Porsche Taycan EV travels almost 3500km in 24 hours

A prototype version of the all-new Porsche Taycan has been subjected to a grueling 24-hour endurance run before its official global debut next month.

The record-breaking run eclipses the Telsa Model 3 Long Range's 2781km run that was undertaken on public roads in 24 hours.

The German manufacturer says the electric super-sedan's test took place as part of an endurance and hot climate test, stopping only for quick charging and driver change stops.

Taking place at the high-speed Nardo test track in southern Italy, the pre-production Taycan is claimed to have travelled 3425km at speeds between 195 and 215km/h.

With an average track temperature of 54ºC on a 42ºC day, the new Porsche EV proved its staying power in tough conditions.

The Porsche Taycan EV will make its public debut at the 2019 Frankfurt motor show in Germany in early September.

Stefan Weckbach, vice president of Porsche Taycan’s product line, said the Taycan mastered this ambitious endurance run without any problems, attributing part of that success to the EV’s 800-volt technology,inspired by the brand’s three times Le Mans winning Porsche 919 Hybrid.

"The result achieved in Nardo highlights the advantages of the unique 800-volt technology and its high maturity level," he said.

The 800V charging system also rediced battery recharge times, with Porsche claiming fast-charge times of around 15 minutes.

"Before the Taycan is launched on the market at the end of the year, we will have covered over six million kilometres around the globe," added Weckbach.

The German sports car brand has not revealed the density of the Taycan battery pack yet but expect a cruising range of around 400 based on the WLTP – about the same as a Hyundai Kona Electric – only a lot more expensive.

Also happy to vouch for the Taycan’s ability is ex-F1 driver Mark Webber, who has had extensive input into the Taycan’s development.

In an interview last month, Webber said the new Porsche Taycan EV is "totally different" to anything he’s driven before and admits it doesn’t provide the visceral feedback you get from a petrol-engine sports car like the Porsche 911.

"I’ve done quite a bit of mileage in it now and it definitely feels like a Porsche because of the way they’ve done the interface and the styling — everywhere is Porsche inside, so it feels like you’re in a Porsche," he told us.

"[But] Electric in general you don’t have a vibrating engine. The parts aren’t there — there’s no turbo, there’s no torque curve, [no] running out of steam [at the rev limit].

"Nobody is going to get in that car and be disappointed."

The new Taycan will be on sale in Australia from mid-2020 although prices are not yet known.

You can tune in to watch the Porsche Taycan’s world premiere when it is live-streamed on newstv.porsche.com at 3:00pm European time on September 4, which is 12:30am (AEST) on Thursday, September 5 in Australia.