There’s no simpler way to compare one car’s performance to another than with a head-to-head quarter-mile race. And in this edition of Autocar India’s quarter-mile racing series, we’ve saved the best for last – Porsche 911 GTS T-hybrid vs MG Cyberster. On one side we have the most definitive and quintessential sports car in the form of the 911, while on the other side, the electric Cyberster represents the cutting-edge future. Let’s find out which one is quicker down the drag strip.
Porsche 911 GTS vs MG Cyberster: Powertrain and specs
Model | Porsche 911 GTS | MG Cyberster |
| Powertrain | 3,951cc flat-six petrol + electric motor | 77kWh battery, dual electric motors |
| Drive layout | All-wheel drive | All-wheel drive |
| Power | 541hp | 510hp |
| Torque | 610Nm | 725Nm |
| Gearbox | 8-speed DCT | 1-speed |
| Weight | 1,645kg | 1,985kg |
The 911 and the Cyberster couldn’t be more different on the powertrain front. The Porsche uses a 3.6-litre flat-six turbo-petrol engine that’s coupled to an electric motor for a combined output of 541hp and 610Nm of torque. The MG, meanwhile, is powered by a 77kWh battery pack and two electric motors (one on each axle) for a total output of 510hp and 725Nm of torque.
The MG is slightly down on power but has considerably higher torque than the Porsche. And while both get all-wheel drive to help with traction, the 911 has a 340kg weight advantage over the Cyberster.
Porsche 911 GTS vs MG Cyberster: Drag race
Model | Porsche 911 GTS | MG Cyberster |
Round 1 | 10.93 seconds | 11.63 seconds |
Round 2 | 10.86 seconds | 11.54 seconds |
In race 1, both the 911 and Cyberster get off the line ferociously, but once the Porsche gets into its stride, it’s hard to catch. With the Cyberster seemingly maxing out at 170kph, the 911 keeps widening the gap till the end.
In race 2, the MG gets off the line better and even manages to pull an early lead. However, the Porsche manages to quickly reel it in and then breezes past it. Both cars improve on their race 1 times, and by the time they reach the finish line, the 911 has set the fastest-ever time at our drag races. The Porsche wins both races by around seven tenths, which is hugely impressive.
But just to put things into perspective, the Porsche costs Rs 2.82 crore, while the MG is priced at Rs 82.49 lakh (ex-showroom) – less than a third of the Porsche. While that’s some serious bang for your buck, the good old combustion power still seems to have the edge in performance.
Autocar India’s testing standards
Before we conduct our performance tests, we check and maintain tyre pressures based on the manufacturer’s recommendations and ensure the car has a full tank of fuel. The car is then tested in a controlled environment, and the data is collected via highly accurate GPS-based timing equipment.
With inputs from Saptarshi Mondal
