The Porsche Taycan 4S just started arriving at U.S. dealerships and it will soon be joined by a more affordable variant.
In interview with Car Magazine, Porsche’s research and development boss said “There will be a rear-wheel drive model with a smaller battery to make it more accessible price-wise.” Dr Michael Steiner went on to say it will appeal to people who live in areas where “weather conditions mean you don’t need” all-wheel drive.
Steiner specifically mentioned China and the publication reports the country will likely be the first to receive the entry-level Taycan. While the board member declined to mention pricing or specifications, Car says the model should arrive within the next 12 months.
Also Read: Porsche Taycan 4S Debuts With Up To 563 HP And A $46,000 Lower Price Tag
While a number of questions remain, the upcoming model will slot beneath the Taycan 4S which comes standard with a 79.2 kWh battery pack and two electric motors that produce a combined output of up to 523 hp (390 kW / 530 PS). This enables the model to travel up to 252 miles (405 km) on a single charge in the WLTP cycle.
The Taycan 4S can also be equipped with a 93.4 kWh Performance Battery Plus which increases the WLTP range to 287 miles (462 km). This variant also receives a performance boost as it’s rated at 563 hp (420 kW / 571 PS).
Despite having two different powertrains, both Taycan 4S variants accelerate from 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) in 3.8 seconds and have a top speed of 155 mph (250 km/h).
While entry-level model will likely be significantly less powerful than its all-wheel drive counterparts, the car will be more affordable than the Taycan 4S which starts at $103,800 before factoring in the $1,350 delivery, processing and handling fee.
