Xpeng P7 vs Porsche Panamera 971: which is truly faster?

Off the line, the P7 hits 100 km/h in 4.22 s versus 5.28 s for the Panamera. The instant torque of 655 Nm from the electric motor makes the difference. At this point, the P7 leads by 1.06 s and sits roughly 11 m ahead.

At 200 metres, the P7 is doing 147 km/h against 136 km/h for the Panamera. The gap is 0.77 s. The challenger starts to claw back ground.

At 400 metres standing start, the P7 crosses the line in 12.54 s versus 13.57 s. The 1.03 s gap represents roughly 48 m of track — a gap visible to the naked eye.

Past 400 metres, the situation changes. The P7 maxes out at 170 km/h while the Panamera keeps accelerating towards 264 km/h. At 600 metres, the gap has dropped to 0.80 s.

Around 860 metres, both vehicles are level. This is the inversion point: the Panamera overcomes its launch deficit thanks to a 94 km/h higher top speed.

At 1,000 metres, the Panamera finishes in 24.66 s versus 25.24 s. The 0.59 s delta in favour of the Panamera shows that top speed makes a clear difference.

The P7 features all-wheel drive (AWD) against the Panamera’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 P7 is capped at 170 km/h, the Panamera at 264 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 8.22 seconds. The 1.06 s difference in 0 to 100 km/h is mostly felt in motorway merging and overtaking.