The Taycan EV may prove itself as the single exception to the tried-and-true rule that Porsche purists hate everything new that comes out of Stuttgart. After all, the common knock against electric cars has been that they prioritize straight-line power over handling, so Porsche seemed like the kind of company that would certainly try to overcome that mentality with its first (albeit somewhat late-to-the-party) EV. Well, the eventual Mission E product would certainly not trim poundage, tipping the scales at a minimum of 4,771 pounds, but it's simultaneously proven itself as a straight-line sprinter capable of taking on the best Tesla has to offer. And now, the Porsche Taycan Turbo S has proven its driving dynamic potential with a new production EV lap record set on November 3 at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta.
Taycan Turbo S: Fast And Nimble At The Same Time
Critically, the car in question that actually set the record is a fully production spec example, not some tarted up version. And yet, with famed driver Leh Keen behind the wheel, the Taycan Turbo S logged a lap time of only 1:33.88.
"This track is unforgiving, meaning you have to trust the car completely," Keen said about the drive, "The performance through the turns was surprising. Turn-in, in particular, was crisp and consistent, and the steering response was immediate and communicative. The power pins your head back coming out of any corner, and the brakes have excellent feedback,” he added. “The electric motors respond so quickly, the power is right there when I need it, and combined with the active differentials, makes the Taycan a game changer when it comes to handling.”
Catching The Edges On A Perfect Day
Porsche made sure to log the lap with data acquisition and timing from Racelogic using the VBOX Video HD2 system—no SSC Tuatara controversies here. The 68-degree Fahrenheit day in Georgia proved perfect for the Pirelli P Zero NFO Elect summer tires, which come standard on the Taycan Turbo S, which was also equipped with standard performance features including Rear Wheel Steering with Power Steering Plus, Adaptive Air Suspension with Porsche Active Suspension Management, Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus, and Porsche Ceramic Composite Brakes, plus the optional Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control system. Watch the video above for a quick glimpse at what a lap record in an EV looks like.
Sources: newsroom.porsche.com and youtube.com.