The Porsche Taycan Turbo S is One for the Record Books: There’s No Doubt About it
You knew the Porsche Taycan Turbo S was fast. But did you know this EV is one of the fastest cars in the world – faster than most gasoline-powered cars.
Not only does it hold the Guiness Book of World Records time for fastest indoor speed of any type of vehicle but some argue that it’s faster than any Tesla model on the market. (It’s a controversial claim but it sure is a close call).
The Taycan Turbo S churns out a maximum of 750 hp. It has four wheel drive to maximize grip. It also has powerful carbon ceramic brakes and the ability to accelerate from zero to 60 mph in just 2.6 seconds. (Though some test drives have shown 2.4 seconds). That’s fast.
The Taycan’s world indoor speed record was set at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, Louisiana.
“I didn’t really appreciate the scale of the record attempt until my first exploratory run. The surface is so unpredictable, so slick, that you have to have complete trust in your car. It truly was like ice – and you’re accelerating flat out, facing a really hard wall at the end. Suddenly, even in a massive space like the one we had, it seems very small,” driver Leh Keen told Porsche after his record attempt. “I could feel the Taycan’s systems figuring it out, working so hard to keep me heading straight – it was such an impressive feat. To accelerate so hard on such an erratic surface was incredible.”
In the end Keen accelerated the Porsche Taycan to 102.6 mph inside an exhibition hall in New Orleans, Louisiana. In doing so, he set the world record for the fastest speed driven by a vehicle inside an enclosed building.
Until recently the Guinness World Records title for the fastest speed by a vehicle indoors was just 86 mph. The rules – strictly enforced by Guinness World Records – are not easy ones. Leh had to start his record attempt – and finish it – at a standstill. While staying within the space of the building.
There could be no run up, no safety net and no doors open and therefore no escape route. And that’s why the record has stood at 86 mph for the last seven years.
The Porsche Taycan can go from zero to 60 mph in 2.4 seconds. The Taycan is the first generation EV and comes with an 800-volt electrical system and a two-speed transmission. It has a very fast recharge time and superb acceleration, respectively.
A recent head-to-head battle mentioned Top Gear put the Taycan on top in the speed category. “The two cars were extremely close from zero to 60, with the Taycan prevailing at 2.61 seconds to the Tesla’s 2.68,” according to blogger Steven Loveday, adding that the finding was controversial.
“As it turns out, the Taycan’s transmission situation appears to give it the edge here. However, until we get both cars on the same track at the same time with comparable tires, multiple runs, driver switches, etc., we may as well call it a draw, though we’re confident many people will be very upset by that assumption.”
To recap, Loveday’s analysis: The Porsche Taycan Turbo S has a claimed 0-60 of 2.6 seconds, and a top speed of 161 mph. The Tesla Model S Performance has a claimed 0-60 of 2.4 seconds, and a top speed of 163 mph. But when you look at the two vehicles drivetrains, you’ll find the Porsche might actually have an advantage as a result of the transmission.
Here’s why:
- The Taycan has two gears for the rear axle, and a single gear for the front axle.
- The rear gear ratios are 15.563 for first, and 8.05 for second.
- The front axle also has a gear ratio of 8.05:1.
- If there’s an EV-related record, Porsche has probably thought about breaking it with the Taycan—or already set it. So far it is the fastest four-door EV around the Nurburgring track. In the Turbo S trim it’s also the fastest EV on the Road Atlanta track.
- And, as mentioned above, it’s the fastest car in the world when it comes to indoors.
According to Motor Trend the floors in the NOCC are polished concrete, and that makes them much more slippery than normal road surfaces. So, the Taycan’s tires were heated for a little extra grip. Also, this Taycan had no headlights because of a stipulation that required any car attempting to set a new record be non-homologated.
So what makes the Porsche Taycan Turbo S so fast?
The Taycan has dual electric motors, one that powers the front wheels and the other powering the rear. And they produce separate outputs that vary by trim. For instance, the 4S generates up to 522 horsepower with the standard 79.2-kWh battery and up to 562 horses with the optional 83.7-kWh pack. The latter comes standard on the top models, the 670-hp Turbo and the 750-hp Turbo S. The base model is rear-wheel-drive only, but it can be paired with either battery size. Its single electric motor generates up to 402 hp with the smaller battery and up to 469 hp with the bigger one. All Taycan models also have an innovative two-speed transmission that provides a thrilling shift during hard acceleration.
