After numerous teases, leaks, and the outright spotting of apparently production-ready models in shopping mall parking lots, Porsche has formally unveiled its more practical Taycan variant; the Taycan Cross Turismo.
Naturally because of all the exposure the model’s already had, almost nothing about its styling is a surprise. The Cross adopts much of the standard Taycan’s clean lines and minimalist front fascia, adding black plastic cladding, a slight lift in the suspension (20mm to be precise), and of course a more squared-off rear end.
There’s a lot of benefits to the re-worked tail. For one, rear passengers get some 47mm more headroom thanks to the longer, flatter roof-line. And, with the seats folded flat, the Cross Turismo packs 1212 litres of storage space back there (on top of 82 litres in the frunk).
All models come with all-wheel drive, and come paired to the larger 93.4kWh battery pack. Numerous powertrains and trim-levels have been confirmed overseas, starting with the 280kW Taycan 4 and the 360kW Taycan 4S.
On top of those two two Taycan Turbos have been confirmed. Each packs 460kW out of the gate, but there’s differences. The standard Turbo produces up to 500kW on overboost, and hits 100km/h in 3.3 seconds. The Turbo S, meanwhile, produces a staggering 560kW on overboost, and eclipses 100km/h in just 2.9 seconds.
Range across the foursome is relatively consistent, with the Turbo S claiming the smallest value (418km per charge) and the base model 4 claiming the highest value (455km per charge). Pricing for each model has yet to be confirmed in New Zealand, but should be a premium over entry-level Taycan sedans.
Apart from coming with the Taycan sedan’s optional larger battery pack and all-wheel drive, the Cross Turismo is also likely to be more expensive than base Taycans because of its relatively high level of standard spec. All models are reported to come with standard air suspension and panoramic sunroof, among other neat features.
So, is it a performance car or a soft-roader? Well, Porsche will likely say it’s both. On top of those acceleration chops, the Cross also comes with suspension tuned to tackle gravel. There’s a ‘Gravel Mode’ feature, which alters various calibrations and lifts the suspension by an additional 10mm.
If you’re picturing the destination at the end of said gravel road being some form of cycling track, then I have more good news for you. On top of the Cross Turismo, Porsche also unveiled a pair of new electric eBikes overnight. Released in conjunction with the model, the German firm unveiled a road-based eBike Sport and a mountain-based eBike Cross. And each costs nearly $20,000.
