New Porsche Taycan offers increased range and a power boost

Porsche’s EV offensive continues with the launch of its completely revised Taycan range.

Hot on the heels of the all-electric Macan SUV unveiled at the end of January, the Taycan update starts with revised exterior styling for a sharper, more authoritative look.

The business end benefits from new front wings and flatter headlights equipped with high-resolution HD matrix technology.

Porsche’s four-point light graphics are now visible at night. The vehicle's tail light clusters have also been treated to a mild refresh, while the Porsche logo incorporated into the rear light strip features a new 3D glass-look design. An illuminated version is also available and offers welcome/leaving animations.

The cabin of the electric flagship is also rejuvenated. The instrument cluster, central display and optional passenger display feature an optimised user interface with additional functionality. All Taycan derivatives are equipped with Porsche’s drive mode switch on the steering wheel as standard while models fitted with the Sport Chrono package and the Performance Battery Plus get a push-to-pass button.

Customers can look forward to more standard equipment across the range including ambient lighting, ParkAssist with reversing camera, electrically folding exterior mirrors with mirror surround lighting, heated front seats, Porsche intelligent range manager and a heat pump with a new cooling system. There’s also a new smartphone tray for wireless charging, charging ports on the driver and front passenger sides, and power steering plus.

The big news, though, is an increase in performance; all Taycan models offer more muscle, snappier acceleration, faster charging times and extended driving range.

This is down to myriad under-the-skin advancements, including a new rear-axle motor with up to 80kW more power than its predecessor on all models, a modified pulse inverter with optimised software, more potent batteries, revised thermal management, a next-generation heat pump and a modified recuperation and all-wheel-drive strategy.

Maximum recuperation capacity during deceleration from high speeds has increased by more than 30% from 290kW to up to 400kW. All models come standard with aerodynamically optimised 21-inch lightweight alloy wheels shod with reduced rolling resistance tyres. 

The entry-level, rear-wheel drive Taycan will sprint from 0-100 km/h in 4.8 sec, 0.6 sec faster than its predecessor. When equipped with the larger 105kWh Performance Battery Plus (the outgoing pack had a gross capacity of 93kWh), Porsche claims this model offers a combined driving range of up to 678km, an increase of 175km or 35%, based on the Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicles Test Procedure. At the other end of the spectrum is the flagship Turbo S model, a combustion sports car killer which benefits from dual electric motors and all-wheel drive.

Fitted with the Sport Chrono pack as standard (optional on other Taycan variants), it accelerate from 0-100 km/h in 2.4 sec, or 0.4 sec quicker than before. With push-to-pass engaged, the car’s maximum power output increases to 700kW for 10 seconds. 

Thanks to its updated architecture the new Taycan can be charged at rates up to 320kW, 50kW more than its predecessor , at 800V DC charging stations. Porsche claims the fast-charging window of the new performance battery has been expanded, meaning charging capacities of more than 300kW can be sustained for up to five minutes, and very high charging capacities can be achieved more quickly, even at low temperatures.

Depending on one’s driving style and other variables, this can halve the time required to go from a 10% to an 80% charge compared with the predecessor. In the first-generation Taycan, the charging time from 10% to 80% SOC at 15ºC is 37 minutes. Under the same conditions, the new Taycan takes 18 minutes despite its larger battery capacity.

All new Taycan models have adaptive air suspension as standard, while the all-wheel drive derivatives (4S, Turbo and Turbo S) can be specified with new Porsche Active Ride suspension as an option. Designed to keep the car’s body level at all times, the system offers an unprecedented bandwidth between driving comfort and driving dynamics.

Available as a saloon or shooting brake (Sport Turismo and Cross Turismo), the new Porsche Taycan line-up is expected to reach SA in the fourth quarter of 2024.

Pricing inclusive of a five-year Driveplan is as follows:

Taycan: R2,912,000

Taycan 4S: R3,261,000

Taycan Turbo: R4,349,000

Taycan Turbo S: R5,225,000

Taycan 4 Cross Turismo: R3,239,000

Taycan 4S Cross Turismo: R3,405,000

Taycan Turbo Cross Turismo: R4,383,000