Porsche stuns with cheaper and longer range new electric Taycan

Porsche only officially entered the electric vehicle era in September, but it has already upped its game by releasing a stunning third Taycan model on Monday (Europe time) that will be not only cheaper but also offer longer driving range.

The Driven can also confirm that all three models will be available in Australia from late 2020, with Australian pricing for the Taycan 4S, Turbo and Turbo S to be announced in early 2020 at the same time that pre-orders open.

Following from its Taycan Turbo and top-of-the-range Turbo S, the new entry-level Taycan 4S undercuts Porsche’s two debut models with two performance options, delivering either 390kW power or 420kW power.

The base Taycan 4S is kitted with a single-deck 79.2kWh battery that can be optionally upgraded to the double-deck Performance Plus 93.4kWh battery that comes with its Turbo cousins.

Of course, the smaller battery in the base model means less range also, but not by much – 407km under WLTP rating says Porsche, just 5km less than that of the Turbo S – no doubt due to the less powerful motor.

The Performance Plus battery extends the range to 463km, making this entry-level electric sports car the longest range of the pack, helped along by the sleek Taycan profile to deliver a drag coefficient of just 0.22.

The announcement by Porsche reconfirms the three versions of the all-electric Taycan hinted at by Porsche HR director Andreas Haffner in July (we must admit we thought it was odd that the original unveil was of only two vehicles).

With the Taycan’s 800V architecture, the Taycan 4S offers sustained power and the ability to charge at some of the fastest speeds available on today’s market.

The 800V architecture technically will allow 350kW charging, but the maximum charging capacity of the Performance battery is capped at 225kW and the Performance Plus at 270kW, delivering a full charge for the 93.4kW Plus battery from 0-100% in around 20 minutes.

Under the hood (or should that be the floor), the two permanently excited synchronous motors are a full 80mm shorter than that of the Turbo and Turbo S.

On the face of it, the 4S delivers the same sleek exterior design as its Turbo and Turbo S stablemates, with subtle differences in the wheels, calipers and front apron.

For Australians, 20-inch Sport Aero wheels will come as standard, along with distinctive red brake calipers and unique geometric design on the front apron, side sills and rear diffuser.

Inside the vehicle, Australian customers will be able to look forward to electric front seats with fourteen adjustment options and memory package.

Porsche also promises partial leather interior as standard with the option for a leather-free interior using recycled materials for those wanting a full commitment to sustainability.