Until now, the Porsche Taycan has always been available with all-wheel drive. This is now changing. The new base model classically uses the rear axle for propulsion. The pricing is also classic.
Porsche and renunciation meet rather rarely in the large playroom of the automobiles. And this is likely to remain so. Because also the new electrical basis model of the Zuffenhausener does not have with renouncement really much at the hat.
Taycan: the new bestseller?
When the new rear-wheel-drive Taycan joins as the fourth member of the family in March, there will be at least 83.520 euros on the price tag of the electric sports car. Which is still not really a friendly offer, but still a whopping 22.967 euros under the all-wheel-drive Taycan 4S lies. This is one of the reasons why the Zuffenhausen merchants believe that their new baby is likely to become the new bestseller of the Taycan family.
Porsche offers the Stromer in two battery sizes: With the standard performance battery, system output is 300 kW/408 hp; in the Performance Plus variant we drove, it's 476 hp (+ 5.724 euros). With this battery, by the way, the Taycan is the first production vehicle to use a system voltage of 800 volts instead of the usual 400 volts. Porsche gives the combined power consumption as 28.7 kWh/100 km, the maximum range is supposed to be 484 kilometers. As a new optional extra, there is a 22 kW on-board charger (+1.666 euros), which can recharge electricity for up to 100 kilometers in about five minutes.
You don't need more sports cars
The first few hundred kilometers behind the wheel of the four-door car, which is simply called the "Taycan," are a convincing demonstration. We're happy to say that no one needs more Taycans than this. Although at 2.2 tons the sporty Stromer doesn't really pass for a diet miracle, it's more relaxed than the 4S. The all-wheel-drive model has a nominal 54 hp more to offer, but it's also a good 100 kilograms heavier. The differences in acceleration are marginal and – let's be honest – completely negligible except on the racetrack.
Anyone who briefly calls up full power via overboost and the Launch Control drive system gets a lot of pressure on the neck. 5.4 seconds to 100 km/h, top speed 230 km/h. Moving so dynamically, the electricity meter in the Taycan naturally has its hands full. The remaining kilometers in the battery melt faster than a scoop of ice cream in the midday sun. Driven with care and not exactly in the depths of winter in sub-zero temperatures, over 400 kilometers on one charge seems realistic.
Very good performance
Rear-wheel drive is traditionally part of the Porsche soul. You can feel it here, too. The Taycan's performance is first-class. But it's also clear that in tight, fast corners, the weight and dimensions of the 4.96-meter car take away the playful lightness of a small sports car. Nevertheless, it's always amazing how Porsche manages to tune steering systems in such a way that everyone can do something with them. The ambitious fan as well as the professional. Precise, sensitive, not too smooth, not too nervous. Once again, the chassis design is a skilful compromise. Our test car had the optional PASM adaptive air suspension on board (+ 2.160 euros), the Taycan comes with a steel chassis as standard. Both should hardly differ noticeably in terms of comfort.
The entry-level Taycan can only be recognized by the lettering and the new 19-inch wheels in aero design. At the same time, Porsche introduces its new plug& Charge function, which all other Taycan models also get (also retrofittable for older models). It's mega-practical, but requires a charging station that has this function. When the cable is plugged in, the charging station notices – aha – a Taycan and starts charging, followed by automatic payment. Tesla can do this right from the start.
At least with Porsche, no one has to do without anything
Otherwise, the basic Porsche is no different from its all-wheel-drive brethren. Means: Super seats, perfect workmanship, state-of-the-art connectivity. For the 2021 model year, Porsche has slightly expanded the standard equipment of the Taycan. Digital radio is now standard, Apple podcast can be selected as your own media source, and vehicle functions can be flexibly booked "over-the-air" at a later date. In addition, you can of course upgrade and embellish the thoroughbred Stromer with everything that the bulging Taycan price list has to offer.