It’s difficult to overstate the impact that the Porsche Taycan has had since it arrived, both on Porsche itself and on the wider car industry. Not only has the Taycan redefined what people thought an electric car could do, but it’s also the physical representation of how Porsche has shifted its business focus – and arguably even its whole ethos.
Look at the millions of euros the firm is chucking at digital start-ups if you want proof of that. Porsche even has its own sub-section, called Forward31, designed to build a portfolio of digital business. It’s all a far cry from the brand-defining victories at the Targa Florio and Le Mans: gone are the days of Porsche representing only class-defining ICE sports cars.
The Taycan is now the pivot point for the Stuttgart brand, where its high-performance products are joined by the electric upstart. So it shouldn’t come as much of a surprise to learn that the Taycan family is expanding, first to this, the Taycan Cross Turismo. Here we’re driving a prototype of the final version, but it’s not far off what will arrive in the summer.
As is immediately obvious from the pictures, this is the more practical version of the Taycan saloon, much like the Sport Turismo is the booted version of the Porsche Panamera hatchback. As such, there’s a healthily sized boot on the Cross Turismo – up to 1200 litres. Below the parcel shelf, the difference doesn’t look as marked (exact figures aren’t available yet), but still, this is very much an electric Porsche that can easily do the whole family-transport thing.
There are further visual distinctions elsewhere, such as different wheels, a larger panoramic fixed glass roof and the roof rails in black (the last two both optional). Like the Mission E Cross Turismo concept from 2018, it comes with wheel-arch extensions, while it’s also the first Taycan where you can attach something to the back of it. It's not quite a tow bar - so don’t go thinking that you can strap your caravan to the car - more a fixing that allows a bike carrier to be fitted. How very ‘lifestyle’.
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Why no picture of the main differentiator vs the Taycan, THE BOOT?!
Taycan, Tesla Plaid S?, what does an all singing all dancing Tesla cost?, is it under a £100K?, is it close to Taycan money?, which is better built?, which car handles better?and I'm talking about the twisty stuff at speed, or indeed, being driven on its door handles round a Track?, I think the person who buys a Taycan isn't going to bother about range anxiety, they'll have that all worked out,and, the Taycan as I said ,will be better built, if you don't like the shape, that's fine, buy what you like, it's supposed to be a fair World.
I don't like the styling on that. It's like someone forgot half way through designing it, headlights were needed and they just stuck them on top.