Porsche Taycan with Performance Battery Plus (PB) J1.1 vs Tesla Model S 85: which is truly faster?

Off the line, the Taycan with Performance Battery Plus (PB) hits 100 km/h in 5.24 s versus 5.75 s for the Model S 85. At this point, the Taycan with Performance Battery Plus (PB) leads by 0.50 s and sits roughly 5 m ahead.

At 200 metres, the Taycan with Performance Battery Plus (PB) is doing 148 km/h against 137 km/h for the Model S 85. The gap is 0.44 s. The gap remains stable from the start.

At 400 metres standing start, the Taycan with Performance Battery Plus (PB) crosses the line in 13.07 s versus 13.94 s. The 0.86 s gap represents roughly 40 m of track - a gap visible to the naked eye.

Past 400 metres, the Taycan with Performance Battery Plus (PB) continues to build its lead. At 600 metres, it runs at 217 km/h versus 190 km/h. At 1,000 metres, the Taycan with Performance Battery Plus (PB) finishes in 22.91 s versus 25.17 s, with a 2.25 s lead.

The Taycan with Performance Battery Plus (PB) 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 Taycan with Performance Battery Plus (PB) is capped at 230 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 electric powertrains, the difference comes down to power-to-weight ratio (4.59 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 0.50 s difference in 0 to 100 km/h is mostly felt in motorway merging and overtaking.