Porsche owner buys superfast Tesla after losing drag race

Electric vehicles are slowly losing their reputation for being dull, as enthusiasts are coming around to their supercar-killing performance.

While not all electric cars are fast, the performance potential is gradually being unlocked in top-of-the-range models.

US start-up Tesla and iconic sportscar maker Porsche have found themselves in a battle for the title of world’s fastest electric sedan.

A YouTube channel in the US has revealed the moment a Porsche owner ordered a new high-performance Tesla over the phone just moments after his car was beaten in an embarrassing drag race.

The video shows a new Tesla Model S Plaid edition going up against the Porsche Taycan Turbo S, which has “turbo” in its name even though it lacks turbocharger technology because it is purely an electric vehicle.

The Tesla Model S Plaid edition was faster than the Porsche Taycan Turbo S in all three races, conducted at Palm Beach International Raceway.

One of the test drivers, Jason, said the Porsche was “destroyed” by the Tesla, adding “it’s just not even fair”.

The main host of the YouTube channel, Brooks Weisblat – who has a collection of V8 and electric cars – said of his Tesla Model S Plaid: “The most common thing when I take people for a ride? (They say) this should be illegal.”

The video shows the owner of the Porsche Taycan – who was on the sidelines watching the drag races – ordering a Tesla Model S Plaid over the phone after witnessing his car being repeatedly out-gunned.

Both cars are the fastest electric sedans produced by each company, and can go from 0 to 100kmh in less than three seconds, making them only a fraction slower than a Formula One car on take-off.

The Tesla Model S Plaid costs $US124,000 ($AU168,000) in the US and is not yet on sale in Australia. 

The Porsche Taycan Turbo S went on sale in Australia last month priced from $345,800 before on-road costs are added.

The Tesla Model S Plaid has three electric motors with a combined output of 1020 horsepower, while the Porsche Taycan Turbo S has two electric motors with a combined output of 750 horsepower.

While the video depicts the Tesla Model S Plaid getting a head-start – and the Porsche looks like it is getting off to a sluggish start – the timing system on the drag strip doesn’t start recording each car until they cross the start and finish line.

For drag racing fans, here's the numbers stacked up over the quarter mile (400 metres):

Porsche Taycan Turbo S:

10.42 seconds, top speed 129.90mph (209.05km/h)

10.39 seconds, top speed 130.03mph (209.26km/h)

10.37 seconds, top speed 129.99mph (209.20 km/h)

Tesla Model S Plaid edition:

9.67 seconds, top speed 150.93mph (242.90km/h) Not in launch mode

9.36 seconds, top speed 150.82mph (242.72km/h) 

9.34 second, top speed 151.34mph (243.56 km/h)