Rear-drive Porsche Taycan on sale in UK
The only Taycan to hold a Guinness World Record can be ordered now - prices start at £70k
If this Porsche Taycan looks jolly familiar, there's a reason for that: when the rear-wheel drive car was launched in China last year, it was shown in exactly the same dusky pink colour. Now, fresh from its Guinness World Record for EV powersliding, the two-wheel drive model - called simply 'Porsche Taycan' - is now on its way to Europe.
With the standard 79.2kWh battery, the new model produces 326hp, or 408hp on overboost; consumption is rated at 28.0kWh per 100km, and it has a charging capacity of up to 225kW. As in the Taycan 4S, though, this Taycan's battery can be upgraded to the two-deck Performance Battery Plus, rated at 93.4kWh; this boosts nominal power to 380hp and the overboost maximum to 476hp, with consumption up a fraction to 28.7kWh per 100km and an increase in charging capacity to 270kW. Interestingly, though range predictably increases with the chunkier battery - offering 484km (300 miles) instead of 431 (267 miles) - it doesn't have any effect on performance: both rear-drive Taycans hit 62mph in 5.4 seconds and top out at 143mph. Porsche also claims that both battery options, when hooked up to the right charger, can be charged from five to 80 per cent in 22.5 minutes.
With the RWD car ostensibly identical to the rest of the range inside and out, the other noteworthy factor for this Taycan is the technology. Most notably that's in the new Plug & Charge function, said to allow "convenient charging and payments without the need for cards or an app"; which sounds like the recipe for electric driving nirvana, with charging commencing as soon as the cable is plugged in. That said, it will need a compatible charging station, so we're not entirely done with phones and cards just yet. In addition, the options familiar from the rest of the Taycan range - upgraded brakes, air suspension, the non-leather interior and so on - are available on this 'entry level' car.
The new Taycan will be in dealerships from the middle of March, with UK prices starting at £70,690 - a substantial saving over the £83,367 a 4S costs. In fact, it's so much less that it means undercutting the new M3, confirmed last week at £75k. The BMW is more powerful, sure, but you wouldn't bet against the Taycan giving it a good run for its money in a comparison. One to revisit in the spring, that's for sure.
Be interesting to see just how expensive it gets with a few 'essential' options but a £71k starting price is impressive.
This RWD model will be more like £80k once optioned sensibly though I'd expect.
Be interesting to see just how expensive it gets with a few 'essential' options but a £71k starting price is impressive.
This RWD model will be more like £80k once optioned sensibly though I'd expect.
It's ridiculous that things like auto-dimming mirrors, folding mirrors, memory seats etc aren't included when they've been standard on "premium" cars for decades.
Even options that aren't always included with other brands are silly money from Porsche - £1128 for the HUD, adaptive cruise is £1238, £2172 if you want the active driving like a Tesla, £774 for "Comfort Access" i.e. keyless entry etc, .
£4k for the upgraded battery too.
Mental.
ETA: Just been through and specced up what I'd want, i.e. most of the fun technology (after all that's the point of an EV at the moment, no?), £95k. That's without going mental on things like extended leather.
It gets worse - £581 for 4-zone climate, £1024 for heated and cooled seats, £291 for side airbags in the rear! Totally insane.
your already shaking your head.Still fantastic car for the money, and it could be argued that in today's traffic the power output is just right.
amongst the benefits for Porsche that strategy means that while they make little if any profit on base cars their lower volume competitors can't get within a country mile of the same prices. For instance, you can be off up the road in a base 718 for around the price of an Elise and way cheaper than a base Alpine.
your already shaking your head.Still fantastic car for the money, and it could be argued that in today's traffic the power output is just right.
Porsche are taking the liquid nitrogenous waste with how they claim to be a premium up-market brand but keep the basic spec down, in order that you/we are conned into paying for stuff that should be standard or is unnecessary
I’ve noticed how Porsche and other group seemingly unrelated options together which makes no sense other than to fill their coffers.
And as an aside my wife took one look at the feature car at the top of the article and pronounced the colour ‘priapic plum’
Can’t say I’d know as it’s that long since I got all priapic about anything even The Dead Sea was only mildly ill..
With better wheels (20"), heated/memory seats, folding mirrors, sport chrono, park assist with camera and privacy glass it comes in at £75k. Not too bad I suppose?
That would do for me.
amongst the benefits for Porsche that strategy means that while they make little if any profit on base cars their lower volume competitors can't get within a country mile of the same prices. For instance, you can be off up the road in a base 718 for around the price of an Elise and way cheaper than a base Alpine.
However, these are mostly paid via company schemes where they're paid with pre-tax money. Pre-tax money for those who buy 80k cars, they're all in the 40%+ tax bracket, so effectively that makes it a £400 pcm car.
I have a Taycan Turbo, and as I can pay for it through the business, it costs me the equivalent of £750pcm. That's before petrol savings. Bear in mind it's a £120k car that is 7m30 round the ring and incredibly well built and comfortable.
As above I'd trade mine in for the Porsche for the superior engineering, styling and quality but would lose performance, equipment, range and public charging options into the bargain as well as paying an additional £20k.
Not that it will be worthless but residuals could be a be unpredictable, compared to a 911.
Colour reminds me of a shade you could get on Sierras back in the 80s, looks good though.
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