Taycan 4S: Entry Level Electric Model Still Packs a Punch
Coming in at $80k cheaper than a Turbo S, is the Taycan 4S the more-bang-for-your-buck option?
The biggest product to be announced from Porsche since the 911 itself is arguably the Taycan. This vehicle holds the biggest ideological shift that the company has had since leaving air-cooled engines for their modern water-cooled counterparts. The inevitability of electric-powered cars is fast approaching and Porsche doesn’t plan to be left playing catch up to other manufacturers. However, the brand is also not willing to compromise on the quality of its products either. Thus, they continue to attack the luxury segment of the automotive world as they have done since their inception as a company.
The Taycan’s arrival is hotly awaited and with it, two models have already been announced, the Turbo and Turbo S. Of course, these are just metaphorical names as the cars don’t have any physical turbos, but rather the idea is that they hold the same upper-end trim level as their respectively named models. However, there is a new kid on the block: the Taycan 4S.
The 4S trim will be the “standard” trim level available on the sport sedan. While it may not have 700+ HP like the Turbo models, it is far from a slouch. The 4S will be offered in with the Performance Battery (522 HP) and the Performance Battery Plus (563 HP). We aren’t sure about you guys, but that sounds like plenty of power to merge efficiently on the freeway. Not to mention a 3.8 second 0-to-60 time and a 155 mph top speed. Currently, the actual eMPG of the car has not been calculated and will be released at a later time.
There are other benefits to the reduced power level of the 4S, which includes a lighter base weight and more compact packaging. This means less energy consumption by the standard model. In addition, there is featured an adaptive air suspension with variable dampening. As with any modern Porsche, big 6-piston front brakes and 4-piston rears are standard, allowing for effective regenerative braking.
For the first time ever, the 4S is offering a leather-free interior, made of 100% recycled materials. With a high speed DC charging station, the Taycan 4S is capable of charging from a 5% battery level to 80% battery level in 22.5 minutes. We have to say that is quite impressive and definitely downplays the main disadvantage of electric batteries as a power source.
You can get the chance to own one of these marvels of technology starting spring 2020. Pricing currently is set at $103,800 for the Performance Battery model and $110,380 for the Performance Battery Plus. That is approximately $40-50k less than a Turbo model and $70-80k less than a Turbo S. Is this a deal for the brand new sports sedan or is the price still too steep? Let us know in the comments.
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