Porsche has introduced a new entry-level rear-wheel drive Taycan model to its electric lineup simply called “Taycan”. The German automaker expects to bring it to the U.S. in the spring of this year with a price tag of just $81,250. Of course that is still a lot of money but it’s a drastic drop from the $105,150 all-wheel-drive 4S model with which it will share its rear motor. The new base model will also drop a few pounds weighing over 200 pounds less than the 4S model.Â
The base Taycan will come equipped with a 79.2-kWh battery pack and a permanent-magnet synchronous electric motor that powers the rear axle making it capable of producing 402 horsepower and 254 pound-feet of torque. The option for a 93.4-kWh battery will also be available increasing the EVs output to 469 horsepower and 263 lb-ft of torque. According to the automaker, it will have a top speed of 143 mph, regardless of which battery you opt for, and will be able to achieve a 0-60mph time of 5.1 second.
The new cheaper base model supports DC fast charging and will come standard with regenerative braking. No range estimates were given at this time, so we’ll have to wait on comparing it to the other Taycan variants, let alone perhaps the most famous electric car in the world, the Tesla Model S. Going off what we know about the heavier Taycan 4S with the same 79.2-kWh battery, it achieves just 199 miles of range, while the 93.4-kWh battery achieves the longest range of any of the Taycan with an EPA-estimated range of 227 miles. The cheapest Model S variant currently available is the Long Range Plus which has an EPA-estimated 402 miles of range and a stating price tag that is about $10,000 cheaper .
The base Taycan will come standard with 12-inch silver Taycan aero wheels with black calipers, though 20- and 21-inch wheels are also available on the base model. It will house a 19.2-kWh onboard charger and a head-up display with standard features like Apple CarPlay, Apple Music, Plug and Charge automatic payments, and over-the-air updates. You will also receive three years of free Electrify America charging with purchase.
The new 2021 base model Porsche Taycan is currently available for purchase and is expected to reach the U.S. come spring this year.