Porsche is preparing an updated version of the Taycan with subtle styling tweaks and potentially more electric range.
The electric car market is developing faster than ever, and to keep pace with the likes of Tesla and Mercedes, Porsche is readying an updated version of the Taycan for 2023. It will launch with minor design changes and possibly more tweaks under the skin to improve performance and range over the current model.
Spy photographers have caught the facelifted Taycan testing in both sedan and Sport Turismo wagon guise, and it’s clear that Porsche is aiming to refine the car’s styling rather than radically reinvent it. The lower front bumper has been reprofiled slightly, and new, larger headlight units have been fitted. Sitting below these, the outer vent openings in the front bumper could also have been reworked, but it’s difficult to determine from this camouflaged prototype.
A new radar system looks to have been installed behind the windscreen of this test car, suggesting that the new Taycan could arrive with an improved suite of driver assist systems. New wheel designs are expected to feature as part of the facelift, but the rest of the design is almost entirely unchanged – save for camouflaged elements on the rear bumper which indicate further revisions here.
The interiors of these pre-production models are undisguised, so changes inside will probably be mild. New trim and upholstery options could be available to lift the cabin, and software changes are likely for the Taycan’s triple-display infotainment setup. This comprises a 16.8-inch curved instrument panel, a 10.9-inch central display and a portrait-orientated climate control screen. At extra cost, buyers can specify an additional infotainment screen ahead of the passenger, while software revisions could improve the system’s features and responsiveness.
Earlier this year, Porsche introduced an over-the-air software update to improve the Taycan’s real-world range, and while homologation rules prevented the firm from altering the car’s WLTP range figure, the updated Taycan will be officially tested as a new model. Given that it’s certain to adopt the recent software changes, the new Taycan may launch with a higher WLTP range than before, and Porsche could apply further hardware changes to squeeze more efficiency and performance from the car.
No details have been revealed yet, but the firm could revisit the motor, battery and control electronics to remain competitive with the likes of the Tesla Model S and Mercedes EQE 53. To improve the dynamics of the updated Taycan, Porsche’s engineers will have numerous tools at their disposal, including the calibration of the adaptive dampers, rear-wheel steering and torque delivery from the e-motors.
The Taycan’s current range structure will probably carry forward, kicking off with the entry-level rear-wheel drive version and topping out with the scorchingly fast Turbo S model.
Yousuf Ashraf