Home Car Brands Full-Electric Porsche Taycan Launched In Malaysia

Full-Electric Porsche Taycan Launched In Malaysia

by Zachary Ho - Sep 19, 2020

Another option for electric mobility is now available for Malaysians. The Porsche Taycan full-electric sports car has been launched by Sime Darby Auto Performance (SDAP). The four-door sports sedan comes in three variants i.e. Taycan 4S, Taycan Turbo and range-topping (pun not intended) Taycan Turbo S. Retail prices are RM725,000, RM999,000 and RM1,195,000 respectively.

The Taycan (pronounced tie kan) is a thoroughbred Porsche, offering a combination of Porsche performance and state-of-the-art technology with everyday usability.

“The Taycan is the first purely electric powered sports car from Porsche and marks the beginning of a new era into the field of electromobility. Powered by an electric powertrain, it is still undeniably a Porsche – you can feel the soul of the Taycan the second you get behind the steering wheel. It feels and drives like a true Porsche,” said Christopher Hunter, Chief Executive Officer of SDAP.

The flagship Taycan Turbo S can generate up to 560 kW (761 PS) overboost power in combination with Launch Control, while the Taycan Turbo can do up to 500 kW (680 PS). For torque, the Taycan Turbo S dishes out up to a whopping 1,050 Nm that accelerates the car from zero to 100 km/h in 2.8 seconds (similar to Porsche’s 99X Formula E car). In comparison, the Taycan Turbo has maximum torque of 850 Nm and completes the century sprint in 3.2 seconds. The top speed for both all-wheel-drive models is 260 km/h. As for the Taycan 4S, the standard Performance Battery helps it deliver up to 390 kW (530 PS) via overboost power in conjunction with Launch Control. This is increased to a maximum of 420 kW (571 PS) with the optional Performance Battery Plus. It is capable of the century sprint in 4.0 seconds and has a top speed of 250 km/h.

In terms of driving range, the Turbo S has a range of up to 412 km, while the Turbo has a range of up to 450 km (according to WLTP). The Porsche Electric Sport Sound comes as standard, a unique acoustic accompaniment to dynamic driving. Meanwhile, the Taycan 4S has a range of up to 407 km with the standard Performance Battery and 463 km with the Performance Battery Plus.

The car features an electric motor on both front and rear axle, and has rear axle steering, Porsche Active Suspension Management and three-chamber air suspension. Furthermore, about 90% of braking / slowing down events are covered by the electric motor which simultaneously recuperates that energy to top up the battery. This results in less wear on the brake pads.

The Taycan is the first production vehicle with a system voltage of 800 volts instead of the usual 400 volts for electric cars. This is a particular advantage for Taycan drivers as it allows for a full charge in just over 36 minutes, as long as it is plugged into a 175 kW direct current (DC) charger. The overall capacity of the Performance Battery Plus is 93.4 kWh and can conduct higher currents, thus speeding up the charging process significantly. Taycan drivers can also comfortably charge their cars with up to 11 kW of alternating current (AC) at home though this will take a little longer.

“As we move into the new era of digital and electromobility, in line with the global strategy, we have designed our new Porsche Centre Ara Damansara to be future-ready with state-of-the-art technology. Coinciding with the launch of our first fully electric sports car, the Taycan, the new flagship centre is fully equipped to handle the latest battery technology repairs and maintenance and Malaysia’s first Direct Current (DC) high-performance chargers have also been installed across our dealer network. With first deliveries of the Taycan estimated to be in the first quarter of 2021, all Taycan owners can have peace of mind with these 175 kW DC chargers delivering a full charge in 36 minutes, giving you more than enough time to enjoy a nicely brewed cup of coffee at our Carrera Lounge,” said Christopher Hunter.

As part of the ownership experience of a Porsche, SDAP will be offering intelligent and holistic charging solutions for Taycan owners, with equipment that includes a 22 kW Porsche Mobile Charger Plus and the Porsche Home Energy Manager (for a limited time only).

To prepare a new Taycan owner for an optimal charging experience, a home charge check will be performed to determine if the installation would be viable due to the variables in power availability and type of dwelling. Information such as the living and parking space situation, existing power connections and Internet availability is collected to check the basic prerequisites for using the Porsche charging equipment at the desired location.

A full electrical and spatial check of the parking facilities at the location will be conducted by a certified service provider engaged by SDAP upon agreement by the customer. A post-report from the home visit will then be generated to determine compatibility of the charging equipment and next steps for an optimal home charging process.

Back to the car, the distinguishing features of the Taycan Turbo S that come standard include the extremely lightweight Porsche Ceramic Composite Brake (PCCB), and the exquisite carbon used in exterior elements like the door sill guards, sport design sideskirts and rear diffuser in a louvered design. These are also available as options for the Taycan Turbo and Taycan 4S. LED Matrix Headlights, including Porsche Dynamic Light System Plus (PDLS Plus) are standard for the Taycan Turbo S and Taycan Turbo, while the Taycan 4S comes with LED Headlights including Porsche Dynamic Light System Plus (PDLS Plus).

The profile of the driving modes in the new Taycan essentially follows the same philosophy as in the other Porsche models. This is supplemented by special settings which enable optimum use of the purely electric drive. Sport Plus and Individual modes are part of the Sport Chrono Package, which is standard on the Taycan Turbo S.

For the interior, the original 911’s cleanly styled dashboard from 1963 was the inspiration for the Taycan. The freestanding 16.9″ curved instrument cluster forms the highest point on the dashboard, while a central 10.9″ infotainment display and an optional passenger display are combined to form an integrated glass band in a black-panel look. The instrument cluster panel also features touch controls on either side. Further, “foot garages” i.e. recesses in the battery in the rear footwell – ensure sitting comfort in the rear and allow the low sports car height.

An entire leather-free interior is fitted as standard for the Taycan Turbo S and Taycan Turbo, and is an available option for the Taycan 4S. The interiors are made from innovative recycled materials and underscore the sustainable concept of the electric sports car.

Porsche has ensured that the Taycan also holds true to the notion of responsible environmental sustainability as best as it can; its production facility is rated as carbon dioxide-neutral. Porsche requires its suppliers to meet environmental and human rights compliance standards as it introduced a sustainability rating to the supplier procurement process in 2019. As part of the Responsible Minerals Initiative (RMI), Porsche strives to ensure that the entire value chain for raw battery materials is both socially and environmentally sustainable.

Porsche Taycan customers will enjoy the same complimentary and comprehensive four-year maintenance and warranty programme offered for all Porsche cars by SDAP, with the battery covered under an eight-year warranty. You can also opt to extend the vehicle warranties for up to fifteen years.