New Porsche Taycan Turbo GT: specs, pictures and details for 1,100bhp flagship
The range-topping Taycan gets 1,093bhp, as well as optional hardcore ‘Weissach’ package
The Porsche Taycan Turbo GT has broken cover as the ultimate version of Stuttgart’s four-door electric sports coupe, with well over 1,000bhp, plus the option of a giant rear wing and even a rear seat delete.
It’s hard to make the regular Porsche Taycan look slow, but the new Turbo GT aims to do just that. It’s available in two versions: the standard Turbo GT, as well as the hardcore, lightweight ‘Turbo GT with Weissach Package’ – ‘Weissach’ being the location of Porsche’s own centre for development.
Powertrain and performance
Instead of the triple electric motor setup that was first expected, the boffins at Porsche have managed to eek a whopping 1,093bhp from two electric motors – one on each axle. Of course, that’s only for a short period when you activate launch control; in normal driving, the Turbo GT produces a still-impressive 778bhp.
If you do decide to test out the launch control function, the Porsche Taycan Turbo GT will do 0-62mph in 2.3 seconds. Opt for the Weissach model with its stripped out interior and this drops even further to 2.2 seconds – just a fraction of a second slower than a Tesla Model S Plaid. Top speed for the Weissach car stands at a lofty 190mph.
However, unlike the Tesla which has been designed to smoke supercars on a straight dragstrip and little else, the Turbo GT has instead been honed specifically for the racetrack. For example, for quick overtakes, there’s an ‘Attack Mode’ which boosts power to 939bhp for 10 seconds and can be activated via a button on the steering wheel or by pulling the right shift paddle – the latter option designed specifically for those wearing racing gloves.
The hardcore Taycan features a much more aggressive carbon fibre bodykit than the standard Taycan, with a gurney flap at the rear in order to improve downforce. It also gets Porsche’s new ‘Active Ride’ air suspension, as well as its ‘Torque Vectoring Plus’ electronic differential for improved cornering.
In order to keep unsprung mass to a minimum, the Taycan Turbo GT gets an exclusive set of forged alloy wheels, which are available in several different finishes – including bronze and matte black. These sit in front of standard-fit carbon ceramic brakes which should not only improve stopping power, but minimise brake fade, too.
On the inside, the Taycan Turbo GT also comes from the factory with a set of carbon fibre bucket seats, with standard sports seats only available as an option. Speaking of which, this raises perhaps what is one of the most significant changes for the Weissach Package model.
Weissach Package: in detail
Key to the Weissach model’s increased performance is a 70kg drop in weight over the standard Turbo GT, which is already up to 75kg lighter than the Turbo S. “So, how did Porsche achieve this?” we hear you ask – by taking out the rear seats, of course.
Yes, you read that right: the four door Porsche Taycan Turbo GT only comes with seats in the front if you opt for the Weissach Package, with the rear bench swapped out for a bare carbon fibre storage area.
There are other changes, too; on the outside, instead of a small, deployable lip spoiler, the Weissach car gets a huge carbon fibre rear wing. This, alongside the racy bodykit mentioned above and a handful of redesigned underbody elements, add up to a total of 220kg worth of downforce, no doubt boosting lap times. In fact, the Taycan Turbo GT is now the fastest production EV to ever lap the famous Nurburgring race track; its time of 7 minutes and 7.55 seconds is 26 seconds faster than the old Taycan Turbo S.
Of course, all this race track driving will eventually take its toll on your range figure; in case you were wondering, the Taycan Turbo GT gets the same 105kWh 'Performance Battery Plus’ as other models in the Taycan line-up. This, according to Porsche, provides a range of up to 345 miles – or much less if you’re putting pedal to the metal.
The Porsche Taycan Turbo GT and the more extreme Weissach model are both available to order now, with prices starting from £186,300 – over twice the price of a base rear-wheel drive Taycan.
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