Porsche has announced the name of its first all-electric model. Previously known under the working title of Mission E, the new vehicle will be christened the Taycan, and will enter series production next year.
“Our new electric sports car is strong and dependable; it’s a vehicle that can consistently cover long distances and that epitomizes freedom,” said Oliver Blume, chairman of the executive board of Porsche.
Two permanently activated synchronous motors, generating a system output of over 608ps, accelerate the electric sports car to 60mph (97km/h) in well under 3.5 seconds and to 124mph (200 km/h) on the track in less than 12 seconds. The Porsche Taycan will also offer a consistent level of power: multiple launches in a row will be possible without a loss in performance, and the vehicle’s maximum range will be over 300 miles (483km) as measured in accordance with the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC).
Porsche plans to invest more than €6bn (US$7.08bn) in electromobility by 2022, doubling the investment that the company had originally planned. Of the additional €3bn (US$3.54bn), some €500m (US$589m) will be used for the development of Taycan variants and derivatives, around €1bn (US$1.18bn) for electrification and hybridization of the existing product range, several hundred million for the expansion of production sites, and around €700m (US$825m) for new technologies, charging infrastructure, and smart mobility.
At the Porsche headquarters in Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen, Germany, a new paint shop, dedicated assembly area for the Taycan, and a conveyor bridge for transporting the painted bodies and drive units to the final assembly area all are currently being built.
The existing engine plant is being expanded to manufacture electric motors, and a new body shop will also be developed. Investments are also planned for the Weissach Development Center.
