Amidst a stream of accolades, the veil has been lifted on the new, refined and enhanced Porsche Taycan, heralding a new era of automotive excellence. This past month, across the globe, from Leipzig to Atlanta to Shanghai, the new Taycan’s grand debut echoed the marque’s relentless pursuit of innovation, punctuated by record-breaking performances at iconic circuits like the Nürburgring and Laguna Seca.
Embracing the spirit of its 2019 predecessor, Porsche unveiled the Taycan Turbo GT with unprecedented fanfare, redefining automotive excellence across continents. This unveiling marked not only a celebration of Porsche’s engineering prowess, but also served as a testament to Porsche’s unwavering commitment to pushing boundaries.
All three body variants will feature numerous modifications from the date of launch, including the Taycan sports sedan, the versatile Taycan Cross Turismo, which is available with an off-road package, and the sporting-yet-practical Taycan Sport Turismo. Four powertrain options are available in each case, with rear- and all-wheel drive variants. The revised versions are set to arrive at Porsche Centres this month.
A SYMPHONY OF DESIGN AND POWER
Porsche’s meticulous craftsmanship is illuminated in Taycan’s reimagined design, which is now more captivating and aerodynamic than ever. The Taycan’s exterior is meticulously sculpted to enhance aerodynamic efficiency and aesthetic appeal, resulting in a vehicle that commands attention from every angle. From its sleek silhouette to its commanding stance, every curvature of the Taycan exudes sophistication and dynamism.
Under the hood, the Taycan boasts an electrifying surge in power, propelling drivers to new realms of exhilaration. With lightning-fast acceleration and enhanced performance metrics, the Taycan sets a new standard for electric driving. Thanks to advanced engineering feats, including a revamped powertrain and adaptive suspension, the Taycan delivers a driving experience that transcends expectations, as demonstrated by its record-breaking performances at the Nürburgring and Laguna Seca.
To put this into perspective, all updated models accelerate significantly faster than their predecessors. At the entry point of the portfolio, the Taycan reaches the 100 km/h mark from a standstill in just 4.8 seconds, while at the upper end, the Taycan Turbo S blasts from zero to 100 km/h in just 2.4 seconds. Compared to their predecessors, this marks an improvement of 0.6 seconds for the entry-level Taycan and 0.4 seconds for the top-of-the-line Taycan Turbo S.
With the new push-to-pass function in the Sport Chrono package, a boost of up to 70 kW, depending on the model, can be called upon for 10 seconds at the touch of a button. As such, the base Taycan delivers 60 kW more than previously achieved, while the Taycan Turbo S boasts an additional 140 kW with Launch Control, increasing the system output of the top model to 700 kW.
Porsche’s relentless pursuit of perfection beats in the heart of the Taycan’s performance. From its whisper-quiet electric motors to its lightning-fast responsiveness, every aspect of the Taycan has been meticulously crafted to deliver an unparalleled driving experience.
CHARTING AN EFFICIENT COURSE
Beyond its show-stopping performance, the Taycan embodies Porsche’s commitment to efficiency. With an extended range of up to 678 kilometres, an increase of 175 km or 35%, the Taycan ensures that drivers can embark on epic journeys with confidence and ease. The updated Taycan not only requires fewer charging stops on extended trips but, in comparison to its predecessor, it also recharges faster. When using an 800-volt DC charging station, for example, it can be charged at up to 320 kW, which is 50 kW more than before.
Additionally, Porsche’s innovative active chassis paves the way for extraordinary efficiency. All updated Taycan models are equipped with standard adaptive air suspension, and the new Porsche Active Ride suspension can be an optional order for all-wheel-drive versions. The suspension is designed to keep the body of the Taycan level at all times (even during dynamic braking, steering and acceleration manoeuvres) when the Porsche Active Ride suspension ensures a near-perfect connection to the road thanks to a balanced distribution of wheel loads.
A COMPOSITION OF INNOVATION
The simultaneous improvement of performance and efficiency is due to a number of factors: an advanced powertrain with a new rear-axle motor (with up to 80 kW more power than its predecessor on all models), a modified pulse inverter with optimised software, more powerful batteries, revised thermal management, a next-generation heat pump, and a modified recuperation and all-wheel-drive strategy.
In addition, the maximum recuperation capacity during deceleration from high speeds has increased by more than 30% from 290 kW to as much as 400 kW. All variants now come as standard with aerodynamically optimised wheels and reduced-rolling-resistance tyres, with the new 21” wheels and tyres specially developed for this purpose.
Inside the Taycan’s meticulously crafted cabin, drivers are greeted by a plethora of cutting-edge features and intuitive controls. From the redesigned instrument cluster to the seamlessly integrated Apple CarPlay, every aspect of the Taycan’s interior exudes sophistication and convenience. With the new push-to-pass function and enhanced driver assistance systems, the Taycan offers an unparalleled driving experience that is both exhilarating and effortless.
LAST WORD
The Taycan is more than just a vehicle – it’s a shining example of what is possible when passion and innovation merge. With its unrivalled performance, cutting-edge technology, and German ingenuity at its very best, the Taycan represents the future of automotive transportation – a future where driving pleasure knows no bounds, and sustainability remains paramount.
Report by Wilhelm Loots| Images © Porsche