During the Tesla Cybertruck's first delivery event, Elon Musk presented a video showing the Cybertruck beating a Porsche 911 in a drag race while towing another Porsche 911. The demonstration was later criticized by some, including Jason Fenske of YouTube's Engineering Explained channel, who argued that the race was not run over a full quarter-mile as implied.
MotorTrend's Test:
In response, MotorTrend conducted its own test with the top-tier variant of the Cybertruck, the tri-motor Cyberbeast, racing against a Porsche 911. The motoring publication aimed to verify if the Cybertruck could indeed outperform the sports car while towing another Porsche 911.
The Results:
MotorTrend's YouTube video showcased a series of races between the Cybertruck and the Porsche 911. In the first race, the tri-motor Cyberbeast won against the Porsche 911 up to the 1/8th mile mark, with times of 8.137 seconds for the Cybertruck and 8.239 seconds for the Porsche. However, in the subsequent races, the Porsche 911 took the lead at the 1/8th mile mark and remained ahead in all three quarter-mile races.
Tesla's Counterpoint:
Tesla Cybertruck Lead Engineer Wes Morrill noted on X that the Cybertruck achieved a 7.808-second 1/8-mile run during tests, which would be faster than the Porsche 911's times in MotorTrend's tests. Morrill also stated that simulations run by Tesla showed that the full quarter-mile race would be close but with the same result, suggesting the Cybertruck's potential to win.
Conclusion:
The MotorTrend tests provided a closer look at the Cybertruck's performance capabilities, showing that the all-electric pickup can indeed outperform a Porsche 911 in certain conditions, despite the vehicle's weight and size. The results have sparked further interest in the Cybertruck's performance and its place in the electric vehicle market.
Watch the video:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):
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What was the purpose of the MotorTrend drag race between the Tesla Cybertruck and Porsche 911? The purpose was to test and verify the Cybertruck's performance claims after its demonstration by Tesla was questioned by industry experts.
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How did the Tesla Cybertruck perform in the first race against the Porsche 911? In the first race, the tri-motor Cyberbeast beat the Porsche 911 up to the 1/8th mile mark, with a time of 8.137 seconds.
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What were the results of the subsequent races? In the following races, the Porsche 911 came out ahead of the Cybertruck at the 1/8th mile mark and remained ahead in all three quarter-mile races.
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What did Tesla Cybertruck Lead Engineer Wes Morrill say about the Cybertruck's performance? Morrill noted that the Cybertruck achieved a 7.808-second 1/8-mile run during tests and that simulations showed the full quarter-mile race would be close but with the same result.
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What does this mean for the Tesla Cybertruck's reputation as a high-performance electric vehicle? The results have reinforced the Cybertruck's potential as a high-performance electric vehicle, capable of outperforming traditional sports cars like the Porsche 911 in certain conditions.