The Porsche Taycan 4S will arrive in dealerships with an EPA-estimated 203 miles of range.
When the 2020 Porsche Taycan 4S arrives in dealerships, those who were hoping that the modest version of Porsche's electric super sedan would have more range than the more powerful Turbo and Turbo S will be disappointed.
The EPA estimates the 4S's range at 203 miles, compared to 201 miles for the Turbo and 192 miles for the Turbo S.
The 203-mile estimate is for the 4S model with a 93.4 kWh Performance Battery Plus battery; a standard 79.2 kWh battery is also available, but no range estimate is yet given.
Peak power for the model with the standard battery is 522 hp, while the model with the Performance Battery is 563 hp. Both offer a dual-motor all-wheel drive system, 0 to 60 mph acceleration in under 3.8 seconds, and a top speed of 155 mph with a two-speed transmission in the rear (single-speed "box" in the front).
Regarding charging, the maximum charging power is 225 kW for the standard battery and 270 kW for the high-power battery. Using the maximum power, 80% charging is achieved in about 22 minutes.
Based on our own experience with the Taycan, the EPA estimates are reasonable. However, they do not reflect the fact that the Taycan's range tends to remain constant whether it is traveling at high speeds near the Arctic Circle or on warm valley roads in California. In other EVs, range can vary by as much as 30 percent depending on the weather. Porsche has also tuned the Taycan to be sportier by reducing energy recovery compared to other EVs on the market, which also negatively affects range.
Without looking at the nameplates, it's hard to tell the difference between the 4S model and the turbo model. There are no major changes in aerodynamics, and the 4S, like the turbo model, has an extremely low drag coefficient of only 0.22Cd. However, subtle differences do exist. The wheels are 19 inches smaller, and the side skirts don't match the body color.
Prices start at $105,150 for the 4S with a standard battery and $111,730 for the 4S with a performance battery. Both prices include shipping costs. The Turbo is priced at $152,250. The Turbo S is priced at $186,350 and the Turbo S at $186,350. A more affordable rear-wheel drive model, like the base Taycan and Taycan S, may be available soon, although this has not yet been announced
.