Image 2 of 19

It makes the P85D four-wheel drive and capable of traveling on all road conditions including snow and ice – just like an Audi RS6. Tesla’s system can adjust the torque between all four wheels 100 times per second thanks to its electric powertrain, giving superb levels of grip.
Hop in, pull down the Mercedes-derived column gear change selector to ‘D’ and you’re good to go – there’s no need to start the car as carrying the key fob in your pocket both opens the doors and switches the ignition on. Touch the throttle and you’re thrown back in your seat with the only noise being a high-pitched whistle from the electric motors.
Once you’ve had enough of that, it’s time to experience the neck-snapping acceleration. A few prods on the tablet screen in the centre of the dash and the driver can change the ride height, control how severe the brake regeneration is and tweak a multitude of other functions. It’s also here where you can switch the P85D’s acceleration from ‘Sport’ to ‘Insane’ mode.

Image 3 of 19

Do that and you’re not only flung back into your seat but your neck snaps into the headrest as you ride on the twin electric motors’ full power. As you race to 60mph your body is put through 1g – such is the severity of the dual motors unleashing their arsenal.
The sensation is made all the more ‘insane’ by there being no engine noise to accompany it. While a Nissan GT-R can get to 60mph a few tenths quicker, that car’s wailing V6 and rapid-fire gearchanges make it very clear what’s happening. With the Tesla, though, there’s just an eerily quite cabin and uninterrupted acceleration courtesy of the single-speed gearbox.
Straight-line speed isn’t the Tesla’s only forte, though. Thanks to that four-wheel drive system that’s continually shuffling the power to whichever wheel that needs traction the most, the P85D handles well too. The car’s natural style is to stay flat through corners; carry too much speed into a bend and the front washes wide but it’s only natural for a car that weighs more than 2.2 tonnes. The steering is weighty – it can be made unnecessarily heavy in ‘Sport’ mode – and while it misses out on being the last word in precision, the P85D is a credible sports saloon.

Image 6 of 19

Once you’ve stopped behaving like you’re insane, the P85D switches from supercar-baiting into a luxury car. Inside the P85D stands out from the crowd thanks to some neat design touches like the swooping aluminum door handles and, of course, the 17-inch touch screen. That screen acts very much as the ‘heart’ of the car as it controls all functions with impressive ease.
Standard equipment includes 19-inch wheels, red brake calipers and alcantara headlining, but there are a whole host of optional packs and extra equipment that can be added. A premium pack which adds ambient lighting and leather is priced at £2,900, while two rear-facing seats in the boot (turning the P85D into a seven-seater) come in at £2,100.
The most interesting option is the Tech package for £3,500. It comes with Tesla’s Autopilot system that uses a forward-looking camera, radar and 360-degree ultrasonic sensors to monitor the road. Lane-changing technology that lets you tap the indicator stalk to make the car automatically move lanes and automatic parking that lets the Tesla will park itself will both appear soon via automatic software updates to the car.

Image 10 of 19

Tesla claims a range of 300 miles between fill-ups with overnight charging recommended. The company is rolling out more of its ‘Supercharger’ battery-replenishing stations across the UK that top up the batteries by more than 50 per cent in around 20 minutes. Tesla can also sell you a second onboard charger doubling the rate of charge for £1,250.
The P85D sits at the top of the Model S range and is priced at £79,080 after the £5,000 government grant. That’s nearly £14,000 more than the Tesla 85D dual-motor that still has 371bhp and gets to 60mph in 5.2 seconds, so potential buyers would have to value the extra grunt to justify the considerable price premium. That said, for those who want to brag they have the fastest-accelerating electric car in the world and have faith in the UK’s still-young charging infrastructure, the Tesla Model S P85D will be the very best car money can buy.