Not bad for a baseline model: 0-100km/h in 4.0 seconds.
Not bad for a baseline model: 0-100km/h in 4.0 seconds.
Image: Supplied

The new electric sports car from Porsche premiered in September with the Turbo and Turbo S models. Now, the automaker has unveiled the third version of its zero-emission sports saloon with the introduction of the Taycan 4S.

The new entry-level model is available with two battery sizes: the Performance battery which produces up to 390kW and the Performance battery Plus which delivers up to 420kW.

The Taycan Turbo produces 500kW of power, while the Turbo S delivers 560kW (neither of these cars actually has a turbo but Porsche has stuck to its traditional naming conventions).

A single-deck Performance battery with a total capacity of 79.2kWh comes standard in the 4S. The two-deck Performance battery Plus from the Turbo S and Turbo derivatives is optionally available, delivering a total capacity of 93.4kWh.

Performance isn’t as electrifying as in the Taycan Turbo S with its 2.8-seconds 0-100km/h sprint, but not bad for a baseline model. In both variants, the Taycan 4S accelerates from 0-to 100km/h in a claimed 4.0 seconds with a top speed of 250km/h in both cases. The range is up to 407km with the Performance battery and up to 463km with the Performance battery Plus.

Like its Taycan stablemates, the baseline 4S has two electric motors on the front and rear axles making the car all-wheel drive, and to deal with varying driving conditions all versions come standard with adaptive air suspension and electronic damper control.

Distinguishing features of the Taycan 4S compared with the Turbo and Turbo S include its aerodynamically optimised 19-inch Taycan S Aero wheels and red-painted brake calipers. LED headlights including Porsche Dynamic Light System Plus (PDLS Plus) are standard.

The cockpit signals the start of a new era with its architecture. The free-standing, curved instrument cluster includes a 28cm infotainment display and an optional passenger display combined to form an integrated glass band in a black-panel look.

As standard, the Taycan 4S comes with a partial leather interior, as well as front seats with eight-way electrical adjustment. In the Taycan, Porsche offers a leather-free interior for the first time, with the use of recycled materials which underscore the sustainable concept of the electric sports car.

Local deliveries of the Porsche Taycan range will start in the latter half of 2020.

This article was originally published by the Business Day. 

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