Porsche Taycan
Rory Reid has driven the Mission E Cross Turismo concept. They might just pull this off...
It’s taken Porsche several years to ‘do a Tesla’ but it fnally has an EV platform with real potential. I can report this because while this concept version strictly isn’t road-legal, Porsche let me drive their priceless one-of on the public highway, under the condition that I was accompanied by armed police at all times. My reputation precedes me.
This isn’t the new Taycan. That’s the production version of the low-lying Mission E four-door unveiled at the Geneva motor show in 2015. This is its Cross Turismo cousin, a jacked-up, of-road-ready ‘cross-utility vehicle’ (CUV) aimed at adventurous types. You know, skiiers, surfers and yoga doers who want to go really chufng fast, but in complete silence.
It’s powered by two electric motors, one driving each axle. Total system output is a whopping 600bhp, so unsurprisingly the Angry Turismo is good for 0–62mph in 3.5secs. Keep it pinned and it’ll hit 124mph in 12. I wasn’t in a position to verify those fgures (it’s remarkable how sensible one’s driving becomes when being followed by men with guns) but if true, that puts its acceleration on par with the Tesla Model S P100D.
The Furious Turismo already feels well resolved, like a Porsche should. EVs can have a tendency to mooch about in a soulless fashion, but this is engaging. The steering is direct and surprisingly communicative. It corners beautifully.
Sure, the built-in drone that follows the car taking selfes is Porsche taking the mickey, but the car underneath should be ace. Roll on the real-life Taycan in 2019...