Audi A8 L 60 TFSI e quattro tiptronic vs Tesla Model S 85: which is truly faster?

Off the line, the A8 L 60 TFSI e quattro tiptronic hits 100 km/h in 4.84 s versus 5.75 s for the Model S 85. At this point, the A8 L 60 TFSI e quattro tiptronic leads by 0.91 s and sits roughly 16 m ahead.

At 200 metres, the A8 L 60 TFSI e quattro tiptronic is doing 140 km/h against 137 km/h for the Model S 85. The gap is 0.72 s. The challenger starts to claw back ground.

At 400 metres standing start, the A8 L 60 TFSI e quattro tiptronic crosses the line in 13.11 s versus 13.94 s. The 0.83 s gap represents roughly 38 m of track - a gap visible to the naked eye.

Past 400 metres, the A8 L 60 TFSI e quattro tiptronic continues to build its lead. At 600 metres, it runs at 196 km/h versus 190 km/h. At 1,000 metres, the A8 L 60 TFSI e quattro tiptronic finishes in 23.78 s versus 25.17 s, with a 1.39 s lead.

The A8 L 60 TFSI e quattro tiptronic features all-wheel drive (AWD) against the Model S 85’s RWD. At low speeds (0-30, 0-50, 0-80 km/h), AWD doubles the driven contact area: all four wheels transmit torque to the road, virtually eliminating wheelspin at launch. This traction advantage is decisive in the range where the motor delivers peak torque, before power and aerodynamics take over.

Both rivals are electronically governed, but not at the same level: the A8 L 60 TFSI e quattro tiptronic is capped at 250 (i.e. 155 mph - industry threshold) km/h, the Model S 85 at 201 km/h. This isn’t a physical engine limit - it’s a manufacturer choice, usually for tyre safety or homologation reasons. Neither car reaches its true aerodynamic top speed.

With two plug-in hybrid powertrains, the difference comes down to power-to-weight ratio (5.06 kg/hp vs 5.82 kg/hp) and transmission (Automatic vs Automatic).

In European road use (130 km/h max), both vehicles reach the legal speed limit in under 8.41 seconds. The 0.91 s difference in 0 to 100 km/h is mostly felt in motorway merging and overtaking.