LEGENDARY German car maker Porsche has unveiled its first fully electric sports car, holding a spectacular world premiere, held simultaneously on three continents, to reveal the Taycan.
Aimed at linking the brand’s heritage to the future, the new four door sports saloon is a unique package, offering typical Porsche performance and connectivity with everyday usability.
At the same time, highly advanced production methods and the features of the Taycan are setting new standards in the fields of sustainability and digitalisation. So much so, Porsche is promising its loyal followers an age of electromobility.
It’s doing so by producing a fascinating sports car that not only excites in terms of its technology and driving dynamics, but also sparks a passion in people all over the world, just like its legendary predecessors have done.
The first models in the new series are the Taycan Turbo and Taycan Turbo S, and yes, we’re aware of the fact there aren’t actually turbos on electric motors, but it’s a naming convention, and perhaps it got lost in the translation from German.
The new model is at the cutting edge of Porsche E-Performance and are among the most powerful production models to wear a Porsche badge. Less powerful variants of these all wheel drive vehicles will follow later in the year.
Other derivatives, including the Taycan Cross Turismo will arrive at the end of next year, with Porsche having invested more than six billion euros by 2022, in its move to electrification.
The flagship Turbo S version of the Taycan can generate up to 560kW of over boost power, in combination with launch Control, while the Taycan Turbo will deliver up to 500kW, with both offering insane 0-100km/h sprint times.
The Taycan Turbo S will do it in 2.8 seconds, while the Taycan Turbo completes it in 3.2 seconds. Both models will offer a top speed of 260km/h, with the Turbo S offering a 412km range, and the Turbo offering 450km
The Taycan is the first production vehicle with a system voltage of 800 volts, instead of the usual 400 volts found in electric cars, and in real terms means rapid charging is a real possibility.
In just over five minutes, the battery can be recharged using direct current (DC) from a high power charging network to provide a range of up to 100km. The charging time for an 80 per cent state of chare, is 22.5 minutes at peak charging power of 270kW.
The overall capacity of the Performance Battery Plus in the Taycan is 93.4kWh, and it can be charged on an AC charger at home. Both vehicles can be ordered already, at an estimated cost of $298,636 for the Taycan Turbo S and $244,981 for the Taycan Turbo.
These prices are based a best guess using available European figures. If you’re planning to buy a shiny new Taycan, you should confirm local pricing and associated on-road costs with your local Australian Porsche dealership.
