Thanks: Zen Motors
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Starting at: $105,150

Highs Incredible acceleration, sports-car-like handling, speedy recharging capability.
Lows Range ratings lag behind Tesla's, no Android Auto support, typical Porsche pricing.
Verdict This electric sports sedan is pure Porsche.

What's New for 2020?
The Porsche Taycan is all new for 2020. The Turbo and Turbo S are poised to remain the most expensive, most powerful, and best-performing Taycans. The 4S won't be as quick, but it's possible that it and other future versions may offer better driving range.

Pricing and Which One to Buy
4S: $105,150
Turbo: $152,250
Turbo S: $186,350

While buying a Porsche is often an exercise in excess, our pick is the cheaper Porsche Taycan 4S. It's plenty quick and is likely to deliver more range on a single charge than the pricier Turbo models. Porsche's list of optional equipment is longer (and far pricier) than an eight-year-old's Christmas list, which makes choosing the perfect Taycan a very personal affair. However, all buyers should consider the 150-kW charger that triples the maximum charging power at 400-volt DC fast-charging stations.

Engine, Transmission, and Performance
The Taycan 4S, Turbo and Turbo S drive all four wheels with two electric motors. The peak outputs of 522 horsepower (4S with base battery), 563 horsepower (4S with bigger battery), 670 horsepower (Turbo), and 750 (Turbo S) only last for short bursts of 2.5 seconds at a time. After that, all models reduce the output slightly to protect the drivetrain from heat. The shifts of the rear motor's unique two-speed transmission are almost imperceptible during regular driving. But activate launch control, and the Porsche knocks out a one-two shift that is as quick and as hard as any gas-powered sports car. In our testing, the Turbo S ripped to 60 mph in 2.4 seconds, making it the fastest EV-only car we've ever tested and the third-quickest car in the history of our testing. (Behind the Lamborghini Huracán Performante and the Porsche 918 Spyder.) We haven't tested the Turbo or the 4S, but we estimate they should do the deed in 3.0 seconds and 3.8 seconds, respectively. It's normal for EVs to get slower as the battery charge depletes, but Porsche says the Taycan will be able to execute 10 back-to-back launches with consistent performance.

Interior, Comfort, and Cargo
Given the Taycan's low and sleek roofline, the interior proves surprisingly spacious. The Porsche doesn't feel nearly as cavernous as that of a Tesla Model S, but a six-footer can fit comfortably in both the front and rear seats. A four-seat configuration is standard, while a third center-rear seat (offering a total of five seats) is optional. Tellingly, Porsche calls this configuration a 2+1 arrangement, because that center rear seat is only for short people doing short stints. The Taycan's cargo space measures 17 cubic feet, which is divided between the trunk and a small front compartment that accommodates a single carry-on-size bag.

Infotainment and Connectivity
The Taycan comes standard with SiriusXM satellite radio, Bluetooth connectivity, and Apple CarPlay compatibility. Unfortunately, Porsche does not support Android Auto integration. The standard three-screen cockpit includes a curved-glass instrument panel, a main infotainment touchscreen, and a secondary touchscreen that controls climate functions and doubles as a laptop-like touchpad as a redundant means of manipulating the upper primary screen. If that's not enough screen for you, the optional passenger display adds a fourth pane of glass in the dash on the right side of the car. We'd skip it, though, as it's essentially a stripped-down version of the center screen with even less functionality.

Fuel Economy and Real-World MPGe
The automotive world gasped when the Taycan's EPA range ratings were announced. Coming in at 192 miles for the Turbo S and 201 miles for the Turbo, the Taycan is light years behind the Tesla Model S, which gets ratings between 326 and 373 miles. The 4S's figures should be slightly higher. However, in a 75-mph highway test that we conducted, a Taycan Turbo S nearly matched a Model S Perforomance, so we expect real-world performance to be much closer than the ratings suggest. To make the most of that range, you'll probably want Porsche's Intelligent Range Manager, a piece of software that adjusts the climate control and max speed when the remaining battery range is barely sufficient to reach a programmed destination. The Porsche Taycan is the first electric vehicle to be built on an 800-volt electrical architecture.
Read More https://www.caranddriver.com/porsche/...


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