The Porsche Taycan has taken the electric car market by storm, and Porsche has plans to make the Taycan even more appealing. Off the back of a record-breaking sales year for the Taycan in 2020, Porsche has announced the launch of a new entry level Taycan.
The New Entry Level Porsche Taycan
The newest member of the Taycan family will be officially known as the Taycan. No turbo, S, or any number attached to it. Simply just the Taycan, and with a price tag of almost $24,000 less than the next model, the Taycan S, the new $79,900 (before tax) model shows the intent of the Stuttgart automaker to commit to its EV lineup, whilst making a genuine attempt to make the Taycan more accessible to both Porsche and EV enthusiasts.
This low price has been made possible by Porsche deciding to go with a single electric motor to drive the rear wheels, unlike the other Taycan models that make use of on demand all-wheel drive. This single motor layout has the added benefit of making the new Taycan the lightest model in the lineup weighing in at just 4 566lb. The new model comes standard with 19-inch Aero wheels with 6-piston calipers in the front and 4-piston calipers in the rear. To make sure the new Taycan handles like a proper Porsche, it comes standard with Porsche Active management, with an option to upgrade to adaptive air suspension.
Performance Specifications
While the new Taycan may have less motors than its S and Turbo siblings, it’s definitely no slouch. In standard configuration the Taycan comes equipped with a total capacity battery of 79.2 kWh battery to drive its 321hp (240kW) motor, which is capable of producing 250lb-ft of torque. When using launch control, this is boosted up to 402hp (300kw) and 254lb-ft of torque. This means that from a standing launch, the Taycan will reach 60mph in 5.1 seconds and has a top speed of 143mph.
If you’re looking for a bit more out of your rear-wheel-drive Taycan, Porsche offers the $6 000 “Performance Battery Plus” package, which equips the Taycan with a total capacity battery of 93.4kWh and a 375hp (280kW) electric motor, that when boosted by launch mode generates 469hp (350kW) and 263lb-ft. While the Performance Battery Plus package does help the Taycan get off the line faster, the additional weight of the larger battery means that the 0-60mph times are identical.
Making An EV More Usable
Thanks to Porsche’s 800V architecture, the Taycan can still make use of fast charging stations. When connected to a 350kW-capable DC charger, the Taycan will only take 23 minutes to charge up to 22kW, or from 5% to 80% charge, which is identical to the charge times of the Taycan Turbo and S models.
While the Taycan has not yet been tested in the United States, the EU EPA has given the new Taycan a range of 28kWh/100km, which roughly translates to 2.2miles/Kwh. However, it’s important to remember that WLTP (World harmonized Light-duty vehicles Test Procedure) and US EPA tests are different from the European tests, and that the Taycan is famous for surpassing the EU EPA figures in real life tests.
If you’re in the market for a new EV, it might be time to make Porsche and the Taycan a genuine option.
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