25 June 2022, 12:02 ET
What could possibly outperform the Porsche 911 Turbo S in a drag race? The staff at carwow assembled a Lamborghini Aventador SVJ and a McLaren 720S to test their viability as rivals. Let’s find out which of these supercars rules the drag strip.
The Porsche 911 Turbo S may have understated looks, but it is a true supercar slayer underneath. A twin-turbo 3.8-liter flat-6 engine with 640 horsepower (477 kilowatts) and 590 lb-ft of torque provides the power. With Porsche’s 8-speed PDK dual-clutch automatic transmission, this turbocharged flat-6 generates blazingly quick shifts.
The all-wheel-drive system of the Porsche 911 Turbo S helps it transfer its power to the ground. Porsche states that the time from 0 to 60 mph, the quarter-mile time, and the top speed are all under 2.6 seconds. Can Lamborghini or McLaren’s rivals to the 911 Turbo S compete?
One of the final classic supercars is the Lamborghini Aventador SVJ. A mid-mounted, high-revving 6.5-liter V12 engine with naturally aspirated fuel produces 770 horsepower (574 kilowatts) and 531 lb-ft of torque. The power from this magnificent V12 engine is sent to all four wheels via Lamborghini’s all-wheel-drive system via a 7-speed single-clutch automatic manual transmission. The Lamborghini Aventador claims to reach 60 mph in 2.7 seconds, cover the quarter-mile in 10.5 seconds, and reach a top speed of 221 mph. These numbers make the Lamborghini Aventador SVJ the ideal rival for the Porsche 911 Turbo S.
The McLaren 720S, an all-wheel-drive supercar in a drag race, is our last vehicle. A twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 engine with 568 lb-ft of torque and 720 horsepower (537 kilowatts) powers the McLaren 720S. Power is delivered to the rear wheels by a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission coupled to a supercharged V8 engine from McLaren.
The 0 to 60 mph pace is listed at 2.7 seconds, matching the Lamborghini Aventador SVJ despite having rear-wheel drive. With a time of just 10.3 seconds, the McLaren 720S outperforms both the Porsche 911 Turbo S and the Lamborghini Aventador SVJ in the quarter-mile.
Which of these supercars, which are nearly identical, performs best on the drag strip? Let’s investigate.
In This Article...
Lamborghini V10 vs. Porsche Flat Six
The Huracan gets an early lead over the 911 Turbo S in the opening lap of the first race. With a 1/4-mile time of 10.5 seconds and 126 mph, the Porsche overtakes the Lamborghini and reaches the finish line before it. A faster trap speed of 129 mph was produced by the Lamborghini, which was only 2/10ths of a second slower than the other car.
The Porsche’s performance in the third and final race showed a small increase, but the Lamborghini’s time was practically same. Given how close those times are, driving ability matters more than anything else.
Ladder Race
The Porsche 911 Turbo S is a beast right off the line, as Matt states at the opening of the film. The McLaren 765LT, on the other hand, is a pure beast. On paper, the 765LT should complete the quarter-mile in 9.9 seconds and the sprint from 0 to 60 mph (97 km/h) in 2.7 seconds. The Porsche, on the other hand, has a sprint time of just 2.5 seconds from 0 to 60 mph (97 km/h) and can complete the quarter-mile in 10.1 seconds.
Both of the attempts came to an exact end. The McLaren 765LT struggled to gain traction while the Porsche 911 Turbo S accelerated quickly off the line. However, the McLaren caught up to and passed the Porsche at the eighth mile. The 765LT managed a quarter-mile time of precisely 10.0 seconds, while the 911 Turbo S managed 10.2 seconds. Both cars were quite close to what the official figures claim.
The venue of this supercar rematch could be significant.
The race testing conducted by Throttle House resembled the previous meeting between the Porsche 911 Turbo S and Nissan GT-R NISMO in 2022. Two 1/4-mile drag races were conducted by the hosts, one from a rolling start and the other from a standing start. So, based on their most recent battle, you’d expect the 911 would be the clear victor.
It’s important to note that the Nissan prevailed when Throttle House pitted the GT-R NISMO against the C8 Corvette. At first glance, that doesn’t sound amazing, yet the C8 matches or even exceeds some of the GT-stats R’s on paper. But despite everything, the GT-R won.
Additionally, while 5-60 times frequently represent real-world performance outcomes, 0-60 times don’t usually. The GT-R NISMO lagged both 2022 Porsche 911 Turbo S variants by barely 0.1 seconds in Car and Driver’s testing. Or, to put it another way, the pre-2020 model, which lacked carbon-ceramic brakes and body panels to reduce weight, behind by only 0.1 seconds.
Is the Porsche 911 Turbo S the quickest vehicle?
Yes, the 2021 Porsche 911 Turbo S Lightweight accelerates from a complete stop to a distance of 1,320 feet in just 9.9 seconds. The most astounding aspect is that it is a full half second faster than the Koenigsegg Regera RS, Ferrari LaFerrari Aperta, and Pagani Zonda R from 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h). It will even outperform the Tesla Model S Plaid to 60 if you put it on an unprepared surface. But we’ll get back to that.
The 2021 Porsche 911 Turbo S with the $10,340 optional Lightweight package, according to the folks at Car and Driver, is also the fastest vehicle they’ve ever tested from 0-30 mph (0-48 km/h). It was up and running in less than 0.8 seconds, which is about how long it takes for your heart to beat one whole beat. Of course, if you’re in the 911 when it launches, those beats might arrive faster. However, this Porsche isn’t just about going fast in a straight path.
It aims to deliver a thrilling ride while not being as track-focused as the GT3. As the name implies, this 911 is around 80 pounds (36 kg) lighter than the factory Turbo S. This weight loss was achieved through the use of lighter glass, a deleted rear seat, carbon fiber seats, and less soundproofing insulation. Additionally, it receives a 0.4-inch ride height reduction thanks to Porsche’s Active Suspension Management technology.
The result of all that technology is a magnificent package that is both in control and fierce. The all-wheel drive model’s twin-turbo 3.7-liter flat-six engine produces a neck-snapping 640 horsepower and 590 lb-ft of torque when mated to an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, which is a major plus for acceleration from a stop.
The 911 Turbo S Lightweight’s lateral cornering capability was tested by C&D to be up to 1.12g, and they correctly noted that it wasn’t even using the stickiest tires available. With a set of well warmed-up slicks, we’d want to see how quickly it travels straight. Regardless all of that, the 911 Turbo S Lightweight demonstrates that, despite how popular electric vehicles have become, internal combustion automobiles are still a viable option.
Furthermore, keep in mind that the price of this Porsche is $217,340 ($207,000 for the standard Turbo S plus $10,340 for the Lightweight package). That is a significant number, but let’s compare it to other vehicles that can match its top speed of 60 mph.
There’s only one, the $625,000 Ferrari SF90, I see. You ask, “What about Tesla?” The Model S Plaid has never been faster than 2.1 seconds, unless it was on a prepared surface, after we wait the approximate 15 minutes it will need to warm up. Many owners actually struggle to make their Plaids move that quickly. Oh, and the Porsche is capable of performing this maneuver repeatedly.
Is a Lamborghini faster than a Porsche 911 Turbo S?
According to a recent article in Car & Driver, the Lamborghini Huracan can reach 193 mph while the Porsche 911 Turbo S can reach 205 mph on a restricted circuit.
What Porsche has the highest power?
It comes as no surprise that the 911 Turbo is among the top 5 quickest Porsche models now on the market. This type has been in production for many years. It debuted in the 1960s and was powered by an air-cooled flat-6 that produced 130 horsepower for the rear wheels. The first turbocharged vehicle didn’t take long to appear, in 1975.
The quickest and most potent Porsche 911 to date is the 2021 Porsche 911 Turbo S. It handles even better and is just as quick as a supercar. It has a 3.7-liter flat-six twin-turbocharged engine that is capable of 640 horsepower and 590 lb-ft of torque. A quarter-mile at 137 mph can be completed by the Porsche 911 Turbo S in an impressive 10.1 seconds.
Car and Driver said that when testing the Porsche 911 Turbo S from the 992-generation, it took only 2.2 seconds to reach 60 mph, despite the fact that the 2021 Porsche 911 Turbo S can sprint from 0 – 60 mph in 2.6s!
A Porsche could it defeat a Tesla?
Porsche beat the Tesla Model S Plaid by three seconds over the 12.92-mile Nurburgring circuit, setting a new record for electric car lap times.
Tesla smashed its own record of 7 minutes, 35.6 seconds set last year when it completed a lap of the German track in a Taycan Turbo S driven by Porsche development driver Lars Kern.
Apart from the required roll cage and racing seats, Porsche claims the car was a regular, street-legal vehicle that was equipped with its new performance kit and Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control (PDCC). The manufacturer added that the Taycan Turbo S used to break the record weighs the same as a vehicle in regular production, and an official was there to certify the new electric vehicle record.
The performance kit comes with street-legal Pirelli P Zero Corsa high-performance tires and 21-inch RS Spyder design wheels, which are now an option for Taycan buyers. Their tire composition is comparable to that of racing tires, according to Porsche, who also stated that the Porsche 4D Chassis Control has received a software update to better coordinate with the sports tires.
The Tesla Model S Plaid, which is substantially more potent than the Porsche with its three motors delivering a combined 1,000 horsepower, held the Nurburgring lap record for a production EV until the Taycan’s 750hp.
If purchasers of the Taycan want to get the new performance kit for their EV, they must navigate a few restrictions. Porsche clarifies: “Porsche Tequipment is the company that sells the performance kit. For the time being, it is restricted to the 2023 model year Taycan Turbo S sports sedan and is exclusively offered in Germany. The first of these automobiles went into production in late July 2022, and the performance package should start to become available by the end of the year. The modification will be completed in the Porsche workshops in Zuffenhausen after the first delivery. Transportation to and from the plant, as well as the Taycan’s unique vehicle approval and registration, are all included.”
What automobiles are superior to Porsche?
It would resemble someone’s ideal garage if all ten of the greatest Porsche 911 rivals on our list were gathered in one location. As long as the 2018 Porsche 911 was counted as the twelfth vehicle. Competing against something created and refined by a team of outstanding engineers with extensive knowledge of motorsports is difficult; if you need further proof, look at the marque’s incredible performance at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
There are still enough of thrills to be had even if the current 911 range includes the most refined and advanced models ever. especially once the driver masters the unique rhythm that only this rear-engined supercar has around turns. Alternatively, when searching for a thrill ride, a person looking for what can be regarded as a competitor could also take a look at the list below.
What vehicle rivals the 911?
Some of the Porsche 911’s main competitors include the sleek and fuel-efficient Acura NSX, the vintage and traditional Chevy Corvette, and the incredibly wide Mercedes-Benz AMG-GT. You should look at these if you’re seeking for a lightning-quick speedster. A
Even to those who aren’t automobile fanatics, the Porsche 911’s silhouette is recognizable after 56 years of manufacturing. There aren’t many flaws in this German sports vehicle with its roaring engine, fantastic performance, and nearly faultless driving experience.
You’d be mad to pass up the 911 with new trim levels that give you more options, the reintroduction of the GT3 and GTS models, and all the newest technological features a car enthusiast could desire. However, with a starting price of over $100,000, it might not be the most accessible vehicle for people seeking the speed and power of a sports car, or it might not even be the best option.