The low roofline and curved wheel arches create a beltline that mimics the iconic 911, making the Taycan 4S look like no other car on the road. Rory Daly
Electric cars may not lack performance, with instant torque and incredible acceleration, but the main complaint is that they are ultimately bland and don’t offer the true sensations essential to fostering a human bond between driver and car.
With a history of iconic sports and race cars, it’s no wonder that Porsche has not only sought to fill this gap, but has also crossed that incredibly difficult bridge by entering the electric vehicle (EV) market for the first time with the Taycan 4S.
exterior
Let me be clear: this car is not for introverts. In particular,
Test Auto. The Taycan not only turns heads wherever it goes, but it also turns heads with its curvaceous, futuristic styling, enough to lead many to believe it’s a two-door coupe rather than a sedan.
Every time a Taycan hits the road, be prepared for people to turn their heads, camera phones to be drawn, and small children to start getting excited. If it’s parked for too long, an impromptu photoshoot may be taking place in its car when the owner returns. This is a very attractive car, as Porsche continues to incorporate its signature design elements into every model. The low roofline and curved wheel arches create a beltline that mimics the iconic 911. It’s a look that’s unlike anything else on the road.
interior
If the spaceship-like exterior wasn’t enough, the interior continues the theme. It’s all screens, and there are three of them. The main instruments are digital displays with familiar Porsche dials, while the other two, the main infotainment and passenger side, are combined with an iPad-like centre console for a movie-star-like cruiser control experience.
Buttons are reduced to the bare essentials. Want to move the air conditioning vents? A screen. But even with all this technology, Porsche manages to make it quickly blend into the background. Flush door handles pop out to allow entry and exit, and occupants settle into low, comfortable seats with a full-glass roof above them. From the driver’s perspective, everything is focused; to everyone else, the sense of space and luxury is clear. The variety of textures, colors and materials blends old and new, creating a feeling of extraordinary quality levels. The materials you see in the cabin are what they are, not cheap imitations.
The noise floor is incredibly low, making for a relaxing and quiet ride at any speed. Outside sounds are blocked out as much as possible, but that shouldn’t be a concern with a very good stereo system with 3D surround technology that turns music into something special. You’ll have even more peace of mind knowing that there are a host of powered and automatic features on board.
on the road
What would the Taycan be if it were just an electric car? It’s not. It’s great to drive, and not just in a straight line. Powering the 4S are two electric motors, front and rear, with 800-volt architecture, producing more than 400bhp. The available 84 kWh battery is good for 430 kilometers on a 100% charge, and in real-world use it’ll easily get you more than 365 kilometers. With a 50 kWh Level 3 DC fast charger, you can regain 100 kilometers of range in 30 minutes. For those with range concerns, there’s a range mode that tries to squeeze every last bit of energy out of the battery.
Efficiency is good, but it’s not the most important point of owning a Porsche. Put the Taycan in Sport+ mode and the world spins under your wheels every time you press the accelerator. Launch control will forever warp your occupants’ concept of speed, teleporting you to 100 km/h in under five seconds. And where other EVs slow down, the Taycan literally finds a second gear because it’s one of the few EVs with a two-speed transmission. Not only can it launch multiple times without losing performance, it can maintain that level of acceleration to bounding speed in an instant. This small mechanical change gives the Taycan a rather unique feeling of reach to the driver.
Even better, the Taycan 4S isn’t a one-trick pony. Its air suspension is just as capable for cornering as it is for cruising in comfort. The chassis is responsive at any speed, and the incredible tuning of the dampers allows the car to glide smoothly at high speeds over any surface, giving the driver total control that inspires confidence. Even on the cratered roads of Jamaica’s interior, the Taycan 4S is never harsh or off-track. This tactile feedback, not only from the materials you interact with in the cabin, but from the driving experience, goes beyond the dry digital character we’ve come to expect from an EV and delivers the Porsche essential to the driver.
The Taycan 4S has a unique personality, a soul, that stirs the soul of whoever gets behind the wheel.
