Will Elon Musk Regret His Bold Claim About The Tesla Cybertruck VS Porsche 911 Showdown?

Elon Musk's audacious claim about the Tesla Cybertruck towing a Porsche 911 and still beating a 911 has been put under the microscope. Was Musk just grandstanding, or is there some merit to his boast?

Since the Cybertruck’s debut, this idea has sparked numerous debates. The claim got so much attention that the folks at Motor Trend decided it was time to put it to the ultimate test.

The Setup

Motor Trend brought in a Cybertruck Cyberbeast, hooked it up with a trailer, and placed a Porsche 911 Carrera T on the back. They rented a racetrack and took the luxury of interpreting every condition as generously as possible to see if the Cybertruck could live up to its hype.

Spoiler alert: On the quarter-mile, the Porsche consistently outperformed the Cybertruck. It wasn't even close. Although the video showcased only the final three races, Motor Trend conducted six, and in each case, the Porsche emerged victorious.

How Generous Was Generous?

• They used the lightest, slowest 911 on sale (Carrera T).
• Even the trailer used was the lightest car hauler available.
• A lighter driver was put in the Cybertruck to give it the best chance.

Despite these generous conditions, Musk's claim didn’t hold up. The 911 won all quarter-mile races, once even clocking a 0.7-second victory margin.

Quarter-Mile Results

In their most optimistic run, the Cybertruck came within 0.2 seconds. But as the following runs demonstrated, it couldn't keep up. The 911 consistently outpaced the laden Cybertruck to the finish line.

What About the Eighth-Mile?

Was Musk thinking in terms of an eighth-mile race? Even then, the results showed the 911's superiority. Out of six races, the Cybertruck only managed one clean eighth-mile victory — barely. It tied twice and lost three times.

The Reality Check

Motor Trend’s test isn't an indictment of the Cybertruck. Far from it, the Cybertruck’s performance was impressive given the circumstances. Jason Fenske of Engineering Explained, who was part of the test, praised the EV's stability and speed, noting how it felt nimble despite towing a Porsche on a trailer.

Fenske's calculations had previously cast doubt on Musk's claim, suggesting that the numbers weren’t adding up. This real-world test confirmed his formulae.

What’s the Takeaway?

While the Cybertruck didn’t reign supreme, it cemented itself as a fast, stable, and remarkably powerful vehicle in the heavy-duty category. But it's crucial to approach Musk’s bold claims with a pinch of skepticism.

So the next time you hear a sensational statement from Tesla’s CEO, remember this drag race. The Cybertruck may be groundbreaking, but it's essential to separate marketing bravado from on-track reality.