TAYCAN TWEAKS INCLUDE OVER-THE-AIR UPGRADES
Snazzier and just a little bit quicker
More extensive personalisation options and technology upgrades are among a range of new options for Porsche’s allelectric Taycan. Exactly a year since the Taycan went on sale, the range of revisions includes everything from new colours to extra performance and improved charging. Some of the new options are available as over-the-air upgrades.
Mahogany Metallic, Frozenberry Metallic, Cherry Metallic, Coffee Beige Metallic, Chalk, Neptune Blue and Ice Grey Metallic are the new exterior colour additions. These are completed by a broader interior colour palette including Blackberry and new two-tone options for the leather and leather-free upholstery choices. Porsche’s Exclusive Manufaktur and custom tailoring options have been extended to include contrasting leather seat centres and contrast stitching.
Of course, the Taycan is a tech masterclass and it is tweaks in this area that are arguably more intriguing. The daddy of Taycans is the Turbo S, a car so quick you’d scarcely believe it could go any faster. But thanks to battery optimisations, the Turbo S can now sprint to 125mph in just 9.6 seconds, shaving 0.2 seconds off the car’s original specification. The quarter-mile is covered in 10.7 seconds, down from 10.8 seconds.
Charging while preserving the overall longevity of the battery is a further new function. Using all 270kw of the charging speed causes battery wear, so owners can now choose to restrict peak charging to 200kw at suitable charging points (e.g. Ionity high-power 800 volt charging stations). Drivers can select the desired charging mode on the central display.
On the chassis side, a new Smartlift function is installed now as standard where adaptive air suspension is specified. This enables the Taycan to automatically increase its ground clearance in certain recurring road conditions, such as speed bumps or garage driveways.
Inside, meanwhile, a head-up display in colour is now available as an option. This projects information directly into the driver’s field of vision.
The display has been divided into three sections, including primary driver’s instruments, a status section and one to show temporary content, such as calls or voice control commands. A navigation display, power meter and a userdefined view can also be selected as pre-sets.
Finally, there’s the new Functions on Demand (FOD) service through which Taycan owners can purchase various convenience and assist functions as over-the-air updates without the need to visit a Porsche Centre workshop. Upgrades include Active Lane Keep Assist, which keeps the vehicle in the centre of the lane with continuous steering intervention. Innodrive individually adapts the vehicle speed to the conditions ahead, taking note of speed limits, bends, roundabouts, and situations where you have to give way or stop. Both functions are available for a monthly fee of £18.00 or £759.00 each as an outright purchase option.
Another available upgrade is Power Steering Plus, which operates on the basis of vehicle speed. It provides greater steering assistance for low speed manoeuvres, and reacts directly and accurately at high speeds. This Function on Demand is available for a lifetime fee of £299.00, but not as a monthly option. After registration and selecting the desired function(s) in the Porsche Connect Store, and provided a connection can be established, a data package is sent to the Taycan via the mobile phone network. Drivers are notified by the Porsche Communication Management (PCM), and activation takes just a few minutes.