Porsche Taycan is ‘most important innovation driver’
As if securing a brace of World Car of the Year 2020 category wins wasn’t enough, a group of automotive scientists has declared Porsche’s Taycan “the most innovative car in the world”.
Cue smug looks form the all-electric sports car, which has already earned ours and countless other motoring reviewers’ praise ahead of its Australian showroom arrival by year’s end.
According to an AutomotiveINNOVATIONS Report published by the Center of Automotive Management (CAM), the Taycan is “the most important innovation driver in the global automotive market” thanks to its total of 27 new developments; with 13 of these, almost half, being world firsts.
Technology leader
Innovations particularly singled out for praise include the Taycan’s 800-volt architecture allowing short charging times (400 volts is more typical), two-speed transmission on the rear axle, recuperative power of up to 265kW and an aerodynamic Cd value – from 0.22 – that’s best in segment.
For reference, CAM is an independent scientific institute specialising in automotive and mobility research at the University of Applied Sciences in Bergisch Gladbach, Germany. Well, you didn’t expect this award to come from China, did you?
The institute has been analysing auto innovation since 2005, and in conjunction with auditing and consulting giants PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), they recognise what they deem the most outstanding innovations in their annual awards. Some 250 production vehicles were evaluated for 2019/20.
Australian countdown
Australian order books are already open for the Taycan ahead of its local arrival late in the year. The 390kW Taycan 4S is priced from $190,400, the 500kW Taycan Turbo from $268,500 and 560kW Taycan Turbos S from $338,500. All priced before on-roads.
Oliver Blume, Chairman of the Executive Board of Porsche AG, said the award was “a fantastic confirmation of the innovative strength of our company and the pioneering spirit that can be found at Porsche. We have developed a new car with a new team and have built a completely new carbon-neutral factory.”
The CAM recognition follows the Taycan being crowned World Performance Car and World Luxury Car at the World Car of the Year 2020 awards.
While Porsche says it doesn’t consider the Tesla Model S as a direct rival to its Taycan, the market, EV enthusiasts and a certain Elon Musk clearly disagree. We eagerly await the innovation king’s arrival.
