Today in China, Porsche has announced a new base model for the Taycan line. This new variant will offer a single-motor powertrain with rear-wheel drive. Currently, all versions of the Taycan (Turbo S, Turbo, and 4S) have dual motors and are all-wheel-drive. The new base Taycan shares the same two-speed transmission with all other Taycan models.
All-wheel-drive isn't as important in China as it is in Europe and the US, as most of the heavily-populated urban regions don't see very much snowfall. There are plenty of regions in Europe and the US where all-wheel-drive isn't needed either, so it's conceivable that Porsche could expand the Taycan line to include this new base model in those markets also. However, at this time, Porsche isn't saying if they are on offering the base Taycan in markets beyond China.
Porsche Taycan news:
The new base Taycan costs 888,000 RMB (£102,100) priced £30,000 below the Taycan 4S, which costs 1.148 million yuan (£132,000) in China. In the UK, the Taycan 4S has a base price of £83,367. The new base Taycan has the same battery offerings as the 4S. A 79.2 kWh battery pack is standard, compared to the standard 93.4 kWh pack in the Turbo and Turbo S.
The larger 93.4 kWh "Performance Battery Plus" can be ordered as an option for the new base Taycan just as it is for 4S. In the UK, the cost for the Performance Battery Plus adds an additional £5,500. The 4S has a dual-motor powertrain which puts out 523 bhp and 472 lb-ft of torque.
More range!
The new base Taycan's range, according to the liberal NEDC rating is up to 256 miles with the 79.2 kWh "Performance Battery", and 303 miles with the 93.4 kWh Performance Battery Plus, giving the base model the longest driving range of any Taycan. We suspect those figures would be discounted by as much as 25% if and when the new base Taycan gets an EPA range rating. The single-motor rear-wheel drive layout of the Tesla Model 3 offers the longest range of the Model 3 line, so it's no surprise that the same configuration on the Taycan would produce the same results.
If Porsche did bring the new base Taycan to the US, it should compete more closely, price-wise at least, with the Tesla Model S. The Model S has a base cost of £87,700 in the UK. But for that, you get a dual-motor all-wheel-drive powertrain, an WLTP rated range of 379 miles, 0-60 in 2.3 seconds, and more cargo and passenger space than the Taycan.
The new base Taycan costs 23% less than the 4S in China, so if Porsche kept that same price relationship between models, the base Taycan would retail for roughly £67,500 in the UK.
Key facts about the Base Porsche Taycan Model:
- Rear-wheel drive with a permanent-magnet synchronous motor (PMSM)
- Two-speed transmission
- Steel-spring suspension (adaptive air suspension optional)
- 19-inch Taycan Aero wheels (20-inch and 21-inch wheels optional)
- Head-up display (optional)
- Up to 350 kW (476 PS/ 469 HP)
- 0-100 km/h: 5.4 s
- Top speed: 230 km/h
- Battery gross capacity: Standard with 79.2 kWh; Optional with 93.4 kWh
- Charging power: up to 270 kW
- 22 kW AC charger available
- Range in China: up to 489 km / 303 mi (NEDC)
Gallery: Taycan Base Model In Frozenberry
The new base Porsche Taycan shown in "Frozenberry"
We're glad to see Porsche expand the Taycan line, it shows a serious commitment to their first all-electric offering. We still don't know if Porsche has plans to bring the base Taycan to Europe and the United States, but we certainly hope they do.