Porsche extend entry-level Taycan to Europe and US

Porsche has extended the availability of the fourth version of its all-electric Taycan, a rear-wheel drive model that costs almost US$24,000 less than the previously cheapest model, the Porsche Taycan 4S, and about half the price of a Porsche Taycan Turbo S.

The entry-level Porsche Taycan looks exactly the same as its more expensive family members and you can add all of the same chassis upgrades and deluxe cabin accessories from the more expensive models. It will be available in the US and Europe in 2021.

It is the slowest Taycan the manufacturer has made, but with the single-battery motor giving 240 kilowatts, the first rear-wheel drive electric Porsche Taycan can hit 230 kilometres per hour. Put it into the temporary overboost mode and power leaps to 300 kilowatts, which gets you from 0–100 kilometres per hour in 5.4 seconds. The Taycan RWD already has some serious motorsport pedigree, having recently set the world record for the longest drift in an electric car, covering a distance of over 42 kilometres.

The stylish sporty look of the Porsche Taycan. Photo: Porsche AG

The new Taycan has a single-deck Performance Battery, which has a gross capacity of 79.2 kilowatt hours, fitted as standard. Choose and pay for the optional two-deck Performance Battery Plus and you’ll get an increased capacity of 93.4 kilowatt hours and a distance range boost from 431 kilometres to 484 kilometres.

As the youngest member of the model family, the Taycan includes, as standard, the new features introduced in the other Taycans. For instance, the Plug & Charge function enables convenient charging and payments without the need for cards or an app. As soon as the charging cable is plugged in, the Taycan makes encrypted communication with the Plug & Charge-compatible charging station. The charging process then starts automatically. Payments are also processed automatically, Porsche said in a statement.

The charging sockets for the Porsche Taycan. Photo: Porsche AG

With its purist design, the Porsche Taycan signals the beginning of a new era for the German sports car brand, while at the same time, retaining the unmistakable Porsche design DNA.

The Porsche Taycan has received around 50 international awards, mainly in its principal markets of Germany, the US, the UK and China.

The Porsche Taycan, Taycan 4S, Taycan Turbo, Taycan Turbo S. Photo: Porsche AG

The entry-level Taycan is currently offered only in China.