When the word Porsche is mentioned, 911 instantly springs to mind. It appears, the Porsche 911 has been around forever. However, the first two-door, high performance, rear-engine 911 was first introduced in September 1964, making it such an iconic, legendary, and historical car.
Often, the Porsche 911 is the Porsche with the highest sales statistics, but that changed in 2021 with the all-electric Porsche Taycan outselling the 911. Porsche delivered 41,296 Taycans worldwide, compared with 38,464 deliveries of the 59-year-old legend. In 2021 the giant German brand stated that they had produced their greatest sales in history thanks to the Taycan. It’s not that the 911 had a bad year, the 2021 Porsche 911 Turbo S was a new high for the iconic name, it’s just that the world's becoming greener, and more people wanted the electric sports car.
How Has Porsche Changed The Design Of Electric Vehicles?
Porsches design on the Taycan is very clever, they haven’t made it a highly impractical supercar, it has rear doors, and plenty of room both in the rear of the vehicle and in the trunk. In comparison to all the German brand’s cars, the Taycan, has the lowest center of gravity, which is exactly what you need for superb handling agility. The entry-level, simply called the Taycan offers only rear-wheel drive while the 4S version offers more power and four-wheel drive. The Taycan GTS is right in the center of the range, with slightly more pace and agility than the S4, however the hardcore feel only comes with the turbo and turbos S versions, with the Turbo S Taycan pumping out 751 hp! Porsches options regarding the Taycan do not stop there, they also give you a choice of three body styles too, the four-door coupe, the sleek estate-like Taycan Sport Turismo and the rugged Taycan Cross Turismo.
Porsche seems to have put the electric powertrain aside and designed the Taycan to the legacy of the German brand first, making it feel as though you’re seated in a historical and engine powered Porsche. The 800V system installed into the Porsche Taycan is able to charge at rates that even Tesla cannot manage, the Taycan is able to fill its batteries from 5% to 80% in as little as 22.5 minutes.
Is The Taycan Really Like A Sports Car Inside?
Porsches statement that the Taycan would be the sportiest car to sit in alongside the 911, has become true, sitting low in an amazing 8-way electrically adjustable comfort seat as standard in the 4S version. Although in all versions there are plenty of additional options available, including massaging seats! Inside the Taycan, it feels very much like a driver’s car, from the low position to the futuristic feel created with the high center console containing one of the many touchscreens. Inspired by the 993-generation 911, Porsche have adopted the shape of the instrument panel of their conventional powered cars and placed it on a screen.
How Superior Is The Taycan Performance-Wise Compared To Other Electric Vehicles?
Even the entry level and 4S model of the Taycan, without some of the more specialist equipment relating to dynamics, offer more than adequate driving experiences. The low center of gravity helps the handling of the car, while the positioning of the Taycan’s battery low under the floor between the axles makes the car feel sportier than classic sports cars!
Car enthusiasts might even be tempted by the standard Taycan for its rear-wheel-drive system, this version is certainly nimble, slightly keener to turn, reassuringly planted and has incredible grip. Many critics in the past have described electric vehicles as unnatural and unusual to drive, but the Taycan feels so natural to drive, with assuring and responsive brakes which feel up to scratch on the foot. The smooth and elegant drive that the Taycan offers is what connects it to other Porsche models and makes it completely distinctive from any other electric vehicle. The Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo offers a maximum range of 283 miles, whilst also offering a maximum of 750 hp and a fastest 0-60 mph in just 2.8 seconds, giving a top speed of a 155 mph.
Although the 911 will remain a desired and iconic Porsche that will never be forgotten, it is clear why many people opted for the Taycan. The Porsche Taycan feels so revolutionary among its electric vehicle competitors, the main reason being it feels as though it has been designed as a conventional car rather than having its electronic workings dominate the design. The Taycan gives you a beautifully smooth ride, It's simple to use, has excellent charging time and crucially its range is highly impressive. Fast, fun, electric and great looking, the alternative electric vehicles need to catch up with the Porsche Taycan, and if they do, wow, bring on the electric future.