The Porsche Taycan was one of the industry’s most important new cars unveiled this year, and Doug DeMuro recently had the opportunity to drive it.
Not only is the Taycan the first all-electric production car from the German automaker, but it is also the first legitimate rival to the Tesla Model S which has dominated this premium EV space for years. The variant tested by DeMuro was the range-topping Taycan Turbo S, but, depending on the market, it is also offered in 4S and Turbo guise.
An Exciting EV: Is The Taycan A True Porsche? Yes, Indeed – And Then Some
Found beneath the skin of the Taycan Turbo S is a 93.4 kWh lithium-ion battery pack mated to a pair of electric motors that deliver up to 750 hp and 774 lb-ft (1050 Nm) of torque when the Overboost function is enabled. This allows the electric sedan to sprint through to 62 mph (100 km/h) in a mere 2.8 seconds. Another particularly exciting aspect of the car’s powertrain is that it can be charged to 80 per cent capacity in just 22.5 minutes thanks to the 800-volt architecture.
In usual DeMuro fashion, the video details some of the more intriguing exterior and interior features of the Taycan. Perhaps the most eye-catching aspect of the car’s interior are the plethora of touchscreens that are used to control virtually every aspect of the vehicle. Drivers and passengers can also control the climate control vents and direct the airflow through the central touchscreen, much like on the Tesla Model 3.
The Porsche Taycan is regarded as a Tesla Model S rival but it is much more expensive, starting at $150,900 in Turbo form and from $185,000 in Turbo S guise.