The Taycan couldn’t be anything other than a Porsche. Look at that low bonnet line with the two prominent wings defining the front wheels. The 911-like shape of the rear side window. Or the curvaceous profile. Yet although it’s clearly related to the 911 and other models like the Panamera, this four-door all-electric sports saloon looks like a futuristic concept car. Its four-point floating LED headlights integrate neatly with a vertical air intake to channel air towards the front brakes. The sporty roofline accommodates headroom for adult rear-seat passengers. As a design it’s as timeless as every Porsche should be, and (apart from the model-specific 19-inch Aero wheels) there’s little outwardly to distinguish the Taycan from its more powerful stablemates.
PERFORMANCE
Unlike its all-wheel drive stablemates, the 408hp Taycan comes with a single electric motor driving the rear wheels. In Overboost mode, it’s capable of accelerating the Porsche from 0-62mph in 5.4 seconds. Top speed is electronically limited to 143mph. Two batteries are available; the single deck Performance Battery has a capacity of 79.2kW/h, while the twin-deck Performance Battery Plus offers 93.4kw/h. Range as measured by the WLTP tests is up to 268 miles and 301 miles respectively. The Taycan can take advantage of fast-charging stations thanks to its 800-Volt architecture, with charging rates up to 225kW for the standard Performance battery and 270kW for the Performance Plus; this means that both can be charged from 5% to 80% in 22.5 minutes.
TECHNOLOGY
The Taycan can take advantage of fast-charging stations thanks to its 800-Volt architecture, with charging rates up to 225kW for the standard Performance battery and 270kW for the Performance Plus; this means that both can be charged from 5% to 80% in 22.5 minutes.
SAFETY
The Taycan comes as standard with six-piston aluminium monobloc fixed-calliper brakes at the front and four-piston aluminium monobloc fixed-calliper brakes at the rear. High-performance Porsche Surface Coated Brake discs (PSCB) are an option. Another feature, InnoDrive, adapts your speed to the conditions, taking note of speed limits, bends, roundabouts, and situations where you have to give way or stop, though the driver remains in command of the car at all times. This option can be purchased outright over the air or ‘leased’ for a monthly fee.
