Porsche Taycan: carsales Car of the Year 2020 contender

A word to the naysayers suggesting Porsche has rested on its laurels for too long – stand down. Boasting Porsche DNA through and through, the 2020 Porsche Taycan is a game-changer – a Porsche first and an electric vehicle second.

The Porsche Taycan is not the only electric vehicle in the carsales Car of the Year contender list, but it’s definitely the only one to have set a lap record at the Nurburgring.

Designed for the purist and with innovation at its heart, the Porsche Taycan will shake up the status quo at this year’s carsales Car of the Year, proudly presented by Bingle.

Porsche’s first full-electric vehicle is likely to attract a new breed of buyer to the prestige marque, enticing folks with the promise of bringing zero-emissions motoring and zero compromises to the Porsche car experience.

So, too, will Stuttgart veterans flock, most likely adding the battery-powered sedan to their current stable of Porsche vehicles.

Instant torque, a top speed of 260km/h, 0-100km/h in 2.8 seconds (Turbo S) with repeatable performance and steadfast spirit, combined with a WLTP-verified 407km range – the Porsche Taycan sells itself.

Environmentalists can have their Black Forest cake and eat it too.

A lot. But perhaps not as much as you’d expect. Priced from $190,400 plus on-road costs, the entry-level Taycan 4S undercuts a new 911.

But the price wins end there, with the Turbo starting from $268,500 and Turbo S $338,500, both significantly raising the stakes (and bragging rights).

All Taycans feature all-wheel drive motion powered by two electric motors on both the front and rear axles with a rear-mounted two-speed gearbox.

The 4S produces 390kW/640Nm and has a 79.2kWh battery as standard, while the Turbo (500kW/850Nm) and Turbo S (560kW/1050Nm) introduce an overboost function to the E-Performance Porsche electric powertrain and feature a 93.4kWh battery.

Equipment levels are the next best defining factor across the three-model range.

Porsche’s Tesla fighter remains more than $50K more expensive than an entry-level Tesla Model S, but for now let’s not let mere numbers throw shade over Porsche’s new performance darling. There will be plenty of time for that when the carsales COTY judges dig deeper.

At the Taycan’s international launch, carsales editor-in-chief Mike Sinclair declared that “it’s the car that will probably change how you think about EVs”.

“It’s about as close to a 911 as you can get and still have four doors and room for luggage,” he said.

“This is easily the best performing and complete electric vehicle I’ve driven.”

With expectations high, time will tell whether the Porsche Taycan can win the carsales Car of the Year for 2020, proudly presented by Bingle.

Porsche Taycan 4S at a glance:
Price: From $190,400
Engine: Two PSM electric motors, all-wheel drive
Output: 390kW/640Nm
Battery: 79.2kWh lithium-ion
Range (WLTP): 365km
Energy consumption: 26.2kWh/100km