Tesla's Elon Musk Slams Porsche Taycan On Twitter: 'Not What You Think It Does'

As one might expect, Tesla CEO Elon Musk took a dim view of the all-electric Porsche Taycan sports car, which is getting rave reviews since its simultaneous reveal in Germany, China and Canada on Wednesday. But Musk’s first dig at Taycan has something to do with truth in advertising.

Musk took to his Twitter account to blast the Taycan Turbo, which consists of two versions. The first is the Porsche “Taycan Turbo” while the other is the performance version, the “Taycan Turbo S.” Both all-electric 4-door coupés are being compared to the Tesla Model S.

Musk hinted Porsche is misleading the public by appending the word “Turbo” to the Taycan. The word turbo is almost exclusively associated with gasoline-powered cars, especially sports cars. In other words, Musk is asking why Porsche used the word “Turbo” to brand its two electric cars?

“Um @Porsche, this word Turbo does not mean what you think it does,” tweeted Musk on Thursday.

Porsche hasn’t commented on Musk’s pointed observation.

It’s worth noting Musk seems to have a point, strictly speaking. The word turbo (short for turbocharger) commonly refers to a turbine-driven forced induction device. A turbo increases an internal combustion engine's efficiency and power output by forcing extra compressed air into the combustion chamber.

Obviously, there’s no such thing as a turbo on any electric vehicle (EV). This suggests Porsche adopted the word for its connotation of super power. Good marketing, but as Musk pointed out, misleading.

And it’s probably because Porsche has always been a gasoline-engine marque until now with the introduction of the two all-electric Taycans.

Here’s what powers the Taycan. Porsche’s electric cars are powered by two PSM permanently excited synchronous electric motors. One motor drives the front axle; the other powers the rear axle. Both motors are capable of generating over 440 kW (590 bhp).

The motors also deliver up to 670 hp and 626 pounds of torque on the Turbo model, and 750 hp and 774 pounds of torque on the Turbo S. Powering both models is a 93.4 kWh battery pack.

Its powerful electric motors allow the Taycan Tubo S to roar from 0 to 96 km/h (60 mph) in a blitz-fast 2.6 seconds. It can zoom from 0 to 100 km/h in less than 3.5 seconds and can get to 200 km/h in less than 12 seconds. The machine has a top speed of more than 250 km/h (155 mph).