By Steve & Tamami Laser
Porsche has revealed its long-awaited Taycan all-electric sports car. With simultaneous debuts on three continents (North America, Europe and Asia), Porsche selected locations that represent renewable energy resources: Niagara Falls for hydropower, a huge solar farm in Berlin, and a large windmill array in China.
Many Porsche model names need no introduction, like 911, Boxster or Cayenne. What does Taycan mean? Porsche says Taycan is composed of two terms of Turkic origin that can be roughly translated as the “soul of a spirited young horse.” In Japanese, for example, “taikan” means roughly “physical experience” – thus driving in its most electrifying form.
Porsche plans to initially roll out two models later this year: The Taycan Turbo and the flagship Turbo S (above). The automaker says this is just the start; it plans to offer more models plus a new Taycan “Cross Turismo”.
Porsche says that Taycan is among the most powerful production models in its current product portfolio. Turbo S can generate up to 750 horsepower (560 kW) in combo with Launch Control and overboost and sprint from 0-60 mph in just 2.6 seconds. Turbo delivers up to 670 hp (500 kW) and goes from 0-60 in 3.0 seconds.
It may be called “Turbo,” yet Taycan is a pure battery electric vehicle without a gas engine or a turbo. Charging time from five to 80 percent State of Charge (SoC) is said to take 22.5 minutes, under ideal conditions with max charging power (peak) of up to 270 kW using a direct current (DC) high-power charging network. Overall capacity of the 800V high-voltage battery is 93.4 kWh. Porsche says the EPA range estimate for the North American market is pending.
Taycan rides on a new platform that features standard all-wheel drive with separate electric motors for the front and rear axles. The motor, transmission and pulse-controlled inverter are packaged into a compact drive module. To customize powertrain response, the driver can select from five different drive modes: Normal, Sport, Sport Plus, Range and Individual.
Porsche has created a completely new cockpit-style interior for Taycan. The upper and lower sections of the dash form a wing shape that stretches across the full width of the cabin. A centrally mounted 10.9-inch infotainment display gives the driver easy access to apps via the home screen. And there’s an optional separate display for the passenger that allows them to alter settings without distracting the driver.
A free-standing curved instrument panel, said to be inspired by the original 911, forms the highest point of the dashboard. Without a cowl, the look is slim and modern, bringing to mind smartphones and tablets. Four selectable displays include Classic Mode with power meters, Map mode that replaces the meters with a map layout, Full Map mode that offers a map across the full display, and Pure mode that displays only essential data such as speed, navigation with arrows, and road signs.
Taycan customers can select from a range of personalization options and materials. The list includes classic leather trim plus sustainably tanned Club Leather (OLEA) that uses olive leaves in the tanning process. A leather-free interior features “Race-Tex” microfiber that includes recycled polyester fibers. Meanwhile the floor covering employs recycled fiber “Econyl®” that’s made from “recycled fishing nets” and other materials.
Note: Specifications, features and launch dates are subject to change without notice
News source and photos courtesy of Porsche AG and Porsche Cars North America, Inc. Photos © 2019 Dr. Ing. h.c.F. Porsche AG reproduced here for editorial use
Story (commentary) © 2019 CarNichiWa.com