Porsche Taycan Turbo S 750 Horsepower EV Monster Rips 0-60 in 2.6 Seconds And Costs $180,000
Starting with performance, the flagship trim will be the Taycan Turbo S. Let's get this out of the way, the "Turbo" name makes absolutely no sense on the Taycan. The Taycan doesn't have an internal combustion engine, and hence it doesn't have a turbocharger. But we digress... the Taycan Turbo S generates an incredible 750 horsepower from two permanent magnetic synchronous motors. The motors are paired with a two-speed transmission, which is uncommon on EVs. The first gear provides excellent low-end performance, while the second gear improves efficiency at higher speeds.
Those electric motors are fed by a large 93.4 kWh battery pack using an 800-volt system. The battery is mounted low in the chassis, giving the Taycan a lower center of gravity than the company's flagship 911 sports car. The Taycan supports 270 kW charging, which can give you 100km (62 miles) of range with just a 5-minute charge. Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP) range for the Taycan Turbo S is listed at 450km, or 280 miles. We expect that figure to be a bit lower under U.S. EPA guidelines.
When all is said and done, Porsche says that the Taycan Turbo S can rocket from a standstill to 60 mph in just 2.6 seconds. A lesser, 670 horsepower Taycan Turbo will do the deed in 3 seconds flat. The top speed for both the Taycan Turbo S and the Taycan Turbo is listed at a lofty 161 mph. There will also be an entry-level Taycan with "just" 616 horsepower, but the company hasn't provided performance figures for that trim yet.
With respect to design, the Taycan hones very closely to the Mission E concept vehicle that debuted 4 years ago. That means that it takes styling cues from Porsche's current vehicle lineup with clear ties to the legendary 911 and the 4-door Panamera. Needless to say, it's a very clean and modern design with Porsche's 4-element headlights up front and the signature horizontal light bar in the back.
The inside should be instantly familiar to you, as Porsche fully unwrapped it late last month. The Taycan can be equipped with up to four massive display panels in the dash (one for the instrument cluster, one for infotainment, one for vehicle/climate controls, and one for the passenger). Porsche also says that there will be a persistent internet connection that will support continues vehicle updates.
Base versions of the Taycan will be priced at around $90,000, but given Porsche's knack for outrageous options, we doubt that you'll see one of the dealer lot for less than $100,000. The Taycan Turbo and Turbo S, on the other hand, will set you back a whopping $150,900 and $185,000 respectively. Availability hasn't been announced at this time.
