Did you know that the Porsche Taycan has charging ports on both sides, and it charges up faster than a new iPhone? Did you also know that its ground clearance is lower than the Porsche 911? Those are just some of the cool things about Porsche's first full EV, which stands out in many ways.
If you think that it’s just another quick-charge battery electric car, think again!
The Porsche Taycan was introduced a couple of years ago, and it's the first all-electric car from the famous sportscar maker. Here in Australia, it is available in two body styles and several drivetrain configurations, all of which are great performers as you would expect from this manufacturer.
The First Generation of Porsche Taycan (2020-present)
The first generation of Porsche Taycan was introduced in 2019, while the Australian version debuted a year later. The initial version came as a four-door sedan, followed by a shooting brake body style in the second year. It came with a wide range of drivetrain options, with max output ranging from 390 to 560 kilowatts.
Design
The Porsche Taycan is based on VW's J1 platform, a special variant of the MSB architecture. It shares the platform with the Audi e-Tron GT, though we have to say that this particular model comes with a full load of exclusive design and tech solutions.
Porsche cars have always been about nimble handling, and therefore, German engineers tried to save as much weight as possible, considering that the battery adds a lot. So, the logical solution was to use lightweight materials.
Aluminium is the first thing that comes to mind, and the Taycan features shock absorber mounts, axle mounts and rear side members, and numerous body panels made from this material. In fact, 37% of the vehicle is made from aluminium.
Also, there is massive use of steel. The B pillars, side roof frame, and seat cross-member are made from hot-formed steel, while the bulkhead cross member is made from boron steel. As a result, the vehicle weighs between 2,140–2,305 kg (depending on the version), which is impressive considering the model's size and battery capacity.
Dimensions
The wheelbase measures 2,900mm, but the length, width, height, and ground clearance vary depending on the body style.
Porsche Taycan Sedan Dimensions:
- Wheelbase: 2,900mm
- Height: 1,379mm
- Length: 4,963mm
- Width: 1,966mm
- Ground clearance: 128mm
- Weight: 2,140 – 2,305kg
- Rear track: 1,667mm
- Front track: 1,702mm
Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo Dimensions:
- Wheelbase: 2,904mm
- Height: 1,412mm
- Length: 4,974mm
- Width: 1,967mm
- Ground clearance unladen: 148mm
- Weight: 2,155 – 2,320kg
- Rear track: 1,672mm
- Front track: 1,710mm
Exterior
It’s easy to spot typical Porsche lines, especially from the side. The interesting thing about the Taycan is that its design language is notably different compared to the likes of the 911 or Panamera. It accentuates the model’s all-electric nature in a subtle way.
Most of the design solutions are shared with the Mission E concept car, except for the B-pillars and suicide doors. This electric car is full of fancy details, such as a retractable rear spoiler and retractable door handles, while higher grades add a lot of carbon fibre details and exclusive 20-inch wheels.
Under the body, you will find a pretty advanced chassis and suspension setup. This isn’t a big surprise since it’s something we would expect from any Porsche.
At the front, the Taycan comes with air suspension, a double-wishbone setup, and an anti-roll bar. The rear end also features air components and an anti-roll bar but combined with a multi-link setup.
Such a setup provides an exceptional level of athleticism, despite the size and weight. At the same time, the level of comfort is impressive too. As you may presume, all four wheels come equipped with ventilated disc brakes.
Drivetrain
Before we start with the numbers, let’s say a few words about interesting tech solutions for this drivetrain setup. The first thing that comes to mind is that it uses two gearboxes.
Each axle comes with a single electric motor, and while there is a typical single-speed gearbox at the front, the rear unit has two gears. There is a short planetary first gear (15.5:1) that is beneficial in terms of acceleration and a long-ratio second gear (8.05:1) that ensures higher top speed and improves efficiency.
Australian version of the Taycan is available in four configurations. The base setup, which is available in the sedan only, comes with a smaller 79-kWh battery setup and a couple of electric motors (max output of 240 kW; with overboost 300 kW). That’s enough power to ensure a 0-100km/h sprint in about 5.5 seconds. The WLTP max range is 421 km.
The 4S model is next in the line, and it offers notably more power and better performances. This version features a max output of 390 kW and 620 Nm of torque, which allows it to hit 100km/h in four seconds flat. It also features a 79-kWh battery pack with a WLTP max range of 408 km.
The Taycan Turbo doesn't have a turbocharger, but it comes with more capable electric motors (500 kW, 850 Nm). Also, this version features a bigger 93-kWh battery pack, which provides a max range of 452 miles, according to WLTP. The 0-100 time goes around 3.2 seconds.
Finally, there is the Turbo S model, with even more power. This one puts out 560 kW and a massive 1,050 Nm of torque, so it’s no wonder it needs just 2.8 seconds to hit 100 km/h and a max range of 416 km.
Charging
Porsche engineers put a lot of attention to charging, so Porsche specially developed a charging system with an 800-volt capacity. When used with a 270-kW port, it can charge the Taycan’s battery from 5% to 80% in just 22.5 minutes (in ideal conditions).
Also, this electric car is compatible with existing 400-volt stations. In other words, it converts the 400-volt system to the car's 800-volt system, though the charging time largely depends on weather conditions and infrastructure.
Finally, there is a home charging option via a 9.6-kW connector so that the battery can be charged in about 11 hours.
As was already mentioned, the Taycan features charging ports on both sides. Interestingly, an AC source can be connected to either side, while a DC source can only be connected to the passenger's side.
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By Nebojsa Grmusa