Porsche V Tesla – PR at its best

I’m all for competition and fairness in the EV car world, but this battle between Porsche and Tesla to set the fastest lap around the Nürburgring is getting ridiculous. 

Just two weeks ago I was sitting inside a giant black box two hours outside of Berlin watching the Porsche Taycan unveiling. Then this…

And this…

But wait there’s more…

I love Elon however I’m almost certain he actually came from outer space, which would explain his rocket fascination. Like E.T. he literally just wants to go home.

But Today we have news via German publication Auto Motor Und Sport that a ‘Model S’ is knocking off the Porsche Taycan Turbo time of 7:42 by up to 20 seconds. This information has been sourced from a ‘spy’ with a stopwatch. So far there’s been a red and blue Tesla getting around, none of which bear any resemblance to the road going Model S. Thanks to Senior Road Tester Paul Maric who’s a very plugged in guy we can share some of the ‘spy’ pics doing the rounds.

If you believe the speculation the track cars have three electric motors (instead of two) and a wider body, check out the rear wheel arches! A combination of tyres has been used, from the Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R to Goodyear’s Eagle F1 SuperSport RS rubber. But I’d expect the latter to happen anyway.

The Model S “Plaid” or P100D+ prototype sounds bloody awesome. But if this debate is really going to rage on, it makes sense to absorb some facts.

Whatever car Tesla is using is so far from the road version I personally think it’s just a blatant PR stunt, which is working brilliantly. There’s no on-sale date for the P100D+, there’s no commitment it ever be released and again it’s a PROTOTYPE, in other words just a concept. 

The lap performed by Porsche was completed in the Taycan Turbo 500kW/850Nm model, so not even its most powerful offering. The Turbo S has an epic 560kW/1050Nm. Yes, I know the use of the word Turbo seems silly but that’s what the car is called. Plus I also know that yes it was a pre-production model. Well here’s a tip all the cars on display at the world premiere were too. But even the most diehard Tesla fan must concede two things. 1. The assembly line is now rolling. 2. One that is inside a purpose built factory.

The reasons for using the less powerful Taycan remained unanswered. It could be as simple as it literally had too much punch to set a clean lap, or the brand is playing a waiting game with rocket man Elon.

Either way, from a motoring fan point of view this is all very fascinating. I can’t wait to see what happens. But in the real world of EV cars like those getting around in a Nissan Leaf or Hyundai Ioniq, no one gives a rats.