The automaker has already unveiled the interior of the new fully electric Porsche Taycan ahead of the world premiere of the four-door sports car at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September. According to the automaker, the model's cockpit is inspired by that of the original 911 from 1963 with a clean, driver-focused layout. The dashboard offers space for up to four large screens and an optional fifth in the rear.
Function and design in the new Porsche Taycan
Behind the steering wheel is a 16.8-inch curved display with four display modes. This is classically equipped with rounded instruments and a conventional configuration. There is a map that replaces the central screen. In addition, a full map, which omits all instruments to display the navigation device on the entire screen, also works. Only important information for the driver is displayed. The instrument cluster is flanked by two small touchscreen modules, a surgical light and chassis functions.
The dashboard houses a 10.9-inch touchscreen that allows the driver to control all kinds of vehicle settings and functions. There are apps for navigation, media and smartphone connectivity, as well as charging, weather viewing and maintenance. According to the manufacturer, engineers have redesigned all interfaces for the car, greatly reducing the reliance on physical controls. In addition to the controls, the driver can activate all functions using voice control with the phrase “Hey Porsche”.
Buyers also have the option of using a second touchscreen for the passenger dashboard. This allows them to interact with the car without distracting the driver. The raised 8.4-inch touchscreen in the center console gives the feeling of a low driving position. Here you can select the climate control settings. Furthermore, haptic feedback and handwriting recognition technology ensure a more intuitive user experience.
You can also operate the ventilation openings digitally. This is a feature also found in the Tesla Model 3, while a switch in the instrument panel eliminates the need to use a drive mode lever. The new models, equipped with the optional four-zone 'Advanced Climate Control', get a fifth 5.9-inch touchscreen on the back. This allows rear seat passengers to adjust their preferred settings. Otherwise, two versions of the steering wheel are available. There's a standard version that's customizable with colored inserts and a 'GT Sports' option with a more distinctive design.
Equipment for special tastes
Various interior colors are available for the Porsche Taycan. The Black Lime with Beige and Blackberry with Meranti Brown are the exclusive options. Optional accents add matte black or dark silver or neodymium highlights, while the doors and center consoles feature wood, matte carbon, embossed aluminum and fabric trim. Leather seats are also available, but customers can also opt for sustainable faux leather or recycled Race-Tex microfiber upholstery instead.
The company had previously announced that the Porsche Taycan would get a six-month subscription to the Apple Music streaming service. The company also says it's offering full Apple Music integration in a vehicle for the first time. Drivers have access to over 50 million songs, and the German manufacturer also offers a free internet connection in the car for three years. A premium Burmester surround sound audio system is available as an option. With the voice control assistant, drivers can search for music on the go. The model is also compatible with Apple CarPlay.
Interior
The interior offers space for up to five passengers, while there is space for luggage in the trunk and under the hood. In front of the driver is a free-standing, curved digital instrument display. A toggle drive mode selector allows you to switch between Drive, Neutral and Reverse. A large infotainment screen sits flush in the dashboard, while a second touchscreen sits between the two front seats. Future owners should also be able to purchase over-the-air updates for their car, offering upgrades to everything from the infotainment system to onboard safety technology. Chassis changes and power upgrades should also be possible.
Other facts worth knowing
The Taycan is set to go on sale in 2020 and the German manufacturer is eyeing the Tesla Model S when it launches its first electric car. Official performance figures haven't been confirmed yet, but Porsche is targeting a range of more than 500 kilometers on a single charge. So we can expect the automaker to equip the Porsche Taycan with a 90 kWh battery and achieve a range of around 290 kilometers in just nine minutes with 350 kW fast charging. The electric vehicle will have two electric motors - one at the front and one at the rear, which produce around 600 horsepower in the top versions of the car. Acceleration from 0-100 km per hour should take just 3.5 seconds, with 0-200 km per hour expected to take less than 12 seconds.
However, the top speed of the car will be 250 km/h. All-wheel drive was expected to be standard initially, although cheaper rear-wheel drive versions could eventually come to market. Test drivers covered more than six million kilometers during the vehicle's five-year development program, which spanned 30 countries and temperatures ranging from -35 to +50 degrees Celsius.
In addition, more than 100,000 charging cycles have been carried out to ensure that the battery is as robust as possible. Most recently, a pre-production Taycan covered more than 2,000 miles in 24 hours on the Nardo test track in Italy. A team of six Porsche drivers averaged between 121 and 134 mph and stopped a few times to swap drivers.
Driving report on Porsche Taycan
With the Taycan almost ready for production, Auto Express traveled to Germany with the car's chief engineer, Stefan Weckback, to see how it was developing. “We wanted the Taycan to be a real Porsche,” explained Weckbach. “That means it has to deliver maximum performance under all circumstances, as long as the driver demands it.” However, this is easier to say than in a car that weighs over two tons and is more than five meters long and two meters wide did.
However, the Porsche Taycan has a lower center of gravity than the Porsche 911 GT3, largely due to the low positioning of the battery. Combined with active, adaptive air suspension and rear-wheel steering, the car feels incredibly agile when cornering. It disguises its large proportions in a brilliant way. You should also take the low seating position into account. It goes a long way to making the Taycan feel sportier and more driver-focused than the Model S or Jaguar I-Pace. The performance on a straight line is also remarkable. Even from the passenger seat, the erroneous speed appears to be accurate at 3.5 seconds or less.
It is also noticeable that this acceleration occurs almost silently. Porsche engineers have worked hard to keep the noise from the electric motors as low as possible. While the handling is reminiscent of the 911, the styling is more similar to the Panamera. The exterior of the car features design features typical of the rest of the brand's range, including the sloping roofline, flared wheel arches and a full-length LED light bar at the rear.
Release date and details
Porsche has decided to keep the information about the interior to itself for now. The full unveiling is scheduled to take place at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September. However, we can say with certainty that the interior will be one of Porsche's most futuristic, with touchscreen gadgets playing an important role as opposed to physical buttons. We will be able to get a decent ride in the car at the end of 2019. When deliveries begin in 2020, the Tesla Model S will finally face competition from its main rival.
No pricing information has been released for the Taycan at this time. However, the car brand has stated that up to three more variants of the four-door sedan could be available. The more expensive high-end versions are offered for sale first. These offer different performance levels, with an entry-level version being developed with around 400 hp. A crossover model unveiled by the Mission E Cross Turismo concept vehicle has also been confirmed for production. The Taycan will also eventually form the basis for a fully electric Bentley.
According to Porsche, more than 10,000 customers have made deposits on the Taycan. From 2020 onwards, between 20,000 and 25,000 models will come onto the market every year. Porsche also explained the origin of the name. Taycan is derived from an Eastern dialect and is pronounced “Tie-Can”. It means “lively young horse,” which is a reference to the Porsche emblem.
However, the difference between the “Mission E” prototype and the upcoming model lies in the positioning of the door handles. We can also notice changes to the rear part in the new version. The Taycan will be compatible with IONITY's super-fast European CCS chargers. Porsche wants the car's lithium-ion battery to be denser than anything Tesla offers, reaching 270 watt-hours per kilogram.
