From the debut of its first car—the 356—Porsche’s recipe has been constant from its road cars to its racers. In each form, there was commonality and it was simply modified for every niche purpose. Now there’s a new recipe, for a new era of performance. The Taycan is the sustainable sports car with the soul of a Porsche. The Taycan is soul, electrified.
The development of the Taycan was comprehensive from the ground up, not based on any existing product. From the start, it was created to be an all-electric sports car with innovation instead of compromise. The way it has innovated is groundbreaking—for Porsche, and for the industry.
The Taycan has distinctions true to its Porsche brethren—the dramatic front fenders and sloping hood, the sleek silhouette, the evocative rear light bar—but progresses the aesthetic to incorporate the natural features of an electric car. Without having to account for a traditional drivetrain, the engineers and designers were afforded more freedom than usual, and were able to develop new measures for efficiency and performance. Among these is the flat undercarriage and large rear diffuser, which work together to smooth out the air around the car and make it slippery and aerodynamically efficient. This is possible without having to work around an ICE engine and exhaust system, and results in a Porsche-best drag coefficient of 0.22. Further committing to range-saving efficiency are subtleties such as air curtains along the headlights and unique wheels that smooth out turbulent air through the side of car, which is then directed over recessed door handles and on around the car. Combined, these measures improve range and performance, and give a peek into how Porsche is approaching its future in electromobility.
Even with an electric landscape on the immediate horizon, the Taycan and its future variations are Porsches first and foremost. Inside and out, there’s familiarity in its presence and ergonomics, but none of that matters unless it drives like a Porsche as well. It was clear that the engineers focused on that as much as anything else. Powering the Taycan is not a shrieking flat-six, or a ferocious turbocharged power plant, but instead a 93.4 kW battery pack powering motors at the front and rear axles. This creates a stable all-wheel drive platform that is capable of incendiary performance. 0-60 times for the flagship Turbo S model reach close to 2 and a half seconds, thanks to a unique two-speed gearbox that generates unbelievable launches, but keeps the drivetrain efficient at higher cruising speeds. Stashing the batteries beneath the passenger floor keeps the center of gravity low, and establishes the road-hugging presence that Porsche sports cars are known for. Coupled with the new 911’s steering rack, the Taycan is at home on back roads as much as it is anywhere else.
While heart-pounding Porsche performance is nothing new, and is available all across the model range, the obvious distinction of the Taycan is that it is fully electric. While this is the first such model for the brand, Porsche did its homework to make sure it was ready to compete on more than just name alone. To rejuvenate the 93.4 kW battery pack, the industry-leading 800-volt charging system can power up at 270 kW, repleting the car with 80% of range in just 22 and a half minutes and assuaging range anxiety on long trips. A superbly accurate range estimator and an economical “range mode” for driving will also assist to give you confidence to get the most out of the Taycan.
The place you’ll be seated for those long trips, and everyday driving, is a familiar Porsche cockpit that has been digitalized for the modern era. The build quality, materials and ergonomics are distinctly recognizable, but functionality makes a clean and seamless transition courtesy of a handful of digital screens around the cabin. These screens are entirely configurable to suit your preferences as well as the functions you use most frequently. Haptic feedback on the center screen also simplifies making precise gestures, and eliminates accidental activation of certain functions. For passengers in the back seats, Porsche has emphasized comfort there as well, rearranging the batteries in the floor for more foot space in what they’ve called “foot garages.” Then, when optioned with the panoramic roof, the rear head room is increased by nearly an inch, making any seat in the Taycan a luxurious one to be in.
But of course, the envy will be the driver’s seat, and for good reason. Because even with the loads of new technology, efficiency and a landscape paved with more than $6 billion of investment, the deciding factor is whether it looks, feels and drives like a Porsche.
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