We are familiar with the Mission E concept that Porsche has been working on for quite some time now. This is the first pure electric car for Porsche which has already gained a lot of attention from across the globe. During the “70 years of sports cars” ceremony, Porsche announced that its series production of the first purely electric car is set to begin next year, and it will be called the Taycan.
Speaking about the Taycan, Oliver Blume, Chairman of the Executive Board of Porsche AG, said, “Our new electric sports car is strong and dependable; it's a vehicle that can consistently cover long distances and that epitomizes freedom.”
The name of a product is extremely important as it reflects not only the qualities of the product itself but also of the brand. Porsche takes this very seriously. All its vehicle names generally have a concrete connection with the corresponding model and its characteristics. The name Boxster describes the combination of the boxer engine and roadster design; Cayenne denotes fieriness, the Cayman is incisive and agile, and the Panamera offers more than a standard Gran Turismo, which is what allowed it to win the Carrera Panamericana long-distance race. The name Macan is derived from the Indonesian word for tiger, with connotations of suppleness, power, fascination, and dynamics.
'Taycan' can be roughly translated as 'lively young horse', referencing the imagery at the heart of the Porsche crest, which has featured a leaping steed since 1952. The oriental name also signifies the launch of the first electric sports car with the soul of a Porsche.
The Taycan will have two permanently excited synchronous motors (PSM) that will generate over 600 horsepower. This will make this electric Porsche go from 0 to 100 km/h in under 3.5 seconds and to 200 km/h in under twelve seconds. Porsche says that multiple jump starts are possible in succession without loss of performance. The Taycan will have a maximum range of over 500 km in accordance with the NEDC.
The future of electric Porsches looks very bright, as the company is planning to double its investments to more than six billion euro in electromobility by 2022. Of the additional three billion euro, some 500 million euro will be used for the development of Taycan variants and derivatives, around one billion euro for electrification and hybridisation of the existing product range, several hundred million for the expansion of production sites, plus around 700 million euro for new technologies, charging infrastructure and smart mobility.
Porsche is also performing extensive modifications and expansion at its headquarters in Zuffenhausen. A new paint shop, a dedicated assembly area for the Taycan and a conveyor bridge for transporting the painted bodies and drive units to the final assembly area are currently being constructed. The existing engine plant is being expanded to manufacture electric drives and the body shop will also be developed. Investment is also planned for the Weissach Development Centre. Production of the Taycan is creating around 1,200 new jobs in Zuffenhausen alone.
