Porsche Taycan

Soul, electrified.

Base MSRP: From $103,800
Configurations:

• Taycan 4S – From $103,800
• Taycan Turbo – From $150,900
• Taycan Turbo S – From $185,000

EPA Range: 192-201 miles, pure electric

Charging Acceptance Rate: 9.6kW

2020 Taycan 4S

Intro

Who says electric vehicles are boring? Certainly not anyone who gets behind the wheel of the new 2020 Porsche Taycan 4S, a high-performance sports car.

Arguably the first real Tesla competitor, the Taycan (pronounced TIE-kahn) is powerful and neck-snapping quick, befitting of the Porsche profile. And that’s important to the German manufacturer because it puts a premium on designing an EV that stays true to its line. The Taycan will be positioned above the Porsche Panamera, a stylish-looking plug-in hybrid EV sedan.

The Taycan Turbo and Turbo S models had a European debut in late 2019. The first thing many people probably noticed was the price. Talk about sticker shock – I bought my first house for less than the Turbo model cost, a whopping $152,400. And the Turbo S price tag is even steeper at $185,400.

However, the Taycan 4S that made its U.S. debut in late spring is a bargain compared to the Turbo models, costing roughly $50,000 less at $103,900. The Turbos are now upgraded models to the 4S. It’s an odd thing calling them turbo, because it’s impossible to turbocharge an electric motor.

Operating with Volkswagen as its parent company since 2012, Porsche hasn’t rested on its considerable laurels as the automobile industry has turned its attention to producing electric vehicles. Porsche engineers have been hard at work trying to stay current, and the results have been impressive. Porsche will see plenty of green in its future.

Features

Inside, the Taycan is quite the technological marvel. It has an upscale, somewhat futuristic infotainment center that relies on two touchscreens built into the dash. The driver looks directly at the curved, digitized 16.8-inch gauge that can be configured to one’s specifications.

There’s also a 10.9-inch touchscreen that manages multiple controls and is paired with an 8.4-inch screen below that provides climate controls and a touchpad to help scroll through lists. One complaint: it would be nice to have a volume nob.

Interior Space

Seating is excellent for the driver and front passenger, offering both comfort and support that will be appreciated in long-range driving. The back seat is good overall, but legroom could be an issue when taller drivers are up front.

Because the Taycan has dual electric motors mounted low between the wheels, there’s space up front for what electric vehicle enthusiasts affectionately call a “frunk.” It’s a handy small (2.8 cubic feet) storage area adjacent to the electric drive motor. The standard trunk in the back is 12 cubic feet.

Exterior Style

Despite its curb weight of 4,777 pounds, the five-passenger Taycan feels incredibly agile. Porsche designers can take a bow after assembling such an attractive, unique-looking sedan. It’s about the same length as the Tesla Model S and just a little shorter than the Panamera. The Taycan exterior features a low roofline and its front end has square-shaped headlights and four LEDs.

Charging

While it’s no match for the Tesla S range (390 miles), the Taycan 4S travels approximately 200 miles before requiring a charge. There are two charging areas on the Taycan. Behind the passenger-side flap is a standard CCS plug configuration that accommodates AC and high-voltage DC charging. An AC-only port is located on the driver’s side. There are no worries concerning the simultaneous use of both ports. If one port door is open, the other is automatically locked.

Vehicle Power and Speed

Much like Tesla S, the Porsche Taycan 4S is a performance marvel. Equipped with the base 79.2kWh battery pack, the 4S delivers of 522 horsepower and goes 0-60 mph in 3.8 seconds with a top speed of 155 mph. The horsepower increases to 563 with the upgraded 93.4-kWh battery that adds $5,570 to the price tag.

The Taycan Turbo generates 670 horsepower and 626 pound-feet of torque. It can travel 0-60 mph in an estimated 3.0 seconds. The Turbo S is even quicker, utilizing its 750 horsepower and 774 pound-feet of torque to go 0-60 mph in 2.6 seconds. Both models have a maximum speed of 162 mph and possess three drive modes (Normal, Sport, Range).

Performance

The athletic, all-wheel drive Taycan provides a ride that’s befitting of the Porsche name. Like many sports cars, the Taycan sits low to the ground and grips the road with extreme confidence in challenging turns. It gives the driver terrific feedback while delivering sharp steering and strong maneuverability. The Taycan has semi-autonomous technology for people who want to offload the driving.

Conclusion

Porsche has created a very stylish EV sports car befitting of its name. Although some potential buyers will be unenthused by the price, the 2020 Taycan 4S and its two Turbo models should attract interest for those who love the Porsche brand.

–  J.W.