Porsche Taycan Turbo GT Records Sub 2 Second 0-60 Time in Car and Driver Test

Porsche Breaks the 2-Second Barrier in Car and Driver Tests

In a groundbreaking test by Car and Driver, the Porsche Taycan Turbo GT has set a new record as the fastest production car they've ever tested, accelerating from 0 to 60 mph in an incredible 1.9 seconds. This achievement dethrones the Tesla Model S Plaid, which had held the crown in the EV world. During Car and Driver’s evaluation, the Taycan Turbo GT completed two consecutive sub-two-second runs, first at 1.910 seconds and then at 1.898 seconds, firmly establishing Porsche’s dominance in this critical performance metric.

Photos: Car and Driver

Decades of Progress Culminate in Porsche's Triumph

The path to a sub-two-second 0-60 time has been a long one, as various performance cars have flirted with this milestone over the past decade. Early efforts, such as the 2008 Bugatti Veyron's 2.5-second run and the Porsche 918 Spyder's 2.1-second sprint, set the stage. More recently, the electrification of supercars, including the Ferrari SF90, Lucid Air Sapphire, and Tesla Model S Plaid, pushed the boundaries closer. Yet it was Car and Driver’s tests of the Taycan Turbo GT that finally shattered the barrier, marking a major leap in EV performance.

Consistency on Regular Surfaces

What’s particularly striking about the Taycan’s record-breaking achievement is its consistency across multiple tests. In Car and Driver's standard testing procedure, which took place on a regular concrete surface, not a specially prepared drag strip, the Taycan outperformed rivals like the Lucid Air Sapphire and Tesla Model S Plaid. Thanks to the aggressive Pirelli P Zero Trofeo RS tires, the Taycan maintained its superior traction, enabling the 1.9-second sprint.

Porsche’s Potential for Even Faster Times

The Car and Driver tests were performed on the Taycan Turbo GT without the optional Weissach package, which reduces the car’s weight by 165 pounds. This means that the Taycan could potentially go even faster. Industry experts often estimate that a reduction of 100 pounds could shave an additional 0.1 seconds off the 0-60 mph time, suggesting that Porsche might be able to achieve an even quicker time, possibly as low as 1.8 seconds, if it retests the lighter version of the car.

Quarter Mile and Beyond: Rivals Gain Ground

While the Porsche Taycan Turbo GT dominates the initial sprint, C/D’s tests revealed that the car begins to lose its edge as speeds climb. In the quarter-mile test, the Taycan crossed the line in 9.3 seconds at 150 mph, tying with the 1,234-hp Lucid Air Sapphire and narrowly edging out the Tesla Model S Plaid. However, as speeds increase, both competitors pull ahead. At 160 mph, the Tesla Model S Plaid was 0.2 seconds faster, while the Lucid Air Sapphire extended its lead by 0.7 seconds. By 170 mph, the Sapphire was 1.1 seconds ahead of the Taycan.

Impressive All-Round Performance

Despite its rivals catching up at higher speeds, the Taycan still showcased well-rounded excellence in Car and Driver's comprehensive tests. The Taycan Turbo GT outperformed its competitors in braking, stopping from 70 mph in 141 feet and from 100 mph in 274 feet—better than both the Lucid Air Sapphire and Tesla Model S Plaid. In cornering, the Taycan matched the Tesla Model S Plaid’s impressive 1.08 g average on the skidpad, while surpassing the Sapphire’s 1.04 g.

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