The Tesla Model S Plaid has proven itself time and time again to be an extraordinarily formidable performance car whether it be in a straight line or around a racetrack. However, can it also ace the moose test and outperform a Porsche Taycan GTS?
To find out, Spanish publication km77 recently put a Model S Plaid to the test alongside a Taycan GTS. While the GTS is not the flagship version of the Taycan, it does have very similar handling characteristics and capabilities to the Turbo S. The Model S Plaid used for the test was fitted with Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires while the Taycan GTS had Pirelli P Zero rubber.
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The Model S Plaid performed brilliantly in the moose test with a best entry speed of 82 km/h (50.9 mph). That’s among the very best cars tested by km77 but not everything is as it seems. In the video, the outlet notes that brake regeneration was enabled during the test, meaning the car started to quickly decelerate the moment the driver let off the throttle, slowing to 70 km/h (43.4 mph) by the middle of the cones and 46 km/h (28.5 mph) at the end. While brake regenaration can be disabled on the Model S Plaid in Track Mode, km77 didn’t realize this until it was too late to test.
As for the Porsche Taycan GTS, its best run in the moose test came at 78 km/h (48.4 mph) but brake regeneration had been disabled. It slowed to 70 km/h (43.4 mph) in the middle of the test and exited at 51 km/h (31.6 mph).
It is in the slalom test where the Porsche made a really good impression. It completed the test in just 21.5 seconds, making it the quickest car tested by km77, dethroning the Alpine A110 S with a time of 21.6 seconds. The Model S Plaid wasn’t far behind, finishing with a time of 21.8 seconds.