Expected in 2020, the Taycan 4S forms the entry-level variant (for now), expanding Porsche’s electric car family to a total of three members
As with the Turbo models, which of course aren’t fitted with turbochargers because there’s no actual combustion engine to speak of, the Taycan 4S will have a pair of electric motors powering each axle, giving it all-wheel-drive capabilities. The two-speed transmission on the rear axle is also carried over from its more elevated Taycan brethren.
Differences include, of course, power output. In the case of the Taycan 4S, maximum output with the optional higher-capacity 93.4kWh Performance Battery Plus and ‘overboost’ is 571hp. With the standard 79.2kWh Performance Battery specced, The Taycan 4S’ output is 530hp, against the Taycan Turbo with its 680hp peak and Turbo S with its 761hp.
On the bright side, the Taycan 4S equipped with the uprated, two-deck battery pack is capable of a 463km range, the highest in the Taycan range at the moment, versus the Turbo S’ 412km and Turbo’s 450km. Without said high(er) capacity battery, the Taycan 4S has 407km of range on a single charge.
Other visual differentiators include (marginally) less aggressive body styling, the fitment of 19-inch wheels as standard (versus the 20-inch items on the Turbo and two-tone 21-inchers on the Turbo S) and red-painted brake callipers.
Hot on the heels of the Taycan Turbo and Taycan Turbo S, the initial (and extremely pricey) launch variants of Porsche’s first-ever electric car, comes the entry-level Taycan 4S.
On the inside, the Taycan 4S is unchanged from the two previously announced models, including the 10.9-inch central infotainment display and digital dashboard. An optional display for the passenger side is available, as is the option for a fully leather-free interior that has a high content of recycled materials.
However, the biggest news about the Taycan 4S is its price. Price in Europe for the Taycan 4S starts at €105,607 (S$159,221), which is surprisingly reasonable, considering the Turbo costs €152,136 (S$229,372) and the Turbo S a staggering €185,456 (S$279,608), or 75 per cent more than the Taycan 4S.
As with any other Taycan, Singapore prices haven’t yet been revealed for the current entry-level product, though extrapolating from its European prices, we expect the Taycan 4S to cost just shy of S$500,000. That puts this electric Porsche putting it squarely in competition with Porsche’s own mid-range Panamera models and the ‘53’ variant of the Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupe.
But the fly in its ointment could be its annual road tax bill, which for electric cars is based on power output. While the Taycan 4S’ annual premium of S$8,200 isn’t anywhere close to the S$12,000-odd the Taycan Turbo S attracts, it will no doubt still sting.
Of course, if the Taycan 4S were to be homologated according to its non-overboost power output, that would lessen the blow somewhat. Either way, we won’t know for sure until some time in 2020 when the Taycan makes landfall on our shores. Until then, we can expect a few more Taycan variants to launch, including possibly a rear-wheel-drive base model, which should be priced similarly to a base model Panamera.
