Taycan: A Porsche of Electrifying Accomplishment

In an age of spectacle, the debut of a new model from an automotive icon like Porsche demands more than an auto show reveal, more than a celebrity-filled ad campaign, a Super Bowl spot, or a feature film placement. When Porsche introduces a new model to the world, it requires a global audience. On September 4th, on three continents, Porsche introduced us to the all-new Taycan, and the automotive landscape changed forever.

The Model by which all EV models are compared to is the iconic Tesla Model S, specifically the P100D, with ‘P’ being the Performance version with 100 kWh battery and dual motors. Specifications reported by Tesla include acceleration for 0-100 km/h in as little as 2.6 seconds, 507 km (315 miles) of range, with approximately 778 horsepower and 734 lb-ft of instant torque and a software limited top speed of 155 mph (249 km/h).

Porsche’s Taycan Turbo S is a four-door sedan that is similar to the Mission E Concept unveiled in 2015 that accelerates to 100 km/h in 2.8 seconds, 450 kilometres (279 miles) of range, with 617 horsepower (751 with the over-boost function) and 774 pound-feet of torque. Maximum velocity for both the Turbo and Turbo S is 161 mph (259 km/h).

FYI, don’t let the ‘Turbo’ (aka Turbocharged) name fool you, as it is only used as branding since turbocharging is used in Internal Combustion Engines (ICE), where an actual turbocharger device uses the engines exhaust gas and forces compressed air into a combustion chamber for increased power. Of note, the Porsche Taycan set a recordbreaking lap of 7 minutes, 42 seconds for a four-door electric vehicle at the Nürburgring track in Germany.

Inside, conventional buttons and knobs are absent in favour of a touch-controlled dashboard and center console. The main instrument cluster is curved and a prominent 16.8-inch touch screen surrounds. The Taycan is the first automobile ever to be fitted with Apple Music fully integrated into the car’s entertainment system while interior trimmings are made of sustainable recycled polyester fibres with floor coverings from old fishing nets are available.

This is the first all-electric vehicle from the Stuttgart, Germany-based automaker and won’t be the last as variants will continue to be released over the coming years. The 2020 Porsche Taycan represents part of the $6.6 billion the company has allocated into electric vehicles and factories. Plans have already been announced for a Taycan Cross Turismo. Further fully electrified models to follow include the Macan with 50% of Porsches to have a plug by 2025.

The long-awaited electric debut of Porsche’s Taycan has both enlightened and amazed. Watch out Tesla, there is a new entry in town.

The 2020 Taycan will be the first production car with a system voltage that can charge with 800 volts, allowing for a super-fast charge from 5% to 80% in a mere 22.5 minutes, compared with the commonly used 400 volts for electric cars, says Porsche. Canadian allocation is being tight-lipped, but Porsche Cars Canada has seen over 1,000 deposits. Reportedly all 10,000 of the units allocated for North America have already been sold with an additional 10,000 to 20,000 slated for the rest of the world. It will be interesting to see how many Tesla owners add a Taycan to their garage and if current 911 aficionados come over to the ‘green’ side. Will the Taycan outdo the 4-door Porsche Panamera in sales? Time will tell. Deliveries will begin in early 2020. The Taycan Turbo pricing starts at $173,900 with the Turbo S at $213,900. The newly announced Taycan 4S, the third all-electric version, has just been announced with a price tag of $119,400.

In an ever-competitive automotive marketplace, Porsche has – perhaps – the most discerning, informed, and engaged customers and drivers. And in a time of climate change and challenges, that same base is equally ecologically and environmentally aware. Automotive and industrial giants such as Porsche are tasked with the nearly impossible: Provide products that are equal parts conscious, efficient, and performative. The sum of those parts is the 2020 Taycan.

THE PORSCHE TAYCAN UNVEILED

After four years of hype and following on the world premiere splash of the fully-electric Taycan, this all-new model – a game-changer in the increasingly competitive model on the planet – was welcomed to North America in Niagara Falls at an exclusive event. The Invidiata Collection’s Christopher Invidiata and Lauren Lowe were on hand for the celebration of technology, ecology, and automotive ingenuity.

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SPORTS CAR, SUSTAINABLY REDEISNGED

Porsche presented its first fully-electric sports car to the public on September 4th, 2019 with a spectacular world premiere held simultaneously on three continents.

“The Taycan links our heritage to the future. It carries forward the success story of our brand – a brand that has fascinated and thrilled people the world over for more than 70 years,” said Oliver Blume, Chairman of the Executive Board of Porsche AG, who opened the world premiere in Berlin: “This day marks the start of a new era.”

The four-door sports saloon is a unique package, offering typical Porsche performance and connectivity with everyday usability. At the same time, highly advanced production methods and the features of the Taycan are setting new standards in the fields of sustainability and digitalisation. “We promised a true Porsche for the age of electromobility – a fascinating sports car that not only excites in terms of its technology and driving dynamics, but also sparks a passion in people all over the world, just like its legendary predecessors have done. Now we are delivering on this promise,” emphasises Michael Steiner, Member of the Executive Board of Porsche AG – Research and Development.

The first models in the new series are the Taycan Turbo S and Taycan Turbo. They are at the cutting edge of Porsche E-Performance and are among the most powerful production models that the sports car manufacturer currently has in its product range. Less powerful variants of these all-wheel drive vehicles will follow this year. The first derivative to be added will be the Taycan Cross Turismo at the end of next year. By 2022, Porsche will have invested more than six billion euros in electromobility.

PERFORMANCE MEETS EFFICIENCY

The flagship Turbo S version of the Taycan can generate up to 560 kW (761 PS; Taycan Turbo S: combined power consumption 26.9 kWh/100 km; combined CO2 emissions 0 g/km) overboost power in combination with Launch Control, and the Taycan Turbo up to 500 kW (680 PS; Taycan Turbo: combined power consumption 26.0 kWh/100 km; combined CO2 emissions 0 g/km). The Taycan Turbo S accelerates from zero to 100 km/h in 2.8 seconds, while the Taycan Turbo completes this sprint in 3.2 seconds. The Turbo S has a range of up to 412 kilometres, and the Turbo a range of up to 450 kilometres (according to WLTP in each case). The top speed of both all-wheel-drive models is 260 km/h.

The Taycan is the first production vehicle with a system voltage of 800 volts instead of the usual 400 volts for electric cars. This is a particular advantage for Taycan drivers on the road: in just over five minutes, the battery can be recharged using direct current (DC) from the high-power charging network for a range of up to 100 kilometres (according to WLTP). The charging time for five to 80 percent SoC (state of charge) is 22.5 minutes for charging under ideal conditions, and the maximum charging power (peak) is 270 kW. The overall capacity of the Performance Battery Plus is 93.4 kWh. Taycan drivers can comfortably charge their cars with up to eleven kW of alternating current (AC) at home.

PURE EXTERIOR DESIGN WITH PORSCHE DNA

With its clean, puristic design, the Taycan signals the beginning of a new era. At the same time, it retains the unmistakable Porsche design DNA. From the front it looks particularly wide and flat with highly contoured wings. The silhouette is shaped by the sporty roofline sloping downward to the rear. The highly sculpted side sections are also characteristic. The sleek cabin, the drawn-in rear C-pillar and the pronounced shoulders of the wings result in a sharply emphasised rear, typical of the brand. There are also innovative elements such as the glass-effect Porsche logo, which has been integrated into the light bar at the rear. With a C_d value from 0.22, the aerodynamically optimised basic shape makes a significant contribution to low energy consumption and thus long range.

UNIQUE INTERIOR DESIGN WITH A WIDE DISPLAY SCREEN BAND

The cockpit signals the start of a new era with its clear structure and a completely new architecture. The freestanding, curved instrument cluster forms the highest point on the dashboard. This places a clear focus on the driver axis. A central, 10.9-inch infotainment display and an optional passenger display are combined to form an integrated glass band in a black-panel look. All user interfaces have been completely newly designed for the Taycan. The number of classic hardware controls such as switches and buttons has been greatly reduced. Instead, control is intelligent and intuitive – using touch operation or the voice control function, which responds to the command “Hey Porsche”.

With the Taycan, Porsche offers an entirely leather-free interior for the first time. Interiors made from innovative recycled materials underscore the sustainable concept of the electric sports car. “Foot garages” – recesses in the battery in the rear footwell – ensure sitting comfort in the rear and allow the low vehicle height typical of sports cars. Two luggage compartments are available: the front compartment has a capacity of 81 litres and the rear 366 litres.

INNOVATIVE DRIVE MOTORS AND TWO-SPEED TRANSMISSION

The Taycan Turbo S and Taycan Turbo have two exceptionally efficient electric ma-chines, one on the front axle and one on the rear axle, thus making the cars all-wheel drive. Both the range and the continuous power of the drive benefit from the high efficiency of the permanently excited synchronous machines. The electric machine, transmission and pulse-controlled inverter are each combined into a compact drive module. The modules have the highest power density (kW per litre of package space) of all electric powertrains on the market today. A special feature of the electric motors is the “hairpin” winding of the stator coils. This technology makes it possible to incorporate more copper in the stator, increasing power output and torque while maintaining the same component volume.

The two-speed transmission installed on the rear axle is an innovation developed by Porsche. First gear gives the Taycan even more acceleration from a standing start, while second gear with a long gear ratio ensures high efficiency and equally high power reserves. This also applies at very high speeds.

CENTRALLY NETWORKED CHASSIS SYSTEMS

Porsche uses a centrally networked control system for the Taycan chassis. The inte-grated Porsche 4D Chassis Control analyses and synchronises all chassis systems in real time. The innovative chassis systems include adaptive air suspension with three-chamber technology including PASM (Porsche Active Suspension Management) electronic damper control, as well as the Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control Sport (PDCC Sport) electromechanical roll stabilisation system including Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus (PTV Plus). The all-wheel drive control with two electric motors and the recuperation system are unique. At up to 265 kW, the potential recuperation power is significantly higher than that of competitors. Driving tests have shown that approximately 90 percent of everyday braking is performed by the electric machines alone – without the hydraulic wheel brakes being activated.

The profile of the different driving modes basically follows the same philosophy as in other Porsche model series. This is supplemented by special settings which enable optimum use of the purely electric drive. Four driving modes are available: “Range”, “Normal”, “Sport” and “Sport Plus”. In addition, individual systems can be configured as required in the “Individual” mode.

A WORLD PREMIERE ON THREE CONTINENTS AT THE SAME TIME

The Porsche Taycan’s world premiere took place simultaneously in North America, China and Europe. The most important sales markets of the new electric sports car are on these three continents. The event locations are also a synonym for three ways of sustainable energy management: Niagara Falls at the border between the US state of New York and the Canadian province of Ontario representing hydro-power, a solar farm in Neuhardenberg near Berlin representing solar power and a wind farm on Pingtan Island, around 150 kilometres from the Chinese city of Fuzhou in the province of Fujian representing wind power. We perceive these natural forces with all our senses in exactly the same way as we experience the impressive power delivery of the first all-electric sports car from Porsche.

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Mayk Wienkötter
Spokesperson Model Line Taycan and E-Mobility
mayk.wienkoetter@porsche.de
+ 49 (0) 711 / 911 20764