Porsche unveiled their new luxury sports sedan simultaneously in the USA, Europe and China. The car is called the Taycan and is a pure electric spiritual successor of the Panamera. Porsche has launched the top end models called the Taycan Turbo S and Taycan Turbo. Though there is no exhaust to run any turbos, the company has stuck to its performance nomenclatures for the IC engine vehicles.
The Looks. The Taycan sticks to the legendary Porsche shape which is a smooth curve running from the front to rear bumpers. Despite the four doors, the classic 911 shape is retained and without affecting the proportions. The headlamps are marked by typical four LED DRLs seen on Porsches of late with a completely uncluttered face underlined by a deep and wide air dam. The rear has LED tail lamps extended across the width of the car. The bumper is accentuated with dark creases at the bottom to aid aerodynamics and which do not let you miss the missing tail pipes. The wheels fill the wells completely. The low silhouette and high shoulders lend the Taycan feel of motion even when at rest.
The Feel. Porsche has ditched leather in favour of recycled material. The dashboard, though maintaining the typical Porsche layout is entirely new using a new architecture. Instrumentation is pure digital. Porsche has replaced switches with touch screen or voice control for controlling air conditioning and other accessories. There is another central, 10.9-inch infotainment display and an optional passenger display. All these screens combine to form an integrated glass band in a black-panel across the car. Steering is typical Porsche and the only analogue piece of equipment is a very attractive clock sitting atop the dashboard. The Taycan can seat four in comfort in individual seats. Thanks to a lack of an engine, the Taycan has two boots. The front boot can hold small knick-knacks and shopping bags up to 81 litres, while the rear boot carries the holiday stuff for a touring vacation gobbling in 366 litres of luggage.
The Push. These cars are powered by a 800 V electric system which is unique as most other companies are offering 400 V systems. The 800 V system helps in increasing the range as well as reducing the charging time. Both the Turbo S and Turbo are all wheel drive cars driven by one perma-synch motor driving each axle. The total output of the Turbo S model is 560 KW (761 PS) with overboost capacity. On the other hand the Turbo motors generate 460 KW (625 PS) without overboost. Both cars generate a humongous amount of tree uprooting torque of 1050 N-m. These motors can push the 2,295 Kg cars to an electronically limited maximum speed of 260 km/h. The 1050 N-m torque available from start helps the Turbo S to achieve a 0 to 100 km/h in 2.8 seconds while the Turbo achieves the same feat in 3.2 seconds. Another first for an electric car is a two speed transmission provided on the rear axle. The first gear allows for quick acceleration while the second gear helps effortless cruising and extending the battery juices to the max. The Taycan has been provided with five driving modes, “Range”, “Normal”, “Sport”, “Sport Plus” and “Individual” where the driver can independently set the driving characteristics.
Stopping Power. For controlling all the speed and bringing the car to rest the Taycan has been provided with ventilated Porsche Ceramic Composite Disc brakes front and rear. While the front brakes are 420 mm in diameter, the rear ones are 410 mm. The built in energy recuperating system does 90% of all braking while the hydraulic brakes are used for only 10% of the time in European driving conditions.
The Ride. Porsche has introduced a centrally controlled chassis called the Porsche 4-D Chassis Control. This system analyses and synchronises all the chassis systems in real time. The system comprises adaptive air suspension including PASM (Porsche Active Suspension Management), electronic damper control, Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control Sport (PDCC Sport) and electro-mechanical roll stabilisation system including Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus (PTV Plus). The Taycan is independently suspended at front and rear. The front has Aluminium double wishbone axle while the rear has Aluminium multi-link suspension.
Range Anxiety? The overall capacity of the Performance Battery Plus provided with the vehicle is 93.4 kWh. Thanks to higher energy consumption by the Turbo S, it has a range of 412 km while the Turbo will drain its batteries after covering 450 km. Using a high powered charging point, you can push in enough current to charge the batteries to drive for another 100 km in just 5, yes 5, minutes. It can be charged from 5% to 80% charge in 22.5 minutes for charging under ideal conditions. Maximum charging power that the Taycan can handle is 270 KW. It can also be charged easily using an 11 KW home charging connection.
| Turbo – 460 KW (625 PS) | Turbo S – 560 KW (761 PS) |
| Torque – 1050 NM | Top Speed – 260 km/h |
| 0-100 km/h – 2.8 Seconds | 0-200 km/h – 9.8 seconds |
| Range – 388 to 412 km | Maximum Charging Power – 270 KW |
| Efficiency – 26.9 KW-h/ 100 km | Weight – 2295 Kg |
| Wheel Base – 2900 mm | Length – 4963 mm |
| Width – 1966 mm | Height – 1378 mm |
| Front Track – 1690 mm | Rear Track – 1655 mm |
| Transmission – 2 Speed | System Voltage – 800 V |
| Two permanent excited synchronous motors | All Wheel Drive |
| Cd – 0.25 |
The Transport Journal 