[Test Drive] Porsche DNA Transplanted into Electric Car... Driving the 'Taycan'

Porsche Electric Car Taycan Test Drive
Porsche's True Value Revealed at High Speeds
Can Easily Drive 350km Without Major Issues

[Asia Economy Reporter Changhwan Lee] If you were to name the strongest existing electric sports car, many would likely choose the Porsche Taycan. The Taycan was born from the fusion of Porsche's supercar expertise and the future of electric vehicles.

As renowned as its reputation, it has already gained immense popularity, to the point where orders for the Taycan in Korea are so backed up that they cannot keep up with demand. The price, which easily exceeds 100 million KRW, seems almost irrelevant.

To see how much Porsche has transferred its supercar DNA into an electric vehicle, we test drove the Taycan.

Porsche Korea held a test drive event in mid-month in Goseong County, Gangwon Province. The test drive route covered a total distance of 350 km, including coastal roads from Goseong to Gangneung, as well as mountainous roads encompassing Yangyang, Pyeongchang, and Daegwallyeong.

The Taycan is known to run 289 km on a single charge according to domestic certification standards, but Porsche Korea's confidence was evident as they set the test drive distance even longer. In fact, it was possible to drive 350 km on a single charge.

The test model was the Porsche Taycan 4S (Performance Battery Plus). The Taycan 4S Performance Battery Plus boasts a 0-100 km/h acceleration time of 4 seconds, a maximum output of 571 horsepower, and a maximum torque of 66.3 kg.m.

The base price is 145.6 million KRW, but considering options, the price rises to the mid-to-high 100 million KRW range.

The Sleeker Exterior of the Taycan Compared to the Panamera

The exterior of the Taycan reminded one of Porsche's popular sports sedan, the Panamera. The distinctive frog-eye design remains, but it appears sleeker and more refined.

The Taycan's overall length is 4,965 mm, width 1,965 mm, and height 1,380 mm. It is slightly smaller than the Panamera, but the rear seats can accommodate two to three people, making it suitable as a family car.

The interior was clean and minimalistic. The independent curved instrument cluster located at the highest point of the dashboard was perfectly aligned with the driver's eye level.

The central 10.9-inch infotainment display was also quite user-friendly. Although optional, there was even a passenger-side display, allowing the front passenger to comfortably use the infotainment system.

Since no leather was used for environmental reasons, the interior did not appear overly luxurious but did not seem lacking either. The roof was entirely covered with glass, providing an excellent sense of openness.

The trunk was surprisingly spacious. With a front trunk as well, it seemed sufficient for carrying a considerable amount of luggage for travel.

The Taycan’s True Value Revealed When Driving

The Taycan’s true value was evident from the moment the ignition was turned on and the car started moving. The characteristic instant torque of an electric vehicle combined with Porsche’s driving technology made the experience exhilarating from the start.

There were concerns about how Porsche’s unique driving feel would translate to an electric vehicle, but those worries were unfounded. The characteristic popping sound was gone, replaced by the so-called E-Sports sound?a spaceship-like noise during acceleration that delighted the ears. It matched well with the nickname "car made by aliens."

The stability at high speeds was truly outstanding. Even when exceeding 100 km/h, the driving stability was so excellent that it was hard to feel the high speed. On the winding mountain roads of Gangwon Province, there was no sensation of floating; the car felt firmly planted to the ground.

The Taycan features an all-wheel-drive system with one efficient electric motor on each of the front and rear axles. Notably, the two-speed transmission on the rear axle is a key advantage of the Taycan, ensuring high efficiency and power at high speeds.

The regenerative braking system, a kind of self-generating mechanism, is also a strength. Thanks to an energy recovery system capable of up to 265 kW, about 90 percent of everyday braking can be done through regenerative braking alone without using the actual brakes. Using the regenerative braking system on downhill sections, the battery was automatically charged, significantly extending the driving range.

The charging system was also excellent. The Taycan was the first to apply an 800-volt system instead of the typical 400 volts used in existing electric vehicles. Utilizing DC energy from the rapid charging network on the road, it can travel up to 100 km with just a 5-minute charge. Under optimal conditions, it can charge from 5 percent to 80 percent battery capacity within 22 minutes and 30 seconds at a maximum output of 270 kW.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.