Porsche set to Release Rear-Wheel-Drive Taycan EV Outside Chinese Market [Updated]
Porsche introduces the Taycan
Entry-level Taycan joins the EV sedan family
[Update] Overnight, Porsche has confirmed the Taycan will join the range, with a single-deck Performance Battery with a gross capacity of 79.2 kWh fitted as standard. The two-deck Performance Battery Plus is available as an option with a gross capacity is 93.4 kWh. Range, in accordance with WLTP, is up to 431 or up to 484 kilometres respectively.
The Taycan accelerates from a standing start to 100 km/h in 5.4 seconds, whichever battery is specified. Its top speed is also 230 km/h in both configurations, while its maximum charging capacity is up to 225 kW (Performance Battery) or up to 270 kW (Performance Battery Plus). This means that both batteries can be charged from five to 80 per cent SoC in 22.5 minutes and that power for a further 100 kilometres is achieved after only five minutes.
The Porsche Taycan will start at $79,990 (MSRP) in the US before federal tax credit, while the Porsche Taycan with Performance Battery Plus will start at $85,680 (MSRP). The Porsche Configurator in the US has been updated to reflect the introduction of the new model.
January 18 2021: Porsche has hinted at the imminent arrival of the rear-wheel-drive Taycan EV, releasing a shadowy teaser image. It has long been expected that the company would include a more affordable two-wheel-drive variant to compliment the Taycan 4S, Taycan Turbo and Taycan Turbo S.
The image features a Taycan Turbo in Gentian Blue, a Taycan Turbo S in what looks to be Coffee Beige and a Taycan 4S in Neptune or Miami Blue. The final vehicle, painted in Frozenberry Metallic is unfortunately too dark to reveal any badge on the rear, (the Porsche marketing department has blacked out a lot of the detail in the image file) however it makes sense that after filling the initial demand from the launch of the vehicle in the Chinese market that Porsche would open the order books up to the rest of the world this year.
While this won’t be a Taycan for the people —it’s expected to have a starting price around $80-85,000USD— it will bring the electric Porsche within the realm of affordability for buyers of performance combustion-engined vehicles such as Audi’s RS5 and the Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG.
While it’s expected that Porsche will eventually pad out the Taycan range with GTS and anniversary variants, personally we at EV Brief are more excited for an all-electric wagon; namely the Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo. This svelte estate will feature the Taycan’s storming performance, in an aerodynamic and practical body. It’s expected to launch sometime in 2021.
