The Porsche Taycan is as impressive as ever

The Porsche Taycan is as impressive as ever

To date, the Porsche Taycan has been the company's response to the growing demand for electrification, but this is a Porsche, so the EV perception in the Taycan only scratches the surface. This new announcement adds three models to the Porsche line-up in the shape of the Taycan 4, the Taycan GTS, and the utterly gorgeous GTS Sports Turismo, all of which add improvements in design, power, and range, as well as improved charging technology.

Before we touch on the utterly mind-boggling performance of the Taycan slapped with the GTS badge, we need to bring the entry-level Taycan 4 into the spotlight. The Taycan 4 has provided customers with a highly efficient option, while the Cross Turismo served as the go-to option for AWD performance. But now Porsche will offer its clients the best of both in terms of range and AWD performance in a sedan package. You will also get a choice of battery, with the standard Performance Battery or the optional Performance Battery Plus, which results in a power output of either 300kW or 320kW in overboost.

But the purpose of the 4’s existence is its range faculty. With the standard Performance battery, you can squeeze about 559km out on a charge, whereas with the Performance Plus option, it will reach up to 643km on a charge, making the Taycan 4 the king of range for AWD EVs. This AWD addition will increase its weight by 80kg, but with front and rear-mounted electric motors, it can achieve a 0-100km/h time of 4.6 seconds, which is 0.2 seconds faster than the preceding RWD derivative.

Now for the dynamic versions, the GTS and GTS Sport Turismo. Before we tackle the figures, the new name has piqued my interest. The letters GTS stand for Gran Turismo Sport and were first implemented on the Porsche 904 Carrera GTS in 1963. These three letters have resonated with Porker fans for years now, and the Taycan GTS is a sedan that sports this badge as it should, whereas the new wagon called the GTS Sports Turismo has a rather odd name combination. If I were to write it out, it would read as 'Gran Turismo Sport Sport Turismo', and to me it doesn’t make much sense. Anyways, besides this peculiar name, it’s a damn impressive product on paper.

Porsche describes the new Taycan GTS as a sporty all-rounder, a description that accurately captures its capabilities. It produces 515kW, 75kW more than its predecessor, and sports a new push-to-pass feature that gives you up to 70kW of added performance for a 10-second interval. But if you are travelling at low speeds and push this button, you now have access to its launch control power availability for a rolling launch.

As you can imagine, it’s a rocket off the line and will reach 100km/h from 0 in 3.3 seconds. In case you are wondering, that's 0.4 seconds faster than the previous iteration. It will also do 0-200km/h in 10.4 seconds, which is a 1.6-second improvement. On the subject of improvement, the range has been increased by 120km from its previous 508km.

Even the charging speed has been improved and accommodates an 800-volt DC charge, allowing for 320kW charging potential. The Taycan's onboard energy recuperation has been improved to 400kW during deceleration. Also, its optional rear axle steering and GTS-specific chassis provide an unrivalled EV handling dynamic, which speaks to the Porsche's proven DNA.

These new Taycans also feature new paint styles, including Slate Grey Neo, Pale Blue, and Purple Sky Metallic, which complement the new exterior design. As far as numbers are concerned, the Taycan keeps getting better, but the new Sport Turismo shape is intoxicating. I do love a wagon design, and Porsche has knocked it out of the park.

As far as pricing is concerned, the 4 comes in at R3,0006,000, which places it between the base model RWD Taycan and the Cross Turismo at R3,223,00. As for the GTS, it will set you back R3,938,000 and offers a high-performance alternative to the Turbo at R400,000 less. The Taycan has been improved in almost every way, and the best part is that they are heading to SA in 2025.

Taycan 4: R3,006,000

Taycan GTS: R3,938,000