Porsche adds cheaper Taycan
Porsche has started filling out its Taycan battery electric vehicle range adding a cheaper rear-wheel drive model.
Simply dubbed Taycan and for now only available in China, the new entry model in Porsche’s first BEV range comes with a single permanent synchronous electric motor driving the rear axle via a two-speed transmission.
Chinese pricing is the equivalent of AUD $180,000. Australian Taycan pricing starts at $191,000 for the 4S model.
In Australia, Porsche launches the Taycan with three dual motor all-wheel drive models later this year.
Porsche Cars Australia told the automotive website Carsales the jury was still out on the new base model coming here.
“Porsche Cars Australia remains focused on the Taycan 4S, Taycan Turbo and Turbo S, which are on-sale now and will arrive in Australia from December 2020. We are yet to confirm the Taycan two-wheel-drive model for Australia at this time.”
Still, there’s no doubt the newest Taycan would be of interest down under, where rear-drive has a strong following among sporting drivers.
It would also drag pricing down closer to the Taycan’s logical rival the Tesla Model S, which starts just over $140,000.
The standard Taycan will be offered with a 79.2kWh battery pack and 300kW motor delivering a claimed 414km range based on the outmode NEDC testing regime.
The long-range version upgrades to a 93.4kWh battery, a 350kW motor and delivers a claimed 498km range.
Both Taycan versions outdo the equivalent 4S – which comes with the same battery choices – for range but not acceleration or top speed.
Both versions accelerate from 0-100km/h in 5.4 sec, reach a top speed of 240km/h and with the aid of an 800V electrical architecture can fast charge to 80 percent capacity in as little as 30 minutes.
Porsche says the Taycan’s 265kW regenerative braking capacity means “the majority of braking operations in everyday use are performed by the electric motor alone, without the brakes needing to do anything”.
However, the front electric motor is a key part of the regenerative braking system of the Taycan 4S, Taycan Turbo and Taycan Turbo S. During heavy braking most of the weight of the car is on the front wheels and Porsche engineers have described to EVcentral the importance of that front motor in capturing braking energy usually lost through heat in the rotors.
It stands to reason the rear-drive Taycan won’t be able to capture as much energy through regenerative braking, especially when driven hard.
The RWD Taycan is the first variant of the electric Porsche to have a standard steel-spring suspension, though the air system is optional. Both come with Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM).
The Taycan is also fitted with 19-inch aero wheels and black anodized brake callipers. LED headlights are standard.
