Photo: Facebook video screenshot
Much has been made about the prowess of electric vehicles when it comes to catching speed from a standstill. The evidence is there to support the claims in the form of countless quarter-mile drag races where various all-wheel-drive EVs force their opponents to play catch up from the contest's first millisecond.
It's all about a cumulation of factors. First of all, dual-motor EVs usually have plenty of power (400 hp and upwards). Second, they have supremely high torque values, with all of the twisting force available from the get-go. Third, they don't have a multi-geared transmission, so no time is wasted switching between cogs, and there is no drop in power. Fourth, the electric powertrain allows for a very precise and quick-responding traction control system, which means the wheels are kept just below that threshold of losing grip and spinning, but never beyond it.
Put all these things together, and you get the magic recipe for quick launches. The Porsche Taycan breaks the rules a little by having a two-speed transmission, but it doesn't even get to engage second on short distances. That gear is reserved for reaching a higher speed and improving efficiency beyond a certain level.
If all that sounds pretty high-tech, we have just the right antidote for you. It's a car oftentimes called the "mountain goat," and as nicknames go, that's one of the most accurate ones. It's the classic Fiat Panda 4x4, the small Italian hatchback that also doubles as an incredibly competent off-roader.
If there was ever a sleeper in the four-by-four segment, then it's definitely this diminutive Fiat. The model has a cult following in Italy, and how could you not love something this simple and affordable when you're a mere farmer living in a remote area of the country, with this being your only chance to make it back into civilization?
On this day, though, the Panda 4x4 goes up against a Porsche Taycan (not sure about the spec, but given the approximately 50 hp of the Panda, it doesn't really matter) in an informal drag race. The catch? The road is covered in slush.
Obviously, there is nothing to be proven here, and it's just a few guys having some fun. Plus, there are many variables we can't know for sure, the most important being the nature of the tires mounted on both vehicles. Still, if this doesn't make you want to own an '80s Fiat Panda 4x4, there is probably something wrong with you.
Put all these things together, and you get the magic recipe for quick launches. The Porsche Taycan breaks the rules a little by having a two-speed transmission, but it doesn't even get to engage second on short distances. That gear is reserved for reaching a higher speed and improving efficiency beyond a certain level.
If all that sounds pretty high-tech, we have just the right antidote for you. It's a car oftentimes called the "mountain goat," and as nicknames go, that's one of the most accurate ones. It's the classic Fiat Panda 4x4, the small Italian hatchback that also doubles as an incredibly competent off-roader.
If there was ever a sleeper in the four-by-four segment, then it's definitely this diminutive Fiat. The model has a cult following in Italy, and how could you not love something this simple and affordable when you're a mere farmer living in a remote area of the country, with this being your only chance to make it back into civilization?
On this day, though, the Panda 4x4 goes up against a Porsche Taycan (not sure about the spec, but given the approximately 50 hp of the Panda, it doesn't really matter) in an informal drag race. The catch? The road is covered in slush.
Obviously, there is nothing to be proven here, and it's just a few guys having some fun. Plus, there are many variables we can't know for sure, the most important being the nature of the tires mounted on both vehicles. Still, if this doesn't make you want to own an '80s Fiat Panda 4x4, there is probably something wrong with you.
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