Tesla Model 3 Performance vs Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 : which one is faster?
0-100 km/h, 400 m, 1000 m, top speed — physics simulation calibrated on 7 measures.
400 mSimulation de performance
Race simulation at real speed
CONFIDENCE 98%Calibrated physics simulation: SCx via VMax, power curves, Crr via WLTP, drivetrain losses. Manufacturer 0-100 is the calibration target. Confidence 98 %.
Model 3 Performance vs 718 Cayman GT4: chronicle of a drag race at 303 km/h
The launch: 0 to 100 km/h
Off the line, the Model 3 Performance hits 100 km/h in 3.29 s versus 4.24 s for the 718 Cayman GT4. The instant torque of 698 Nm from the electric motor makes the difference. At this point, the Model 3 Performance leads by 0.95 s and sits roughly 9 m ahead.
From 100 km/h to 400 metres
At 200 metres, the Model 3 Performance is doing 157 km/h against 156 km/h for the 718 Cayman GT4. The gap is 0.59 s. The challenger starts to claw back ground.
At 400 metres standing start, the Model 3 Performance crosses the line in 11.49 s versus 12.02 s. The 0.53 s gap represents roughly 29 m of track — two to three car lengths.
Beyond 400 metres: top speed comes into play
Past 400 metres, the gap narrows. The Model 3 Performance maxes out at 261 km/h while the 718 Cayman GT4 keeps accelerating towards 303 km/h. At 600 metres, the gap is down to 0.43 s from 0.53 s at 400 metres.
At 1,000 metres, the Model 3 Performance finishes in 21.21 s versus 21.46 s, with just 0.25 s to spare. The 718 Cayman GT4 fails to fully close the launch gap.
What the numbers don’t tell you
The Model 3 Performance features all-wheel drive (AWD) against the 718 Cayman GT4’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 Model 3 Performance is capped at 261 km/h, the 718 Cayman GT4 at 303 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 5.78 seconds. The 0.95 s difference in 0 to 100 km/h is mostly felt in motorway merging and overtaking.
Tesla Model 3 Performance has a clear edge over the Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 to 100 km/h. This difference is clearly noticeable in spirited driving and widens on standing starts.