The battery electric Porsche Taycan will be one of the first vehicles aimed at the Tesla Model S, which has enjoyed a monopoly on the large luxury EV sedan segment since its debut. Due on sale a year from now, the Taycan will be one of the first salvos fired by Porsche parent company Volkswagen in the new EV era for the automaker, alongside the Audi e-tron that is due on sale later this summer. Initially careful regarding expected demand for the Porsche electric sedan, Porsche has made the decision to double the annual production of the Taycan from 20,000 units to 40,000 units, Automotive News Europe reports.
In essence, Porsche expects the Taycan to outsell the 911, almost 36,000 copies of which left the Porsche factory in 2018, the report notes.
And that’s before the first Taycan has even left the factory. The production version is expected at the Frankfurt motor show this fall, ahead of the start of production in late 2019 and the first deliveries to customers a year from now.
Porsche recently confirmed the rough specs for the Taycan: over 600 hp, with two permanently synchronous motors sending that power to all four wheels, and a range of 310 miles or 500 kilometers in the slightly optimistic New European Driving Cycle. Fast-charging capability will allow the Taycan to get enough juice in 15 minutes to cover 248 miles, or 400 kilometers. Expect launch times of 3.5 seconds from 0-60 mph, and the ability to pass the 124-mph mark in less than 12 seconds. These are still preliminary figures, especially as they concern range, so Porsche may yet have a few surprises ahead of the model’s production debut in Frankfurt this fall.
This week, Porsche confirmed a few specs of its upcoming Tesla fighter, the artist formerly known as the Mission E. The 2020 Taycan is slated to go on sale next year aiming squarely for the Model …
Pricing for the Taycan has not been announced just yet, but the sedan is expected to start at around $90,000. Porsche is currently accepting deposits.
While the Taycan is still about a year away from owner driveways, the Audi e-tron SUV will be on sale in the second quarter of 2019 and will also see a boost in production in 2020, Automotive News Europe adds. With a range of 248 miles on a full charge, the e-tron will serve up 402 hp and 489 lb-ft of torque. The electric SUV will start at $75,795 in Premium Plus trim, while the Prestige flavor with a few more interior goodies will start at $82,795.
While Porsche and Audi will focus on luxury-priced EVs, parent company Volkswagen will focus on the lower half of the market and price range, with the first mass market EVs due in the U.S. next year.