Porsche Exec Lays into Tesla Model S

Last year, Tesla CEO Elon Musk proudly boasted how the company’s flagship Model S electric saloon car would be getting a “Ludicrous Mode” speed upgrade, which would supercharge the vehicle to speeds of up to 155 miles per hour and 0 to 60mph in 2.8 seconds, an upgrade which costs the princely sum of $10,000.

Porsche, however, has taken a swipe at Tesla’s Ludicrous Mode, calling it a gimmick which cannot be effectively supported by the Model S’ battery.

“It’ll be something entirely different than any of its competitors, across the board” a Porsche product manager told Automobile Magazine. “The thing about [Tesla’s] Ludicrous mode is that it’s a façade. Two launches saps the whole battery.”

So, why is Porsche having a dig at Tesla, since they tend to operate in different automotive markets? Because the German automobile manufacturer is pimping its own electric car offering, of course. The Porsche Mission E is a four-seater electric car, described by a company engineer as “something special” and “a true Porsche through and through.”

“That won’t be the case with the Mission E,” the product manager added, referring again to the failure of Tesla’s Ludicrous Mode. “You’ll be able to run it hard, over and over; the battery will not overheat, the power control module will not overheat, and the seats will not suck.”