Bamber and Webber drive Taycan debut at Leadfoot

Porsche ambassadors Earl Bamber and Mark Webber will take the wheel of the all-electric Porsche Taycan as it makes its New Zealand debut at the Leadfoot Festival on February 8/9.

Taking centre stage at the Porsche hospitality stand will be a LHD Porsche Taycan Turbo, imported specifically to be showcased at this iconic New Zealand motorsport event.

Webber and Bamber and will complete a demonstration drive up the driveway in the lunch break.

The Taycan Turbo is the mid-range model, with other variants including the Taycan 4S and the Taycan Turbo S already announced. The Taycan Turbo accelerates to 100kms in 3.2 seconds, and boasts 500kW/ 680HP.

Taycan signals the beginning of a new era but retains the unmistakable Porsche design DNA. From the front, it looks particularly low and wide with highly contoured wings. The silhouette is shaped by the sporty roof line sloping downward to the rear. The highly sculpted side sections are also characteristic. The sleek cabin, the drawn-in rear C-pillar and the pronounced shoulders of the wings result in a sharply emphasised rear that is typical of the brand. There are also innovative elements such as the glass-effect Porsche logo, which is integrated in the continuous light bar at the rear.

The cockpit also signals the start of a new era with its clear structure and completely new architecture. The free- standing, curved instrument cluster forms the highest point on the dashboard. A central 10.9-inch infotainment display, and an optional passenger display are combined to form an integrated glass band in a black-panel look.

With the Taycan, Porsche offers an entirely leather-free interior option for the first time. Interiors made from innovative recycled materials underscore the sustainable concept of the electric sports car. “Foot garages” – recesses in the battery in the rear foot well – ensure seating comfort for rear seat passengers while allowing the typically low roof height found on sports cars. Two luggage compartments are available: the front compartment has a capacity of 81 litres and the rear 366 litres.

The Taycan Turbo S and Taycan Turbo have two exceptionally efficient electric machines, one on the front axle and one on the rear axle, thus making the cars all-wheel drive. Both the range and the continuous power of the drive system benefit from the highly efficient permanently excited synchronous machines. The electric machine, trans- mission and pulse-controlled inverter are each combined into a compact drive module. The modules have the highest power density (kW per cubic foot of package space) of all electric powertrains on the market today.

A special feature of the electric motors are the “hairpin” windings of the stator coils. This technology makes it possible to incorporate more copper in the stator, increasing power output and torque while maintaining the same component volume. The two-speed transmission installed on the rear axle is an innovation developed by Porsche. First gear lets the Taycan prioritise acceleration from a standing start, while second gear, with its long gear ratio, ensures high efficiency and equally high-power reserves while traveling at high speeds.