Porsche set to add second Taycan model to line-up with the Cross Turismo to bring big practicality gains.
Porsche’s second fully-electric car – the Taycan Cross Turismo – is nearing the end of development, and has been spied almost completely undisguised ahead of an anticipated reveal towards the end of 2020.
The new spy shots reveal that the Taycan Cross Turismo won’t deviate too far from the design ethos established by the regular Taycan when it goes on sale in 2021. While the concept Taycan Cross Turismo pointed to rugged, almost SUV like elements, the production version will be angled as a sleek shooting brake compatriot to the Taycan, turning Porsche’s EV line-up into a direct mirror of the Panamera range, now supported by the estate bodied Panamera Sport Turismo.
Performance estates have been around for decades, with regular fixtures including the Audi RS 6 Avant and Mercedes-AMG E63. But Porsche will be the first brand to enter the segment with a fully electric alternative. Dr Michael Steiner, Porsche’s executive board member for R&D, told Automotive Daily’s partner AutoExpress: “It’s an obligation for us, at Porsche, to think about and work on sporty answers to electric cars.”
This test mule, which only wears a light disguise on the rear LED light strip is, by and large, the finished product. At the front end and up to the B-pillars, the Cross Turismo is identical to the regular Taycan; slender LED headlamps sit within hollowed-out ‘sockets’, with the charging port located behind the wheel on the left side of the vehicle.
From the B-pillars, the roofline extends the full length of the car, like that on the Panamera Sport Turismo. The obvious benefit of that will be an increase in practicality, with the head space for rear passengers growing slightly. Boot capacity should also rise from the Taycan’s 447 litres to around 500 litres in total, while the Cross Turismo is likely to carry a price premium of around $10,000 over the standard Taycan.
Under the skin of the estate, the regular Taycan’s powertrain will be carried over, while the range of variants is also expected to mirror that of the saloon. Entry-level versions, badged 4S, will make use of a 79kWh battery that is mated to a pair of electric motors (one on each axle) for 320kW(or 390kW on overboost). Turbo and Turbo S editions will pack a larger 93kWh battery beneath the floor of the car. Each will develop 460kW, but on overboost the Turbo tops out at 500kW, while the Turbo S makes 560kW.
The Cross Turismo is the next step in an ambitious assault on the electric vehicle market from Porsche. Following in this car’s footsteps will be a fully electric version of the company’s biggest seller: the Macan. Due in 2022, the SUV will go electric only, with the current petrol model being sold alongside it until customer demand falls enough for Porsche to remove it from sale. Bosses have discussed taking a similar approach with the next-generation Cayenne, too.
James Brodie