Xpeng X9 vs Porsche Cayenne (6-speed manual) 958.1: which is truly faster?

Off the line, the X9 hits 100 km/h in 3.88 s versus 7.11 s for the Cayenne (6-speed manual). The instant torque of 717 Nm from the electric motor makes the difference. At this point, the X9 leads by 3.23 s and sits roughly 19 m ahead.

At 200 metres, the X9 is doing 173 km/h against 125 km/h for the Cayenne (6-speed manual). The gap is 2.35 s. The challenger starts to claw back ground.

At 400 metres standing start, the X9 crosses the line in 11.34 s versus 15.11 s. The 3.77 s gap represents roughly 151 m of track — a gap visible to the naked eye.

Past 400 metres, the X9 continues to build its lead. At 600 metres, it runs at 200 km/h versus 174 km/h. At 1,000 metres, the X9 finishes in 22.13 s versus 27.24 s, with a 5.11 s lead. Despite a higher top speed (230 km/h), the Cayenne (6-speed manual) never recovers its launch deficit.

Both rivals are electronically governed, but not at the same level: the X9 is capped at 200 km/h, the Cayenne (6-speed manual) at 230 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 10.93 seconds. The 3.23 s difference in 0 to 100 km/h is mostly felt in motorway merging and overtaking.