This is the new Porsche Taycan, which has received an extensive upgrade to cement its position as one of the fastest, longest-range and best-handling EVs on sale.

Due on sale in the spring, the new Taycan “excels over its predecessor in every discipline”, according to Porsche, which claims huge improvements in range, acceleration, charging speed, equipment and dynamics.

The Taycan can be specified with a single rear motor from £86,500 or a choice of three twin-motor powertrains: 4S (£95,900), Turbo (£134,100) and Turbo S (£161,400).

While the similarly sized, combustion-powered Panamera dropped its estate body option as it moved into its third generation recently, the Taycan keeps three body variants.

The longest range – 422 miles on the WLTP combined cycle – is claimed by the rear driven, single-motor Taycan equipped with the optional Performance Battery Plus, which at 105kWh is a chunky 12kWh bigger than before.

The Taycan can now top up at speeds of 320kW – 50kW quicker than before – at suitable chargers. In addition, the battery’s fast-charging window has been extended so that it can now accept speeds of more than 300kW for up to five minutes.

Join News Editor Felix Page has he gets up close to the new Taycan, drives this prototype model and interviews Porsche's VP of the Taycan model line, Kevin Giek.

Even more details of the car are available over at autocar.co.uk