6 ms·

How would a Tesla's initial torque compare to the Bugatti? Would the Bugatti reach 30 mph much faster?

killjoywashere 7y ago
Top Gear actually did a road test of a Tesla S vs an Aston Martin starting at 30 MPH and the Tesla dusted the Aston Martin. Considering electric motors start with max torque, and the stats that are easily googlable, the Tesla would have no problem with the Bugatti. Never mind the Tesla is smaller, has a lower center of gravity, and costs 15x less and has more range. And it's probably worth noting that the Tesla is almost certainly software limited. Also, I haven't test-driven a Bugatti, but I've tested a Tesla. My wife compared the acceleration to a launched roller coaster. I entered the turn onto an onramp at 20 mph, exited the 90-ish degree turn at 60 in the same lane, and hit 80 by the time I realized I needed to take my foot off the pedal. We weren't halfway down the ramp. What was really impressive about that was the turn: plastered into the back and the side of seat at the same time, traction like it was on rails to whole time. It is quite possible the car was outperforming my nervous system's ability to orient.
- out_of_protocol 7y ago
  google "tesla ludicrous mode"
- ChuckNorris89 7y ago
  Apples and oranges. Stats alone are pretty meaningless when comparing what's basically a mass produced commuter car that had to meet a price point with a limited production luxury super car built without budget constraints. The Bugattis and Aston Martins alike are engineered to lap tracks or do speed runs over and over again in comfort and luxury without any reduction in acceleration or braking performance while Tesla's drive-train reaches its thermal limits really fast if you push it and reduces its performance accordingly. Tesla, due to how economics factor in engineering, was not designed to deliver it's peak performance in a sustained fashion but in short bursts when you need it. The Bugattis and Porsches can deliver their peak performance all day long, that's why they cost x-times more. And let's not talk about luxury or comfort.
  - leeoniya 7y ago
    > The Bugattis and Aston Martins alike are engineered to lap tracks or do speed runs over and over again in comfort and luxury without any reduction in acceleration or braking performance while Tesla's drive-train reaches its thermal limits really fast if you push it and reduces its performance accordingly. a problem the Porsche Taycan solves (to some extent). https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=TP9kokeyxGU https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=TP9kokeyxGU
  - perl4ever 7y ago
    "The Bugattis and Aston Martins alike are engineered to lap tracks or do speed runs over and over again in comfort and luxury without any reduction in acceleration or braking performance" Well, I don't doubt they are more capable than a Tesla, but I don't think any ultra-high performance car can sustain high speeds indefinitely. The Bugatti Veyron has tires that last for about 15 minutes at top speed, but then again, the fuel will run out in 12. It also seems like you see supercars on fire a lot, also hinting that they are not that durable when you push them.
- sniglom 7y ago
  The tesla is really fast to 70mph or so, after that it constantly lose power as it revs. >And it's probably worth noting that the Tesla is almost certainly software limited. Most things are software limited in modern cars. The question is, if you improved the battery pack so it could deliver more power, would the motors handle it?
  - fragmede 7y ago
    The limitations are there to protect the battery pack and motors - Teslas are production cars with multi-year warranty, so the conservative limits are accordingly.
colechristensen 7y ago
The fastest Tesla seems to beat the stock version of the Bugatti in question by about a quarter second from 0-60 (2.25s vs 2.5s) but the Bugatti handily beats the Tesla in the 1/4 mile by half a second and 25 mph, so the Tesla wins at acceleration for the first second or so. The torque curve on the Bugatti starts out lower for the first 1-2k RPM and then sticks at a significantly higher torque that seems artificially flat, likely limited by the rest of the drivetrain to save on weight (or ripping itself apart as opposed to the Tesla which would light on fire if the limiters were removed).
- n1000 7y ago
  These fancy supercars come with "launch control". A mechanism that will rev in a high range (charging the turbos) and then release the clutch with full torque. I wonder if that helps... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Launch_control_(automotive) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Launch_control_(automotive)
  - colechristensen 7y ago
    Yeah the results on a dyno won't match the actual torque on the wheels when launching. It would be interesting to see a graph of how that happens. Torque vs. Time and RPM vs. Time on a two y-axis graph for an actual launch (maybe you could put sensors on the axles)

Top Gear actually did a road test of a Tesla S vs an Aston Martin starting at 30 MPH and the Tesla dusted the Aston Martin. Considering electric motors start with max torque, and the stats that are easily googlable, the Tesla would have no problem with the Bugatti. Never mind the Tesla is smaller, has a lower center of gravity, and costs 15x less and has more range. And it's probably worth noting that the Tesla is almost certainly software limited. Also, I haven't test-driven a Bugatti, but I've tested a Tesla. My wife compared the acceleration to a launched roller coaster. I entered the turn onto an onramp at 20 mph, exited the 90-ish degree turn at 60 in the same lane, and hit 80 by the time I realized I needed to take my foot off the pedal. We weren't halfway down the ramp. What was really impressive about that was the turn: plastered into the back and the side of seat at the same time, traction like it was on rails to whole time. It is quite possible the car was outperforming my nervous system's ability to orient.

out_of_protocol 7y ago
google "tesla ludicrous mode"
ChuckNorris89 7y ago
Apples and oranges. Stats alone are pretty meaningless when comparing what's basically a mass produced commuter car that had to meet a price point with a limited production luxury super car built without budget constraints. The Bugattis and Aston Martins alike are engineered to lap tracks or do speed runs over and over again in comfort and luxury without any reduction in acceleration or braking performance while Tesla's drive-train reaches its thermal limits really fast if you push it and reduces its performance accordingly. Tesla, due to how economics factor in engineering, was not designed to deliver it's peak performance in a sustained fashion but in short bursts when you need it. The Bugattis and Porsches can deliver their peak performance all day long, that's why they cost x-times more. And let's not talk about luxury or comfort.
- leeoniya 7y ago
  > The Bugattis and Aston Martins alike are engineered to lap tracks or do speed runs over and over again in comfort and luxury without any reduction in acceleration or braking performance while Tesla's drive-train reaches its thermal limits really fast if you push it and reduces its performance accordingly. a problem the Porsche Taycan solves (to some extent). https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=TP9kokeyxGU https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=TP9kokeyxGU
- perl4ever 7y ago
  "The Bugattis and Aston Martins alike are engineered to lap tracks or do speed runs over and over again in comfort and luxury without any reduction in acceleration or braking performance" Well, I don't doubt they are more capable than a Tesla, but I don't think any ultra-high performance car can sustain high speeds indefinitely. The Bugatti Veyron has tires that last for about 15 minutes at top speed, but then again, the fuel will run out in 12. It also seems like you see supercars on fire a lot, also hinting that they are not that durable when you push them.
sniglom 7y ago
The tesla is really fast to 70mph or so, after that it constantly lose power as it revs. >And it's probably worth noting that the Tesla is almost certainly software limited. Most things are software limited in modern cars. The question is, if you improved the battery pack so it could deliver more power, would the motors handle it?
- fragmede 7y ago
  The limitations are there to protect the battery pack and motors - Teslas are production cars with multi-year warranty, so the conservative limits are accordingly.

colechristensen 7y ago

The fastest Tesla seems to beat the stock version of the Bugatti in question by about a quarter second from 0-60 (2.25s vs 2.5s) but the Bugatti handily beats the Tesla in the 1/4 mile by half a second and 25 mph, so the Tesla wins at acceleration for the first second or so. The torque curve on the Bugatti starts out lower for the first 1-2k RPM and then sticks at a significantly higher torque that seems artificially flat, likely limited by the rest of the drivetrain to save on weight (or ripping itself apart as opposed to the Tesla which would light on fire if the limiters were removed).

n1000 7y ago
These fancy supercars come with "launch control". A mechanism that will rev in a high range (charging the turbos) and then release the clutch with full torque. I wonder if that helps... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Launch_control_(automotive) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Launch_control_(automotive)
- colechristensen 7y ago
  Yeah the results on a dyno won't match the actual torque on the wheels when launching. It would be interesting to see a graph of how that happens. Torque vs. Time and RPM vs. Time on a two y-axis graph for an actual launch (maybe you could put sensors on the axles)