Back in mid-2019, Porsche wowed the world with its first all-electric supercar, the Taycan. With its twin electric motors providing up to 750 horsepower and 1050Nm of torque, the top-of-the-range Taycan Turbo S can sprint from zero to 100kph in 2.8 seconds and hit a top speed of 260kph. And if that wasn’t impressive enough already, the car also boasts a range of more than 400km on a full charge. With the Taycan, Porsche underlined its commitment to producing high-performance electric cars. The future might not be about high-revving 6- and 8-cylinder engines, but high-capacity lithium-ion batteries and permanent-magnet synchronous electric motors are ready to pick up the baton.
Porsche, which has already sold more than 20,000 units of the Taycan saloon worldwide, is expected to launch the car in India soon. Meanwhile, taking the next step towards furthering the cause of high-performance electric motoring, Porsche today unveiled the Taycan Cross Turismo, the estate version of the Taycan. Since it’s intended to address the more practical, everyday concerns that many owners may have, the Cross Turismo features more headroom for rear-seat passengers, more luggage space, and adaptive air suspension for adjustable ride height.
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It isn’t exactly an SUV, but the Cross Turismo does get some off-road design cues like black trim on the sills, wheel arches, and front and rear bumpers. An off-road design package is optional. There’s also a ‘gravel mode’ driving program meant for light-duty off-road use like driving on gravel tracks or broken, muddy tarmac. In gravel mode, the ride height is increased slightly, and all the driver-assistance electronics are optimized for (mild) off-road use.
With its twin electric motors, one each on the front and rear axles, the Cross Turismo has a four- wheel-drive for maximum traction on all kinds of road surfaces. With its powerful 93.4kWh lithium- ion battery pack, the Taycan Cross Turismo is available in four variants, with the Taycan Turbo S Cross Turismo sitting at the top of the range. With launch control engaged, the Turbo S has 750 horsepower at its disposal and can go from zero to 100kph in 2.9 seconds. Top speed is 250kph, and the range, depending on driving style and other external factors, is between 388 to 419kph. ‘In 2019, we sent out a key signal with the debut of our first all-electric sports car. We see ourselves as pioneers of sustainable mobility; by 2025, half of all the new vehicles we’ll deliver will have an electrified drive, either fully electric or plug-in hybrid. The future belongs to electric mobility. With the Taycan Cross Turismo, we’re taking another major step in this direction,’ says Oliver Blume, Chairman of the Executive Board of Porsche AG.
The newly-built factory for the Taycan and Taycan Cross Turismo in Zuffenhausen (in the district of Stuttgart, Germany) is built to have zero environmental impact recycled materials for some parts in the cars’ interiors. Charging operations are designed to be carbon-neutral. These initiatives provide further credibility to Porsche’s commitment to promoting sustainable mobility.
In Germany, the price for the Taycan Cross Turismo will start at 93,635 Euros, which is equal to Rs 82.21 lakh. As far as we know, the Cross Turismo isn’t coming to India this year. If and when it does, it certainly won’t be cheap once you factor in the import duties etc. However, as a high-tech all-electric super-estate that can also handle bad roads with aplomb, the Cross Turismo could be a tantalizing option for luxury segment buyers who are ready to give up on the internal combustion engine.
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