Porsche has revealed a silly but admittedly incredibly fun metric that underscores a suite of incredibly serious revisions to its electric performance car. Welcome to the Porsche Taycan 2.0: a car that’s lighter, quicker to charge, packed with more range than its predecessor, and fast.
Because the range-topping, definitely-hasn’t-got-a-turbo Taycan Turbo S will go from 0-100kph in 2.4sec. Two point four. Formerly the preserve of gazillion horsepower underground street-racing hotrods, that pace is now accessible—uniformly, one suspects—in an electric (very plush) family car.
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It’s a full 0.4sec than its predecessor, while even the base Taycan—simply called… The Taycan—is 0.6sec quicker, achieving 0-100kph in 4.8sec. That’s faster than an E46 M3. Furthermore, the Turbo S gets the Sport Chrono pack as standard (optional elsewhere) and features a new ‘push-to-pass’ function allowing for a 94hp (70kW) boost for 10sec.
The increase in pace is of course down to a number of differentials that include a new, redesigned rear-axle motor that’s 10kg lighter than before and is able to deliver up to 107hp (80kW) more power. There’s an upgraded ‘pulse inverter’ too; sounds like something Batman uses to subdue baddies, instead enables “more efficient control” of the drivetrain.
Some more numbers. It’ll now travel further, the new ‘Performance Battery Plus’ offering 105kWh (an increase over the 93kWh battery of its predecessor) which in the rear-drive Taycan, is now able to travel up to 678km (421 miles) on a single charge. That’s a full 176km more than before.
There’s better software. An upgraded thermal management system. A next-gen heat pump. Better recuperation from braking energy. Faster recharging (for example, 10-80% in 18 minutes, versus the old car’s leisurely 37 minutes).
And more power across the board: the base Taycan now gets up to 430hp (320kW), the 4S 590hp (440kW), the not-a-Turbo Turbo 872hp (660kW) and the really-not-a-Turbo-at-all Turbo S a whopping 940hp (700kW). So, nearly a gazillion horsepower, as it turns out.
Of course the Taycan has never really been a ‘numbers’ car—even if the new numbers are startling—and to make it more… Porschey, there are now adaptive dampers fitted as standard across the entire range. We’re told they keep the car stable via auto self-leveling tech, lowering up to 22mm above a certain speed.
This being a Porsche, you can of course spec the ‘active ride’ suspension as an option: very fancy new shocks that react “lightning fast” and are better equipped to deal with ‘uneven’ surfaces. Perfect for Britain, then. Torque vectoring is also optional on the lower cars, but standard on the Turbos.
Other standard kit across the range are the new matrix LED lights (HD an option), a tonne of driver assists (cruise control with ‘swerve assist’, for example), a reversing camera, ‘range manager’, and an updated interior instrument and infotainment setup. A HUD is optional, while Apple CarPlay has apparently been more ‘deeply integrated’. Android Auto is there too, and there’s now video streaming functionality for the passengers.
There’s been a subtle facelift to the Taycan; enough to render it new, not enough to detract from its original handsome shape. There are new air intakes, ‘streamlined’ wings, a 3D-style design to the rear light strip and of course, massive wheels and many colours to choose from. The Turbo cars get additional differentiation via colourways, exclusive wheels, crests and new interior stitching.
The new Taycan, Taycan Cross Turismo, and Taycan Sport Turismo will be available later this year, with prices available in due course. Likely to be popular, too: Porsche tells us more than 150,000 versions of the Taycan have been shifted across the globe since it was launched. Prices kick off at £86,500 for the base Taycan, rising through the variants to £162,500 for the Taycan Turbo S Cross Turismo.
“We ushered in the new era of e-mobility with the Taycan at the end of 2019. It immediately proved to be a game changer and innovative pioneer in the e-vehicle segment,” said model line boss Kevin Giek.
“The model line has reached new heights in terms of performance, with exceptional driving dynamics and driving pleasure. At the same time, we were able to significantly improve efficiency, range, day-to-day usability, and comfort.” Quick, too.
More photos of the new Porsche Taycan Turbo S 2024:
NOTE: This article first appeared on TopGear.com. Minor edits have been made.
