Mission E to be badged Taycan 11 | 06 | 2018
PORSCHE HAS CONFIRMED its first all-electric sportscar — the production version the "Mission E" concept study — will officially be badged, Taycan. The car will go into production next year. (Related: Porsche EV Cross Turismo)
While we’d love to say it refers to the River Tay, or Loch Tay, according to Porsche the name actually can be roughly translated as "lively young horse”. This references the imagery at the heart of the Porsche crest, which has featured a leaping steed since 1952. (Related: New Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid)
"Our new electric sports car is strong and dependable; it's a vehicle that can consistently cover long distances and that epitomises freedom", Oliver Blume, chairman of the Executive Board of Porsche AG, explained. (Related: Now Porsche Centre opens in Scotland)
Two permanently excited synchronous motors (PSM), with a system output of over 600bhp (440 kW), accelerate the electric sports car to 62mph in well under 3.5 seconds and to 125mph in under 12secs.
This performance is in addition to a continuous power level that is unprecedented among electric vehicles: Multiple fast starts are possible in succession without loss of performance, and the vehicle's maximum range is over 500km in accordance with the NEDC.
Future investment doubled
Porsche plans to invest more than six billion euros in electromobility by 2022, doubling the expenditure that the company had originally planned.
Of the additional three billion euros, 500 million euros will be used for the development of Taycan variants and derivatives, around one billion euros for electrification and hybridisation of the existing product range, several hundred million for the expansion of production sites, plus around 700 million euros for new technologies, charging infrastructure and smart mobility.
Extensive modifications and expansion at the Zuffenhausen headquarters
At the Porsche headquarters in Zuffenhausen, a new paint shop, 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 1200 new jobs in Zuffenhausen alone.
Related: Goodwood focus for Porsche 70th
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Jim McGill