A PORSCHE WITH POWER
The reworked 2025 Taycan is mind-numbingly fast but also one sweet handling drive
The Porsche Taycan surfaced at the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show as the Mission E concept. Four years later, the production version surfaced. When it came to market there were both sedan and wagon versions available. Back then, the thought of an electric Porsche seemed, well, just plain wrong — the idea of a company that honed its engineering expertise on the likes of the 911 switching to a sports car that consumed electrons was counterintuitive. This sentiment was short-lived — the first drive of the Taycan proved it handled supremely well in spite of its weight and it was get-out-of-jail fast. In other words, it was a proper Porsche by any definition. Now comes the reworked 2025 model. While it's more of a mid-life rework than a full-on model change, the updates are significant and, when you talk about the new Turbo GT, radical.
WHAT'S NEW FOR 2025?
The Taycan gets new styling inside and out, new suspensions and a larger 105-kwh Performance Battery Plus with up to 35 per cent more driving range than its predecessor. Best of all, there's more power — a lot more power! A new rear electric motor delivers up to 109 horsepower and 30 pound-feet of torque more than before.
There's also the Weissach package for the Turbo GT. It shaves 75 kilograms from the weight by dumping the rear seat and one of the charge ports while adding an oversized rear wing adds 140 kg of downforce. It is also the quickest of a fast lot.
MORE POWER
All models get differing amounts of power depending upon the drive mode selected. Accessing the largest number is simple — select Sport+, press the brake pedal and mat the throttle. Now you have engaged Launch Control. When activated, the Taycan goes into an overboost mode and the rear motor downshifts into first gear rather than holding second gear as it does most of the time. Regardless of model, it makes the Taycan a rip-roaring ride off the line.
Things start with the Taycan 4S sedan equipped with the 89-kwh battery. It makes 455 hp. Engage Launch Control and the two electric motors, which give it an allwheel-drive ability, produce 536 hp and a peak torque of 513 lb-ft. Take the Taycan 4S sedan with the optional 105-kwh Performance Battery Plus and the horsepower rises to 509. It's standard on the 4S Cross Turismo. Launch Control gives the driver access to 590 hp and a peak of 523 lb-ft of torque. This gives the 4S sedan with the larger battery a run to 100 kilometres per hour in 3.7 seconds; the wagon takes 3.8 seconds.
All other Taycan models use the larger 105-kwh battery. The Taycan Turbo ups the output to 697 hp with the numbers peaking at 871 hp and 693 lb-ft of torque when in Launch Control. The run to 100 km/h comes in at 2.7 seconds for the sedan and 2.8 for the wagon. The Taycan Turbo S bumps that to 764 standard horsepower with the output peaking at 938 hp and 818 lb-ft of instant-on torque. This lowers the run to a metric ton to 2.4 and 2.5 seconds for the Cross Turismo. It's mind-numbingly fast under just about any circumstance, however, there's a trick. When out on the road and the need for a power boost arises, the driver simply uses the push-to-pass function in the middle of the drive mode selector. It bumps the output to 858 hp for up to 10 seconds and it can be reactivated after 10 seconds should the need arise again.
And so to the most powerful Porsche ever produced. The Taycan Turbo GT, which is only offered as a sedan, has a monstrous amount of power. In mortal mode, it pushes 777 hp. Engage Launch Control and the numbers soar to 1,019 hp and 988 lb-ft of torque and it does so for up to 10 seconds. However, it does not stop here. When in Launch Control it adds another 73 hp for the first two seconds, meaning it launches with 1,092 hp. This brings a 2.3 second run to 100 km/h for the GT and 2.2 seconds for the GT with the Weissach pack aboard. The GT also offers an on-road boost mode — Attack mode gives the driver access to 938 hp for up to 10 seconds, and it can be used again after just four seconds!
CHARGE TIMES
The 105-kwh battery can be charged from 10 to 80 per cent using a DC fast charger in just 18 minutes thanks to its 320-kw capacity, which is up from 50 kw, and 800volt architecture. When plugged into a Level 2 outlet, it takes 12 hours to fully recharge. The nit is Porsche do not allow the use of 110-volts, so it cannot be trickle charged when there's no Level 2 charger available. The other nit is the regenerative braking cannot be adjusted by the driver.
DRIVING RANGE
At this point, there are only the European WLTP driving range numbers available. The 4S sedan with the 89-kwh battery is rated for between 474 and 557 km. The Turbo and Turbo S with the 105kwh battery come in at between 557 and 630 km. The Turbo GT is rated at between 528 and 554 km; the Weissach Package comes in at between 538 and 555 km because of its diet. When the Canadian numbers are released, the range may be lower. The 105-kwh battery is going to deliver significantly more range than the outgoing 93.4 kwh battery — based on the first drive, the Turbo S should top the 500-km range mark.
New suspensions make the 2025 Porsche Taycan dance.
The outgoing Taycan featured steel springs; now all except the Turbo GT come with a two-chamber air suspension with two-valve adaptive dampers. This setup puts greater separation between ride comfort and handling precision. The key is the damping. One valve looks after the rebound stage and the other the compression stage. Dynamically, the new adaptive air suspension improves the road manners in just about every driving condition when compared to the outgoing three-chamber setup, and it was pretty good. In other words, this setup will suit all but the most enthusiastic driver.
Porsche's new Active Ride suspension is optional ($8,150) on all models except the Turbo GT. Unlike most “active” setups, this one is fully active thanks to the five-kw pump at each wheel.
HOW DOES IT DRIVE?
In a nutshell, supremely well. On deliciously twisty back roads, the Taycan Turbo S Cross Turismo romped through corners in a manner that was only equalled by the smile on my face. In Sport+, which is best saved for those extremely urgent driving moments, everything switches to hyper and the car responds accordingly — the Active Ride suspension and rear steer made the tester razor sharp to input without feeling twitchy on the highway. The Turbo S Cross Turismo tested also featured a monster set of carbon-ceramic brakes. Slowing a heavy car repeatedly would see mortal brakes fade into oblivion; the ceramics don't seem to care how hard they are worked — lean hard on the pedal and they reined in the stallions in short order. In fact, the braking power is almost as impressive at the off-the-line scoot.
When you do unleash all of the Taycan Turbo S's instant-on torque, the effect it has on the human body is huge. Put it in Launch Control and the Turbo S romped to speed leaving my stomach at the start line. It was only when I finally lifted — about 3.5 seconds down the road — did my stomach finally catch up. What a bleeping rush!
Unlike our neighbours to the south, Canada will get Porsche's 32,000-pixel HD Matrix headlights. These units use the camera as well as speed and navigation data, so they are constantly adapting to the road and traffic while throwing the light 600 metres down the road. When an oncoming car is detected, the light pattern can be changed in just 16 milliseconds, so it provides optimal illumination without blinding other road users. The light pattern was so powerful it was actually visible on an overcast day, so they must be brilliant at night.
FAMILIAR CABIN HAS BEEN TWEAKED
Regardless of whether you pick the fastback sedan or the sporty wagon, the fit and finish is impeccable, and, for the first time, a leather-free interior is available as a no-cost option. The majority of the changes are found in the four screens. The curved digital instrument cluster has clearer graphics, the central infotainment screen is faster than before and offers the latest Apple Carplay plus. This gives control of many vehicle functions like the climate control, lighting and some drive functions through the Carplay interface. If you want to do your own climate changes there is the screen on the centre console. The optional passenger side screen shows performance data and can play videos while the car is in motion. It is not a distraction for the driver, as a clever filter makes the screen look black when viewed from pretty much any angle other than straight-on.
Other changes include the push-button start on the left side of the dash and the mode switch on the steering wheel. When equipped with the Sport Chrono package and 105-kwh battery the push-to-pass/attack mode button sits in the middle of the switch.
WHAT DOES IT COST IN CANADA?
The 2025 Taycan will arrive at Porsche dealers this summer with prices starting at $135,600 for the Taycan 4S, $196,800 for the Taycan Turbo and $236,100 for the Taycan Turbo S. The Taycan Cross Turismo comes in at $142,500 for the 4S, $198,800 for the Turbo and $238,200 for Turbo S. The reality is the transaction prices will be considerably higher. For example, the Taycan 4S tested was priced at $211,140 and the Taycan Turbo S Cross Turismo had a drive-away price of $292,600. Both before delivery and taxes. Pricing for the 2025 Taycan Turbo GT and the Taycan Turbo GT with Weissach package starts at $270,000.