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Porsche first revealed the Mission E Concept to the world in 2015, a bold and poignant statement of intent that the world’s pre-eminent sports car maker was going electric, and that it was taking it very seriously. Nearly four years later, Porsche is only months away from showing the world the production version – to be called the Taycan – to a market more receptive than ever to the notion of a premium electric car.
Porsche seems to have its sights set on the industry’s disruptors Tesla Model S with its new Taycan. However, it’s also looking at the luxury car market as a whole. This is because improvements to infrastructure and greater awareness are pulling electric cars ever closer to the mainstream. It’ll be shown in production form at this year’s Frankfurt motor show, exactly four years after the first Mission E Concept, and eventually spawn derivatives like a Sport Turismo estate and sister models like the Audi e-Tron GT
The saloon won’t be the only fully electric offering from Porsche. The next Macan will also rival Audi’s E-tron, Mercedes’ EQC, Tesla’s Model X and Jaguar’s iPace in 2022.
To create the Porsche Taycan, Porsche started from scratch. They started with the development of a new platform to specifically house the electric motors and battery pack. Under the J1 nomenclature, this platform places its batteries in a skateboard layout. This means there will be two electric motors, one on each axle, powering all four wheels.
The Taycan will be an electric-propulsion halo model across all of the Volkswagen Group brands. It is expected to introduce a suite of new technology and user interface tech. Like the Tesla Model S, the Taycan’ chassis has its batteries organised in a thin slab underneath the main body.
Those electric motors together will generate a combined 592bhp power output. This is similar to the Mission E Cross Turismo concept revealed at last year’s Geneva motor show. The production Taycan will reach 100kmph in under 3.5sec, with a 249kmph limited top speed.
Like its American rival, the battery position platform gives the Taycan a very low centre of gravity. This should help the electric saloon handle as well as we expect a Porsche to. A trade-off is a high weight figure. However, it’s a consistent problem with all electric cars that incorporate enough batteries to ensure a high-range figure. Porsche has quoted a range of around 500km for the Mission E Cross Turismo concept. This figure also expected to be achievable by the production Taycan.
Nevertheless, Porsche has tried to retain some of the elements found in its more traditional sports cars. According to Robert Meier, complete vehicle model line director for the Taycan, its driving position is ‘almost identical to the 911’s’
The prototypes that have been seen testing, although disguised, show that the production cars will look similar to the initial Mission E Concept. As expected, the form and proportions aren’t quite as dramatic. It’ll neither be as low nor as sculpted, and the concept’s rear suicide doors have been ditched. That said, some of the proportions and styling elements are similar. It also shares many attributes with other current Porsche models and it’s hard to deny it looks like a combination of the 911 and the Panamera. There’s also a hint of the Cayman in its rear three-quarter view.
Part of the original Mission E Concept’s positive response came directly from a new aesthetic. It takes advantage of the new packaging set, accentuating the fact the Mission E Concept does without a traditional internal combustion engine. Porsche’s designers lowered the front bonnet as much as possible, creating a thin body side, exaggerated by the massive concept car wheels.
The Mission E Cross Turismo clearly follows this theme. However, it does so in a new estate-like body, much like the Panamera Sport Turismo. Pointing towards a possible future production variant, the Cross Turismo differs from the original concept by adopting normal door openings, rather than the suicide doors of the 2015 concept.
Looking at the test mules, it’s obvious the wild proportions of the concept have been dialled down. But in typical Porsche style, which holds on to the same basic look. With Porsche’s habit of glacial design evolution, the Mission E should encourage similar design cues in other models in the range.
The inside of the Cross Turismo concept gives us the best idea of what the Taycan’s interior will look like, featuring many near-production elements, such as an airbag-fitted steering wheel and similar switchgear to that seen in current Porsche models.
Recent spy images have also given us a closer look at the model’s braking systems. One prototype can be seen featuring large carbon-ceramic discs and another with smaller steel discs. Due to the need for regenerative braking, systems will be bespoke to the model to allow for maximum efficiency.
By putting the Taycan project into production the German sports car maker is making a significant commitment to the technology. Additionally, they’re investing €700m (approx Rs 54,000 crore) at Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen, and creating more than a thousand new jobs. Work on Porsche’s manufacturing facility will create a new paint shop and assembly plant. There will also be changes to the engine factory to accommodate electric propulsion production.
It would be remiss not to note that Porsche’s announcement comes not long after parent company Volkswagen’s scandal over diesel emissions. With VW already promising renewed focus on cleaner methods of propulsion, it seems logical that Porsche would follow suit. Additionally, media attention on American firm Tesla has also prompted several manufacturers to take a closer look at electric performance cars.
Importantly though, Porsche seems determined not to lose its roots in the move toward electric power. ‘We are resolutely taking on the challenge of electric mobility,’ said Oliver Blume, chairman of the Porsche executive board. ‘Even with solely battery-powered sports cars, Porsche is remaining true to its philosophy and offering our customers the sportiest and technologically most sophisticated model in this market segment.’ Watch out, Tesla.
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