Mercedes S 580 e 4MATIC W223 vs Porsche Panamera 4 971: which is truly faster?

Off the line, the S 580 e 4MATIC hits 100 km/h in 4.45 s versus 5.45 s for the Panamera 4. The instant torque of 750 Nm from the electric motor makes the difference. At this point, the S 580 e 4MATIC leads by 1.00 s and sits roughly 5 m ahead.

At 200 metres, the S 580 e 4MATIC is doing 149 km/h against 132 km/h for the Panamera 4. The gap is 0.67 s. The challenger starts to claw back ground.

At 400 metres standing start, the S 580 e 4MATIC crosses the line in 12.54 s versus 13.78 s. The 1.23 s gap represents roughly 55 m of track - a gap visible to the naked eye.

Past 400 metres, the S 580 e 4MATIC continues to build its lead. At 600 metres, it runs at 212 km/h versus 184 km/h. At 1,000 metres, the S 580 e 4MATIC finishes in 22.40 s versus 25.22 s, with a 2.82 s lead. Both vehicles have similar top speeds (250 (i.e. 155 mph - industry threshold) vs 257 km/h), preventing any comeback.

Both rivals are electronically governed, but not at the same level: the S 580 e 4MATIC is capped at 250 (i.e. 155 mph - industry threshold) km/h, the Panamera 4 at 257 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.

Instant electric torque gives an advantage off the line. The higher top speed of the combustion engine gives an advantage over longer distances. The distance at which one catches the other depends on the top speed differential.

In European road use (130 km/h max), both vehicles reach the legal speed limit in under 8.74 seconds. The 1.00 s difference in 0 to 100 km/h is mostly felt in motorway merging and overtaking.