Four wheel drive, done differently
Four wheel drive, done differently.
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On the surface, a Porsche Taycan Turbo S Cross Turismo and a Monster Jam truck seem not to have a great deal in common. One is equipped with powerful dual electric motors, up to five seats, 20-inch wheels, advanced adjustable air-sprung suspension to bridge the gap between comfort and agile handling in an instant and in complete silence, possesses the ability to cross states in comfort and was created in Stuttgart.
The other features a fire-breathing, supercharged, methanol-fueled V8, massive 66- inch wheels, just one seat and a swappable fiberglass body on top of a robust and extremely tough tubular steel chassis and dual-tube nitrogen-charged hydraulic dampers that do an admirable job of absorbing the impacts upon landing a 60 foot jump, which, according to Linsey, occurs more often than you might expect.
And yet the two are remarkably similar, at least when the road turns to dirt. Both send power to all four wheels and feature four-wheel steering, both deliver similar performance off the line and possess similar power to weight ratios. Crucially both, for the purposes of this test, have drivers behind the wheel who are experts in their respective fields.
What followed was predictably chaotic fun. “I have to be honest, most of the time I couldn’t see Leh,” said a clearly elated Linsey Read. “He had to weave around me, so I had to trust he was staying well away. But from the reactions I’d say he did amazingly well to stay close to me – that Taycan can really shift! Driving a Monster Jam truck is a complete adrenaline rush – and it can really fly, which I was thankful for when I flew over Leh.”
“It was like I was racing against a building,” said Leh Keen on emerging from the Taycan. “The size of the Monster Jam truck is staggering – it looks like it’s hardly trying, but I glanced down and we’re approaching three figure speeds, inside a stadium, on dirt. It’s so agile, given its size, but for obvious reasons I kept well clear! The Taycan was just awesome – it gave me a lot of feedback, found grip when I most needed it and let me also have fun out there. I’m grateful to Linsey for inviting me – now for the re-match I’ve just got to find a race track big enough for her and her truck…”
A video and a photo gallery is available on newsroom.porsche.com.
Specifications |
2023 Porsche Taycan Turbo S Cross Turismo |
Monster Jam Monster Truck |
MSRP (in the US) |
$190,000 |
$300,000 (exclusive operating costs) |
Height |
55.5 inches |
126 inches |
Width |
84.4 inches |
150 inches |
Length |
195.8 inches |
204 inches |
Curb Weight |
5199 pounds |
12,000 pounds |
Powertrain |
Dual Permanent Synchronous Electric Motors, two-speed rear transaxle |
9.2-liter Supercharged V8, two-speed transmission, four wheel drive |
Horsepower/Torque |
750 hp / 774 lb-ft |
1500 hp / 1200 lb-ft |
Power to weight ratio |
6.9 lbs/hp |
8 lbs/hp |
Wheels/Brakes |
255/40R20 front (28x10 inch),
10-piston fixed caliper
4-piston fixed caliper 410mm carbon-ceramic rotor |
66x43 inch, 645 pounds each, 4-piston fixed caliper on front and rear pinion |
Seats |
4 (4+1 optional) |
1 |
Radio |
14-speaker, 710 watt Bose Surround Sound System |
Motorola UHF radio with Remote Ignition Interrupter function |

English (Porsche Latin America)
PCNA22_1229
106/22
2022/11/14
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Porsche Taycan Turbo S Cross Turismo vs. Monster Truck