Taycan offers four modes, innovative brakes, stylish cabin
Capping things off is the rear-axle torque vectoring. Dabbing the inside rear brake forces more of the drive to the outside rear wheel, which improves turn-in response on the way into a corner. It then helps the rear tires dig in and prevent unwanted wheelspin at the exit.
Finally, the optional active roll-control system (PDCC Sport) keeps the Taycan flat. From the driver’s perspective, it all works to perfection and it does so invisibly.
The manner in which the Taycan drives can be tweaked in four stages. Range mode emphasizes just that, and Normal mode is for everyday use, although I preferred Sport. The impact on the driving range is negligible, yet it makes the Taycan feel so much more alive.
Part of the reason is Normal mode sees the car do the regenerative braking itself — there is little in the way of retardation, which, Porsche says, is the more efficient way. I respectfully disagree; the saving grace is the driver can activate the accelerator pedal-based regenerative braking that’s standard in Sport and Sport Plus modes through a steering wheel-mounted button. Thank you.
In Sport Plus everything switches to hyper and the car responds accordingly. This is part of the reason the Taycan Turbo S employs monster carbon-ceramic brakes with 10-piston front calipers — slowing a heavy car repeatedly would see mortal brakes fade into oblivion. The ceramics don’t fade, no matter how hard they’re worked. Interestingly enough, the regenerative braking (which is the primary source of braking power) is so efficient, the brake pads only need replacing every six years.
The Taycan’s cabin is beautifully crafted, with superb materials and all the mod cons. In this case, there’s a free-standing 16.8-inch curved instrument display that’s fully configurable and elegant in its simplicity, and an easy-to-use two-screen infotainment system. The tester featured the exquisite Burmester surround-sound system.
To answer the original question: yes, the Taycan Turbo S is a proper Porsche by any standard you want to use. It’s a truly dynamic drive that’s blisteringly quick and totally nailed down. It also happens to be a full-on luxury ride.