From Taycan reviews to technology, discover why the Taycan is a gamechanging electric car
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Discover more about the record-breaking, award-winning, versatile all-electric sports car that has helped change what we think an EV can achieve
When Porsche revealed the Taycan in 2019, it changed the way people thought about what an all-electric vehicle could be capable of. Dynamic and packed with innovative technology, it was a true Porsche in every respect. Since then, the Taycan Sports Saloon has been joined by the Taycan Sport Turismo and Taycan Cross Turismo, expanding the options for customers with a range of lifestyles. Here are a few reasons why the Taycan has been a true game changer – and not just for Porsche…1 The Porsche Taycan is a car designed as an EV from the ground up Unlike electric vehicles based on cars originally designed with combustion engines, the Taycan was imagined from the ground up as an electric vehicle. It’s an example of what is called a ‘purpose design approach’, meaning that the battery was considered the most important aspect of the vehicle from the start of the development process – which is why the Taycan was constructed around this battery.The adventure loving Taycan Cross Turismo is one of three different variants in the Taycan rangeIt meant that Porsche was able to explore the full benefits of electromobility, like providing luggage compartments in the front (aka the ‘frunk’) as well as the rear of the car. A lack of an internal combustion engine (ICE) and exhaust also means that space in the Taycan is optimised. And these benefits are extended further with the Taycan Cross Turismo and Taycan Sport Turismo variants, with their larger tailgates and enhanced luggage space.2 What kind of technology do you get in a Porsche Taycan?You could describe the Taycan as a ‘technology flagship’ for Porsche. As well as its unique and powerful drivetrain and its 800-volt battery pack – a first-ever for a production vehicle – which helps speeds up charging time and improve performance, there are a host of great technological benefits in the car. Take Launch Control. Several Porsche cars have featured this before, but none quite like the way their all-electric sports car has done. It works as an overboost function, delivering extra power to the electric motors of the Taycan for 2.5 seconds. The result? When deployed, maximum acceleration from standstill on all Taycan models. In the shape of the Taycan Turbo S, its normal peak output of 625PS rises to a jaw-dropping 761PS.The Panoramic Roof with Variable Light Control allows you to individually control each of its nine sections in order to switch between matt and clear settingsThere’s plenty of great Porsche innovations on the inside too. As befits a game changing all-electric vehicle, the Porsche Advanced Cockpit has up to four displays – including an optional display for front seat passengers. With Advanced Climate Control, the air flow of the air conditioning is controlled electrically, using your fingertips on the touchscreen. And the optional Panoramic Roof with Variable Light Control helps reduce glare without compromising on the brightness within the vehicle. It works by dividing the roof into nine sections which can be individually controlled to switch the liquid crystal film inside the glass between clear and matt settings.3 What is Porsche Electronic Sport Sound?More than any other type of vehicle, sportscars and race cars can often be identified just by the sound they make. Certainly, every Porsche model has its own character – and its own particular ‘voice’. This presented something of a dilemma for Porsche engineers when developing their first all-electric vehicle. In the case of the EU, USA and China, for example, there are legal requirements in place for manufacturers when it comes to the acoustics of an electric vehicle for pedestrian safety reasons. But in the case of the Porsche engineers developing the Taycan Sports Saloon, there was also the additional desire for a Porsche to sound good. They were determined that it must be authentic and match the vehicle. And that meant harnessing the unique qualities of their new car.Acousticians and engineers at Porsche created a unique sound for the Taycan called Porsche Electric Sport SoundOf course, an electric vehicle runs far more quietly than a petrol- or diesel-powered car, but it’s not totally silent. You can hear the contact that its tyres makes with the road, for example, and its transmission and drive motors at work too. At the Nardò Technical Centre in Italy and the soundproof laboratory of the Porsche development centre in Weissach, near Stuttgart, the company’s acousticians listened, tested and tweaked. They came up with Porsche Electric Sport Sound, an option for your Taycan, which highlights those parts of the drive that sound good and filters out the unwanted sounds. It’s a sound that gets increasingly louder and powerful the more dynamic the driving. Emotional, say the engineers, rather than obtrusive – an entirely unique sound for these unique all-electric sports cars.4 What are the three versions of the Porsche Taycan?The versatility of the Porsche Taycan design has meant that there are now three versions for you to choose from – although it all began with the launch of the all-electric Taycan Sports Saloon. Prior to this, people looking for a premium luxury solution when making the switch to an electric vehicle had to make compromises. The head-turning looks, game changing performance and innovative tech of the Taycan changed all that. Drivers recognised that here was an all-electric vehicle where you instantly knew that the people making it had built sportscars before. Decades of Porsche expertise in suspensions, steering and much more all went into the Taycan.That expertise then carried across to the Taycan Sport Turismo, an athletic all-rounder designed with everyday practicality in mind. Its roofline means that the headroom for rear seat passengers is more than 45mm higher than that of the Taycan Sports Saloon (there’s an additional 9mm for the driver too). A large tailgate means easy accessibility to the luggage compartment which, dependent on which audio package you choose, has a capacity of up to 446 litres.Heads you win: there’s 47mm more rear headroom for rear passengers and 9mm more for the driver in the Taycan Cross Turismo compared to the Taycan Sports SaloonThe range is completed by the Taycan Cross Turismo. A true all-rounder, its high-tech chassis, with all-wheel drive and adaptive air suspension, means that it performs brilliantly both on the road as well as light off-road terrain. Like the Taycan Sport Turismo, luggage space and rear headroom are both increased in comparison to the Taycan Sport Saloon. With Performance Battery Plus as standard, your leisure time isn’t hampered either, delivering a combined range of between 358km to 512km across the entire Taycan model range. Unlike the Taycan Sports Saloon and Taycan Sport Turismo, the Taycan Cross Turismo comes with all-wheel drive as standard and also has a higher ride height than the other two cars in the model range. Design elements include wheel arch trims, unique front and rear lower aprons and side sills. There’s also an optional Off-Road package that increases ground clearance by up to 30mm. It’s a car with adventure in mind.5 What records has the Porsche Taycan broken?The Porsche Taycan has broken several electric vehicle records. Just before its launch back in 2019 it became the fastest four-door electric car on the Nürburgring-Nordschleife at the Nürburgring. A Taycan Turbo S Sports Saloon covered the 20.6km section of the Green Hell used for record attempts in an extremely rapid seven minutes and 42 seconds – that’s an average speed of 160.52km/h. And three years later it became the fastest series-production electric car on the famed German circuit, the scene of many great high-octane exploits over the years, when it posted a mark of seven minutes and 33 seconds.In 2021 racing driver Leh Keen broke the world indoor speed record in a Porsche Taycan Turbo S – one of a number of records the vehicle holdsThe Taycan records don’t end there, either. At the start of 2022, a team of drivers broke the record for the highest altitude achieved by an all-electric production car – 4,842.967 metres, or just over three miles – by driving from one of the lowest points in the United States, Badwater Basin in Death Valley, to one of its highest, the famous Pike’s Peak in Colorado. The Taycan has also added the fastest speed achieved by a vehicle indoors, when professional racing driver, Leh Keen, reached a speed of 165.1km/h in a Taycan Turbo S at the New Orleans Convention Center in 2021.And if you thought electric cars can’t drift, then the Taycan proved that assumption wrong in dramatic style when Porsche Experience Center driver, Dennis Reter, secured the Guinness world record for the Taycan with the longest continuous drift in an electric vehicle. He managed to hold it for a jaw-dropping 55 continuous minutes and 42km on an irrigated track at the Porsche Experience Centre (PEC) at the Hockenheimring.6 What do owners say about the Porsche Taycan?“I love the fact that my Taycan ticks all the boxes. It’s sporty, comfortable, practical and cool – all at the same time. Best car I’ve ever had.”Marcus Valeur, photographer, Taycan 4 Cross Turismo owner“The best part about the Taycan is the emotional connection I get with my vehicle. Sitting inside it is like an extension of myself. I feel every turn and inch of the road we’re driving on, making every drive fun and enjoyable. I love my Taycan.”Monica D Tang, influencer, Taycan Sports Saloon owner“A technological masterpiece… an incredible technical achievement… a powerful glimpse into the future of the performance car”: just some of the media’s praise for the Taycan6 What do car magazines and newspapers say about the Porsche Taycan?The Taycan has been wowing the world’s automotive press ever since its launch. At the 2020 World Car of the Year Awards, it triumphed in the World Luxury Car and World Performance Car of the Year – a hugely significant achievement for an electric vehicle. And it has continued to pick up accolades ever since. Here’s a snapshot of what the media has said:“The Taycan represents Porsche’s foray into the electric vehicle space, and it does not disappoint. The Taycan is a technological masterpiece that manages to deliver incredible comfort and effortless driving one moment and then, with the twist of a knob, world-beating performance the next. How one car can do both so well is a little baffling.”Edmunds, USA“The Taycan is fun, engaging, and has a strong sense of Porsche DNA shot through its dynamics… Does it feel like a proper Porsche? Absolutely. Is it a reassuring, polished, and powerful glimpse into the future of the performance car? Undoubtedly.”Wheels, Australia“The Porsche Taycan is an incredible technical achievement. It does the things we all enjoy about driving – accelerating, braking, going around corners – with supreme alacrity, and features a massive well of capability largely untapped by normal driving.”CAR, UK“With the Taycan Turbo S, Porsche is once again setting standards for electric cars, above all with its outstanding comfort and dynamic properties. Nothing else can master this balancing act at a such high level.”Auto Zeitung, Germany“The Taycan can absolutely entertain on the right road and is a delight to cruise in – a GT with the heart of a sports car. More importantly, it’s a proper Porsche that just happens to run on electricity. Truly, this is great news for anyone that loves fast cars.”Top Gear magazine, UK
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