The Porsche Taycan Turbo is a seriously impressive machine, showing quite clearly that electric propulsion doesn't have to be boring. It's already smashed the indoor top speed record, held its own in a drag race against the Lamborghini Huracan Evo, and lapped Hockenheim faster than the Shelby GT500. Is there anything that this Porsche can't do? So far, it's looking like one helluva performance bargain, but it's not the be-all and end-all of cars. When you want to go fast in a straight line, instant torque helps, but is it enough to take on the world's quickest C8 Corvette? There's only one way to find out.
If you don't wanna hang around listening to everyone talking crap, skip ahead to 8:50 to see the action and the first of the three races. The event takes place a week after Emelia Hartford set the fastest quarter-mile time yet for the C8 Corvette. Hers is the highest-horsepower C8 on the planet too, with as much as 1,000 horsepower on methanol, although it's running pump gas and no nitrous for these runs. Even without those aids, it produces 750 hp thanks to port injection, a built 6.2-liter LT2 V8, multiple piggyback ECU systems, upgraded Dodson clutches, and a pair of 6466 turbos from Precision. The Porsche, on the other hand, is fully charged.
As a refresher, the Taycan Turbo produces up to 670 hp and puts its power to all four wheels via a novel two-speed automatic transmission on the rear motor. The Corvette only has KW Clubsport coilovers semi-slick tires to help the rear wheels launch, but with that rubber wrapped around some purpose-built 18-inch wheels from Forgeline and measuring five inches across in front and an insane 11 inches across at the back, it was always going to have a good chance. If you've already watched the video, you'll have seen that the advantages and flaws of EVs are highlighted spectacularly here; the launch of the Porsche is phenomenal but it loses some spark on top. Seems it'll be a while yet before gasoline can truly be replaced, but the Porsche's performance is astounding nonetheless.