FUTURE-DEFINING TAYCAN 4S
THIS may sound like a cliché but if the future is defined by cars like the Porsche Taycan, I’m in. Just bring it on. Why? Because it is properly quick, dynamically capable and, more importantly, feels like a true Porsche.
This writer recently sampled the Taycan 4S, the entry level model that sits below the Taycan Turbo and Taycan Turbo S.
The car is priced at RM725,000 with standard equipment, but this particular unit in Frozen Blue Metallic is kitted with loads of optional items, bumping its price up to RM850,596.
Headline figures are 435hp, 530hp with Overboost, zero to 100kph in 4.0 seconds and a top speed of 250kph.
ELECTRIFIED PORSCHE
Before we go under the skin of the car, a fun fact about the Taycan is that Porsche recommends we take it as an iteration of the 911, not like an electrified version of the Panamera.
In person, the Porsche Taycan is not really a big car. The standard exterior equipment includes auto-deploying door handles, LED headlights with Porsche Dynamic Light System Plus, and 19-inch Taycan S Aero wheels.
I especially like the unique headlights with Porsche’s signature fourpoint daytime-running lights as well as the horizontal LED light bar in the rear containing a three-dimensional PORSCHE lettering.
The Taycan features frameless windows all around, which sets it apart from the Panamera.
Inside, the 911-ness of the Taycan is underlined from its sporty, low seating posture, and the flat, horizontal dashboard design.
Inside, the Taycan is fitted with four digital displays, including an optional one for the front passenger.
The three standard displays are the instrument cluster, the infotainment system and the climate control.
The instrument cluster is a freestanding 16.9-inch screen that is curved towards the driver and is both high-tech
and traditional; it has a full digital display for all vehicle and driving information but arranged in Porsche’s customary fashion with five smaller clusters.
The only physical controls left in the cockpit are some stalks, some buttons on the steering wheel and the gear selector that is “hidden” below the instrument cluster.
THE DRIVE
Driving the Taycan felt very different yet immensely familiar.
The propulsion was provided by two electric motors (one for each axle) that drew their juices from an innovative battery that packed industry’s first 800volt system with 79.2kWh capacity.
The electric motors were capable of pushing their peak torque of 640Nm at almost any time.
Unlike conventional supercars where you had to ensure the powertrain was in the correct gear and at the correct rpm to deliver maximum acceleration, the Taycan catapulted forward. It was also relatively quiet despite being super-fast.
The Taycan could pull from 100kph
onwards just as quickly as you accelerated in the first gear from standing still in a performance hatchback.
And unlike regular electric vehicles where they were quick off the line but had their top speeds capped at around 140kph to 160kph, the Taycan could sprint to or cruise at 250kph thanks to its two-speed transmission.
However, the driver did not have the authority to select which gear to be in as the onboard computer would decide when to engage low-range or highrange gears.
With comprehensive kits such as the adaptive air suspension with threechamber technology and Porsche Active Suspension Management, the Taycan provided an agile handling just like any other Porsches.
The steering was lighter than that of a 911 and everything was direct and responsive, making you forget the fact that the car weighs more than two tonnes.
Onto the charging bit, the Taycan can be charged using the 175kW direct current chargers on its left-hand side or via alternating current ones conventionally
found at home on the right-hand slot.
Fully-filled up, the Taycan 4S will have around 370km of driving range.
During an afternoon drive, I clocked around 180km on the mileage and found the car to be more efficient than I thought.
Upon returning the car, there was still 53 percent battery left even with combined driving patterns including hard accelerations and crawling in traffic.
This was partly-helped by the “recuperation” system that produced some sort of “engine braking” effect as well as energy regeneration from its brakes, thus transferring some juice back into the battery.
VERDICT
The Taycan is an emotional car backed by rich motorsport heritage.
And if you have the resources to secure a car in this price bracket, I highly recommend that you test drive one. Not only that, the Taycan looks and feels great.
I guarantee that you had never experienced anything quite like it.