Porsche’s first pure-electric sports car has finally arrived in Australia.
As the first all-electric Porsche, the Taycan has been engineered to deliver eye-popping, repeatable performance.
MORE: Our review of the 2021 Porsche Taycan is live! Check it out here
Although it isn’t quite as fast as the headline-grabbing versions of the Tesla Model S, the range-topping Turbo S will hit 100km/h in just 2.8 seconds from standstill – and testing has shown it can hit that figure on back-to-back runs without any battery pre-heating or preparation.
Pricing for the three-pronged range kicks off at $191,000 before on-road costs for the Taycan 4S, while the mid-range Taycan Turbo is priced from $269,100 before on-roads. That has it on a par with a 911 Carrera S.
The range-topping Taycan Turbo S costs $339,100 before on-roads, sitting it above the 911 Targa 4S on price, but well below the 911 Turbo S, despite offering similar acceleration figures.
Pricing
- 2021 Porsche Taycan 4S: $191,000
- 2021 Porsche Taycan Turbo: $269,100
- 2021 Porsche Taycan Turbo S: $339,100
All prices exclude on-road costs.
Engines
This being electric, there’s no engine to speak of. Instead, the Taycan range is powered by a choice of three different dual-motor electric setups.
A two-wheel drive model is expected to launch at some point, although Porsche hasn’t confirmed it.
The base 4S has 390kW and 640Nm, good for a 100km/h sprint time of 4.0 seconds. A 79.2kWh lithium-ion battery pack is standard, but buyers can option the 93.4kWh Performance Battery Plus.
Opting for the bigger battery ups outputs to 420kW and 650Nm, and improves range from 365km to a claimed 414km.
Moving to the Taycan Turbo gets you 500kW and 850Nm for a 3.2-second sprint to 100km/h. The bigger battery is standard, and offers a claimed range of 420km.
Finally, the range-topping Taycan Turbo S makes 560kW and 1050Nm. It’ll hit 100km/h in just 2.8 seconds from standstill, and claimed range is 405km.
Safety
The Porsche Taycan range scored five stars in crash testing from Euro NCAP, returning 85 per cent for adult occupant protection, 83 per cent for child occupant protection, 70 per cent for vulnerable road user protection, and 73 per cent for safety assist.
Autonomous emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and blind-spot monitoring are standard, along with adaptive cruise control.
Dimensions
The Porsche Taycan measures 4963mm long, 2144mm wide, and between 1378mm and 1381mm tall depending on model. It has a 2900mm wheelbase.
The base Taycan 4S weighs 2140kg with the standard battery pack and 2220kg with the longer-range pack. The Taycan Turbo tips the scales at 2305kg, while the Turbo S weighs in at 2295kg.
Standard Equipment
Standard equipment in the Porsche Taycan 4S includes:
- Six-piston front, four-piston rear cast iron brakes
- 20-inch Sport Aero wheels
- Tyre-pressure monitoring
- Black side skirts
- Black rear diffuser
- LED headlights
- Automatic headlights
- Dual-zone climate control
- 14-way powered front seats
- Heated and ventilated front seats
- Digital instrument binnacle
- 10.2-inch touchscreen
- Wireless Apple CarPlay
- Satellite navigation
- DAB+ digital radio
- 14-speaker sound system
- Powered tailgate
- Partial leather interior
- Heated leather steering wheel
Moving to the Taycan Turbo adds:
- 10-piston front, four-piston rear PCSB brakes
- 20-inch Turbo Aero wheels
- Body-coloured front valance, side skirts, rear diffuser
- LED Matrix headlights with Porsche Dynamic Lighting Plus
- Four-zone climate control
- Rear seat heating
- Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control
- Full leather interior
- Stainless steel pedals
The range-topping Turbo S gains:
- 10-piston front, four-piston rear carbon-ceramic brakes
- 21-inch Mission E wheels
- Carbon exterior trim
- Black window trim
- Carbon door sills
- Carbon diffuser inlays
- 18-way powered front seats
- Two-tone leather-free interior
- Charge ports on drive and passenger side
Servicing
The Taycan is backed by a three-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty.
Maintenance is required every 12 months or 15,000km, whichever comes first.
