A More Affordable Entry-level Taycan Is In The Works

• Teaser model’s body shade looks identical to the rear-wheel-drive Taycan exclusive to China.

• Rear-wheel-drive Taycan is offered with the 79.2kWh and 93.4kWh battery packs delivering 408PS and 476PS of power.

• It boasts an NEDC claimed range of 414km (79.2kWh) and 489km (93.4kWh). 

• Porsche could introduce the rear-wheel-drive Taycan variant globally in the coming months.

• India is expected to get the Taycan later this year with the rear-wheel-drive and 4S variants on offer.

Last year, there were reports doing the rounds that Porsche is looking at introducing a new entry-level variant of the Taycan. Yes, the 4S will burn a smaller hole in your pocket, but it is still a pocket burner, at a starting price of USD 103,800 (Rs 74 lakh excluding taxes). Now, Porsche has revealed a teaser image announcing a new variant of the Taycan and it appears to be the long-anticipated entry-level rear-wheel variant.

From the image, we know the new Taycan variant sports a body shade identical to the ‘Frozen Berry’ colour found in the rear-wheel-drive Taycan which was launched exclusively for the Chinese market back in June 2020. So it does seem like this is the new Taycan variant.

The Chinese-spec rear-wheel-drive Taycan is offered with a 79.2kWh battery pack, with the option of a larger 93.4kWh Performance Battery Plus battery. The former makes 408PS, with the latter boosting that figure to 476PS. In terms of range, the standard variant offers an NEDC claimed 414km, with the Performance Battery Plus trim extending range to 489km. It also borrows fast-charging capabilities from its higher-specced siblings with an 800V charging setup. 

In comparison, the current entry-level all-wheel-drive 4S offered globally is more powerful by 122PS (79.2kWh) and 95PS (93.4kWh). It’s also 1.4 seconds quicker in the 0-100kmph sprint compared to the rear-wheel-drive variant at 5.4 seconds. Its top speed is 20kmph more than the rear-wheel-drive trim, at 250kmph. 

As things stand, Porsche hasn’t spilled the beans on a debut date for the new Taycan variant, but we expect that to happen pretty soon. The Taycan could make its way here later this year, with the rear-wheel-drive trims and the 4S set to be available first.