Four years after Porsche showed us the original Mission E concept, the 2020 Taycan is finally here showing that there is a real alternative to the Tesla Model S that has ruled the large luxury electric sedan roost.
It seems Tesla (TSLA) is getting some real competition and it just might help it. If this sounds unlogic there is a catch. The new and the first electric Porsche (PAH3) sedan is ready to take the roads.
However, as you would expect from the Porsche – it comes for a price.
German cars are the synonym for quality, durability, security, and design. However, even though Germany has been pretty eco-friendly, that couldn’t be claimed for its auto sector – until now. In order to make a point about the German car’s sustainability, the Taycan was simultaneously unveiled yesterday at Niagara Falls in Canada (representing hydropower), at a solar farm near Berlin, and at a wind farm in China.
The all-electric car was first introduced in 2015 as the Mission E and now will be available by the end of the year dubbed Taycan Turbo and higher-performing Taycan Turbo S.
Back then, Porsche promised less powerful electric vehicles that should be also more affordable.
At the Taycan world premiere, however, Porsche executives showed off the very much powered potential of their first all-electric vehicle. To put it nicely – it’s the four-door luxury sedan that can get about 280 miles of range on a charge with the S and about 260 miles on the other. It can charge up to 80 percent full in 22.5 minutes with its 800-volt battery.
The Taycan Turbo S can go from zero to 60 mph in 2.6 seconds while the “regular” version takes 3 seconds. Both cars have a maximum speed of 161 mph. Front and rear electric motors make both vehicles all-wheel drive. Porsche also claims it can recuperate power at a higher rate than its competitors.
Inside central touch screen is somewhat smaller than we used to see in Tesla – “only” 10.9 inches. You have a voice assistant that responds to, “Hey, Porsche,” and Apple Music built directly into the car. A second screen for the passenger is available for another $1,000-plus.
But let’s go back to 2015 when executives said it will be more affordable. Well, if you compare it to Tesla’s luxury sedan, the base price is somewhat higher.
Starting from $150,900 ($185,000 for the Turbo S version) for reserved cars, the price will be even higher when it finally becomes available. Tesla, on the other hand, prices its Model S at $79,990 and its performance version at $99,990. Also, let’s not forget that Tesla includes more range: up to 370 miles.
Judging by the used car site Autolist Tesla killed the not-yet-available Taycan with 45 percent of respondents choosing the Model S compared to 33 percent for Porsche. At the end of July, a reported 30,000 Taycan pre-orders were in, but Tesla still has a stronger reputation for electric.
Let’s also not forget the Supercharger network that gives Tesla owners a significant advantage when charging away from home with fast charging taking about 30 minutes. In Autolist’s survey, 24 percent of shoppers cited the charging network as a top reason to choose Tesla over Porsche who has recently partnered with the Electrify America charging network and will offer to charge at Porsche dealerships.
However, we should consider the options that Porsche is, first of all, considered a sports car. Klaus Zellmer, CEO of Porsche North America explains:
“In every aspect, acceleration, deceleration going into curves, going out of curves, everything about the car, and you were in the car, always feels like a sports car, and that’s how it will set itself apart from other battery electric vehicles.”
At the time of writing, stocks of Porsche Automobil Holding SE (PAH3) went up 1.85% to EUR59.36, while Tesla Inc. (TSLA) went down by 1.92% to $220.68.
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