Test of the Porsche Taycan GTS Sport Turismo: exemplary performance and behavior

After the tests of the Porsche Taycan and Porsche Cross Turismo electric cars, place at the east of the GTS version also in Sport Turismo bodywork. What else does she have in her stomach? Does the compromise between sportiness and grand touring live up to expectations? Answer right away.

In the Taycan family, I would like a sports wagon version, but not extreme: such could be the specifications of the GTS Sport Turismo version of the great German electric sports car. Located between the 4S and Turbo models with its power of nearly 600 hp in boost mode, the GTS takes up a generalized label on the other models signed Porsche and synonymous with sharp rather than radical sportiness. As for the Sport Turismo body, it is a road version of the Cross Turismo, when the latter played crossovers with its SUV-style body attributes and its ground clearance raised by 2 centimeters.

Like an elegant hunting station wagon, the Sport Turismo benefits from more generous interior space and luggage space than the sedan, applying the same recipe as the Panamera of the same name. A promising compromise while the well-established qualities of the Taycan are of course retained here, with good autonomy, an 800-volt architecture allowing ultra-fast charging, top-notch performance and state-of-the-art connectivity.

Porsche Taycan GTS Sport TurismoTechnical sheet

This test was carried out with a model lent by the brand.

Porsche Taycan GTS Sport TurismoDesign

When Porsche designers set out to create a 100% electric car, they had to work on a hard compromise between specificities due to the specific architecture and the brand’s heritage. The result is a real success with a very low, sculpted look, an aggressive front end, very marked fenders and, in this Sport Turismo version, a more horizontal line of the roof to create additional space. While the tailgate follows a gentle slope which retains a very dynamic aspect to the whole.

The lights incorporate the now typical four-point signature, while at the rear, a thin LED strip recalls the iconic models of the house of Zuffenhausen.

With a length of 4.96 meters and 1.97 meters wide, it is a beautiful baby that will require a substantial parking space to park it without asking too many questions. Among the electrics, it’s simple, no head-on competition at this level of the range as far as the Sport Turismo version is concerned.

Habitability

In the front seats, the atmosphere is unambiguous: sport is the key word, with black Race-Tex coverings imitating upturned skin, counters in a curved screen reproducing the typical shape of Porsche dashboards, and high quality screens. But it’s not just digital life on board here: right in the middle of the dashboard sits a classic analog chronograph by Porsche Design (Exclusive Manufaktur, 1,014 euros) The specific sports seats can be adjusted to 18 (!) criteria.

The two rear passengers gain 45 millimeters of headroom in this version, which will allow taller passengers to feel comfortable. To stretch their legs, they still benefit from the foot wells in the battery sandwich under the front seats. Note, the optional panoramic roof (1620 euros) can be concealed according to nine different segments which can be chosen from a command on the screen of the central console, thanks to liquid crystal technology.

Break obliges, the Sport Turismo offers increased cargo space compared to the sedan. Thus, passengers can count on a volume of 446 liters under the shelf, increased to 1,212 liters once the bench seat is folded down. Under the front bonnet, the “frunk” completes the carrying capacity with a small precious space to store, for example, a charging cable, 84 liters in volume.

Porsche Taycan GTS Sport TurismoEmbedded technologies

Naturally, the instrumentation of the 100% electric Porsche is 100% digital. Starting with the handset in front of the driver – 16.8 inches – which skilfully combines the display of counters and fixed virtual buttons for functions such as headlights or active suspension settings.

The 10.9-inch central touchscreen incorporates the infotainment system and GPS navigation as standard. If Apple CarPlay can be connected wirelessly for a while, it is now also the case for Android Auto. The screen can be split for the passenger (1,032 euros), who will be entitled to their own functions directly accessible in front of them. Gadget or great addition? Up to you.

The Taycan has been receiving the sixth generation of Porsche Communication Management (PCM 6.0) since the beginning of the year, including integration of Spotify without going through the smartphone – this is a first –, a revised design of the interface and an optimization of Voice Pilot voice commands. The load planner algorithm has also been optimized based on information received from customers. It is able to zoom automatically when approaching stations. A new filter allows them to be classified by load power.

Porsche Taycan GTS Sport TurismoConduct

Indisputably, in terms of driving, the Taycan has been able to translate as much as possible into electric mode the sensations worthy of its prestigious coat of arms. A real Porsche, no offense to purists, in its state of mind as in its performance. That the accelerations are lightning, there is nothing very surprising with 517 hp of power. It even goes up to 598 hp with theoverboost which gives extra power in a limited time.

Others know how to display canon times, such as 3.7 seconds from 0 to 100 km/h with launch control. The 200 km/h will be reached in just 12 seconds and the maximum speed is set at 250 km/h. But the most remarkable feat lies rather in the behavior that manages to offer this 2.3 tonne car.

It simply seems to play with the laws of physics by giving the driver a sensation of impressive agility, erasing any perceived inertia at the wheel. The front axle is extremely precise, reacting precisely to every impulse at the wheel.

The more sporty settings of the GTS version do not go so far as to harden the active air suspensions too much, unless you enter the Sport Plus mode, intended for use on the circuit. There, precisely, even with a wet track like the day of our test, the Taycan GTS remains very controllable thanks to its driving aids which limit any swerve that is too pronounced but maintain the balance of the car. The XXL engine torque of 850 Nm distributed to the four wheels with the two motors is transmitted with flawless grip.

Everything is accompanied by a specific Sport Sound that gives a fun character to the automobile but, as it is very pronounced, it can fortunately be disconnected. On the braking side, the strong regeneration power mixes gradually and imperceptibly with the action of the very large 390 mm diameter discs.

Porsche Taycan GTS Sport TurismoAutonomy, battery and charging

It is the largest battery named Performance Plus which benefits from 93.4 kWh of gross capacity (83.7 kWh net) which equips the GTS version. It allows it to boast of greater autonomy than other models in the range which have the same capacity. Result, more than 500 km in sedan and 491 km in Sport Turismo station wagon.

The secret of this leap forward in autonomy? Optimization of battery and motor management using the front motor less often during driving phases in Normal mode. The homologation cycle of this new model takes these advances into account, while other versions now have the same capabilities, but are not officially recognized.

The official WLTP consumption is between 21 and 24.1 kWh/100 km, but it is easy to exceed 30 kWh with a little sporty driving, which comes very naturally at the wheel of this model! Result, an autonomy which will slightly exceed the bar of 250 kilometers. Disappointing.

But the Taycan GTS makes up for it with its exceptional fast charging capabilities, with its maximum power of 270 kW combined with its architecture under 800 V, subject to finding a terminal capable of such power.

The Ionity network, of which Porsche is a stakeholder, offers privileged rates: 22 minutes and 30 seconds are enough to go from 5 to 80%, or 93 minutes on a 50 kW DC terminal. It will take 10.5 hours for a full charge at home with a 9.6 kW Wallbox.

Porsche Taycan GTS Sport TurismoPrice and availability

Halfway between the price of the 4S and the Turbo, the Taycan GTS sedan has a price of 135,659 euros, to which must be added 960 euros for the Sport Turismo GTS (136,619 €). Autonomy reaches 491 km WLTP for this version, for which it will be necessary to go through the list of options to be entitled to a 22 kW on-board charger instead of 11 kW (+ 1680 euros) Similarly, the adaptive cruise control is in addition (+ 1764 euros). Surprising at this price level.

Faced with the Taycan GTS, and at this price level, competition is very rare to date, except for its technical cousin signed Audi, the e-tron GT. Much cheaper but with far from ridiculous performance, the Kia EV6 GT (585 hp, 66,990 euros) however plays in another court, without a premium label and with its crossover look.

It is rather on the side of newcomers that we will have to wait for an attack, like Lucid Motors with the Air, with its 1,111 hp in Dream Edition Performance version. Let’s not forget either the Tesla Model S Plaid and its approximately 1,020 hp, available for pre-order, but not expected for a while.