It’s a cold day at the 4.4-kilometer-long Circuito Monteblanco in La Palma del Condado — compounded, no doubt, by sporadic precipitation. Adjacent to the 14-turn track located in southern Spain, a cozy media lounge of Porsche provides respite and refuge – and unlimited cups of coffee however we want it. There’s also a room where we are acquainted – via VR goggles – with the salient features of the updated, upgraded Taycan.
Welcoming media delegates in multiple waves from around the world, Stuttgart, Germany-headquartered Porsche is obviously immensely proud of its battery electric luxury sports car whose first production model was revealed to the world via the 2019 Frankfurt Motor Show.
While pundits and purists may have initially winced at the notion of Porsche sans an internal combustion engine, the Taycan obviously won many over by being true to the tenets (along with feel) the brand has been known for.
Over 3.6 million kilometers of testing were done prior to the rollout, and it has paid off handsomely to the tune of some 150,000 units already produced – reflecting the robust demand for the BEV, particularly in the US, UK, Germany, and China.
In Spain, I speak exclusively to Porsche’s spokesperson for the Panamera and Taycan lines, MaykWienkötter, and ask him for the most important changes in the new Taycan. “First of all, we have a bigger battery,” he begins. “That helps, of course, but we really retouched and reworked every part of the car. Everything has been made more efficient. We have a new rear motor, we have new pulse inverter. We even have tires and wheels that are more aerodynamic, and therefore more efficient. And this all adds up. It’s a lot of the little things that we that we implemented into the new Taycan, and these help to increase the range by up to 35%.”
Range had previously been one of the pain points in the original Taycan, and cognizance turned into commensurate action in the part of engineers. By WLTP reckoning, the new Taycan can travel up to 678 kilometers on a fully charged battery – versus the 503 kilometers of its predecessor. The Taycan Turbo S musters 630 kilometers versus the 467 kilometers (plus 34%) of the older version. Batteries have been swapped for higher-capacity ones – 300kW from 240kw in the new Taycan 2WD; 700kW from 560kW in the new Taycan Turbo S. Drilling down further, the improved range reflects breakthroughs in four areas of improvement: battery capacity, increased drivetrain efficiency, optimized drive and recuperation strategy, and optimization of the whole vehicle (mass, aerodynamics, rolling resistance).
Along with range, Porsche has also upped the ante in acceleration. The official zero-to-100kph time, says Porsche, is 2.4 seconds in the Taycan Turbo – 0.4 second quicker than the one it supplants. And on the Porsche Turbo GT with Weissach Package that I’m blessed to be muscling around the track, it’s an even sprightlier 2.1 seconds. Imagine that: standstill to 100kph in two ticks. The maximum power on this beauty is downright beastly: 760kW or 1,019hp, making it the most powerful series-production Porsche of all time. And this yin-yang quality extends to the silent powertrain and tight chassis that lulls you into thinking you are not speeding. The base Taycan isn’t too shabby either: 4.8 seconds from 5.4 ticks.
Behind the wheel of the Turbo GT with Weissach Package, I comply with instructions from the instructor. He will walk me through launch control, and I am hyper alert and excited. Stepping on both the throttle and brake pedal engages the feature, and when I release the brakes while flooring the “gas,” the Taycan rockets forward mightily – pinning me to the seat as my body struggles to process the acceleration. Did I just leave my lunch behind me?
The secret sauce behind the new Taycan’s range and performance is made up of an assortment of improvements. The battery gets new cell chemistry to promise high energy density and performance. Aside from enhanced capacity (plus 12%), it accepts greater maximum charge current (plus 20%), boasts a lower starting temperature for fast charging (now at 15 degrees Centigrade from 35 degrees), higher maximum current for launch control (plus 20%), lower weight (less 9kg), and greater energy density (plus 13%).
Even if the tarmac of the beautiful Circuito Monteblanco in La Palma del Condado is a bit damp, the specialized Pirellis on the Taycan keep it steady and planted at speed. The proving ground is a surely worthy experience and showcase of what makes the Taycan so different, so improved from its predecessor. Though a midcycle refresh, the new Taycan is already head and shoulders above the one it replaces – in one aspect, most literally.
Aware of the difficulty of getting into sports cars, Porsche has made tweaks so that when you unlock the vehicle to get in, the vehicle will rise up to make ingress a lot easier; the same thing happens when you are disembarking from it.
Again, enhancements in power, range, acceleration, stability, and even charging times make it a compelling package, even if not yet an all-new iteration.
The previous evening, at the impressive Pabellón de la Navegación in Sevilla, Porsche Taycan Electric Powertrain Director Klaus Rechberger helped to establish context as to what the auto marque prioritized in the new Taycan in terms of share in development cost. Leading the, well, charge is work on efficiency (29%), performance (25%), design and charging (16% each), infotainment (11%), and comfort (3%). It should be no surprise that massive gains were realized in the major areas of spending.
Wienkötter insists, “The Taycan is a true Porsche. It looks like a Porsche, drives like a Porsche, handles like a Porsche. It even smells like a Porsche. If you look at the seating position, for instance, it’s very similar to the 911, although it’s a four seater and a four-door version.”
He continues, “Everything feels very much Porsche, and that was really crucial for us to create – despite the drivetrain – a car that really resonates with the existing Porsche customers, that they feel at home when they get into the car. The steering feel will be the same, the way the car turns, and the acceleration feel, it should be very similar, and that’s what we achieved with the Taycan, and that’s why it’s such a great success.”
Heading back to Sevilla aboard Taycans from the track stint at Monteblanco, I savor the twists, turns, and undulations of the road. I agree that this is a true Porsche, blessed with the power, poise, and “Porsche-ness,” if you will. It just so happens to sport an electric heart where the ICE should be.
