This Porsche Taycan Turbo Just Beat a Shelby GT500 Around a Track
The 2021 Porsche Taycan Turbo belongs to a line up of some of the most impressive electric vehicles around. While it may not have the greatest electric range, the Taycan has the added benefit of being a true sports car.
To test this, CarBuzz report that Sport Auto on YouTube recently took the electrified sedan around the Hockenheim-GP circuit to see how quick it truly is. In the process, the EV beat a lap time established by a Shelby GT500.
How does the 2021 Porsche Taycan Turbo stack up against the Shelby GT500?
On paper, the 2021 Porsche Taycan Turbo and the Shelby GT500 are somewhat fairly matched. Under the Mustang’s hood lives a supercharged 5.2-liter V8 generating 760 hp. All of that power is sent to the rear wheels exclusively via a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. Given that massive amount of power and rear-wheel drive, it is not surprising to learn that the GT500 takes 3.5 seconds to hit 60 mph.
On the other hand, the 2021 Porsche Taycan Turbo comes from a completely different world. The EV features two electric motors, one in the front axle and one in the rear. Since the car in the video below is just a Turbo, not a Turbo S, it has a maximum output of 616 hp and 626 lb-ft. However, given the torque’s instant availability, the EV can hit 60 mph in just 3 seconds.
In terms of price, the 2021 Porsche Taycan turbo is significantly more expensive than the Shelby GT500 with a $150,900 base price. In contrast, the Shelby starts at $70,300. As a result, you could have two GT500’s or one Taycan Turbo.
The Taycan is the king of the track
Before we dive into the video showing the 2021 Taycan Turbo on track, let’s look at the time set by the Shelby GT500. According to CarBuzz, the muscle car took just 1:54.6 to complete a lap of the Hockenheim-GP circuit. The video opens up with the Taycan barreling down the straightaway, hitting over 200 kph (124 mph) before it dives into the first corner. Immediately we see the driver counter-steer to control the sliding EV.
As the 2021 Porsche Taycan begins to slow down for the corners, we can see in the dashboard as the powertrain utilizes its regenerative braking feature. Aside from displaying immense speed in the straight sections, the Taycan appears relatively composed under heavy braking. The added instant torque means it can simply shoot out of corners with tremendous speed. It is worth noting that the EV slides around a fair bit through the track’s tighter sections.
In the end, the EV manages to cross the line for a lap time of 1:54.1. Aside from setting a quick time, it makes us wonder just how much quicker the Turbo S model could be around the same circuit. Regardless, this electric sports-car manages to beat Shelby’s dedicated track-day monster.
How do other EVs compare?
If that 2021 Taycan Turbo performance isn’t impressive, you’ll be hard-pressed to find another EV that can match it. While Tesla’s models certainly offer greater range and more power, they don’t seem to hold a high status on a track. As a result, the Porsche is carving a lane for itself as one of the best performance-oriented EVs available.
