19. We drive the PORSCHE TAYCAN, the iconic brand’s first ever electric vehicle
Porsche has just launched its first ever EV in South Africa . . . and with it a new strand of the brand's design DNA.
When it comes to design, electric vehicles (EVs) present something of a dilemma for established car brands. Should they look suitably futuristic to match all that clever tech under the bonnet – like the BMW i3 – or should you rather play it safe and add an electric-engined model to your existing range, like the VW e-Golf? The former will grab more headlines and a thumbs-up from the early adopter crowd, but the latter could result in more sales by clothing unfamiliar tech in familiar garb. Or, perhaps, it’s something in between. It’s the approach Porsche has taken with its new four-door sports saloon, the Taycan – the legendary marque’s first ever EV – though its design is anything but the middle-of-the road position it may suggest.
OUTSIDE Recently launched here in South Africa, the Taycan clearly carries established Porsche design DNA – most notably the topography of the bonnet and the front wings, the falling roof line and, at the rear, a strong shoulder line and the brand’s distinctive rear light bar. But there are also some new elements that very clearly set this model apart from its internal-combustioned siblings. Most apparent is how wide and low it is and, while it may have Porsche’s signature fourpoint daytime running lights that in the Taycan appear to float within large air inlets, they are flatter and wider in the Taycan, further emphasising its low-to-the-ground stance. Carrying
over much from 2015’s Porsche Mission E concept car, there’s a pared-down look to the whole design – a clean, pure approach that reflects its energy source and clearly signals a new era has begun. This is perfectly illustrated by flush-fitted door handles that pop out electrically when required.
INSIDE The interior reflects that too. Inspired, says Porsche, by 1963’s original 911, the minimalist and ultra-modern dashboard has little in the way of protruding buttons, switches and dials. Instead, it’s all about the screens. There’s a large, curved one behind the wheel conveying all the key driver info, a 10.9-inch infotainment screen in the middle of the dash, 8.4-inch touch
panel in the centre console for aircon controls and a notepad for the satnav, and yet another above the glovebox for the passenger to access infotainment and set the navigation.
ON THE ROAD If you’ve driven an EV before, you’ll know acceleration is always pretty impressive … and with the Taycan’s powerful twin motors – one on each axle – it is genuinely breathtaking. Those motors effectively give it four-wheel drive traction and, in this Turbo S version, generate 500 kW (up to 560 kW using the Launch Control system) and a massive 1 050 Nm of torque, catapulting the Taycan from 0-100 km/h in an astonishing 2.8 seconds. That's faster than a current Formula
One race car. There are four driving modes (Range, Normal, Sport and Sport+) and power is transmitted to the asphalt via a two-speed gearbox. All that power may be impressive, but straight-line speed has never been what Porsche is after. Dynamic handling is a hallmark of the brand and it’s been interesting to see how its engineers have used their existing tech to fettle this fundamentally heavy car. All managed by Porsche’s 4D Chassis Control system, there’s constant chatter between the all-wheel drive, torque vectoring, adaptive dampers, rear-wheel steering and electromechanical roll stabilisation systems to produce a sports car of uncanny agility.