Porsche Taycan 4S J1.1 vs Porsche Cayman S 981: which is truly faster?

Off the line, the Taycan 4S hits 100 km/h in 3.93 s versus 4.90 s for the Cayman S. The instant torque of 640 Nm from the electric motor makes the difference. At this point, the Taycan 4S leads by 0.96 s and sits roughly 11 m ahead.

At 200 metres, the Taycan 4S is doing 153 km/h against 147 km/h for the Cayman S. The gap is 0.68 s. The challenger starts to claw back ground.

At 400 metres standing start, the Taycan 4S crosses the line in 12.06 s versus 12.90 s. The 0.84 s gap represents roughly 42 m of track - a gap visible to the naked eye.

Past 400 metres, the Taycan 4S continues to build its lead. At 600 metres, it runs at 215 km/h versus 205 km/h. At 1,000 metres, the Taycan 4S finishes in 21.83 s versus 23.17 s, with a 1.34 s lead. Despite a higher top speed (278 km/h), the Cayman S never recovers its launch deficit.

The Taycan 4S features all-wheel drive (AWD) against the Cayman S’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.

Electronically capped at 249 (i.e. 155 mph - industry threshold) km/h, the Taycan 4S never reaches its natural aerodynamic ceiling in this duel. That’s not a physical limit of the motor - it’s a deliberate manufacturer decision, typically tied to standard-fit tyre ratings or model-range positioning.

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 7.04 seconds. The 0.96 s difference in 0 to 100 km/h is mostly felt in motorway merging and overtaking.