Porsche is planning a rear-wheel-drive version of its Taycan electric car
A cheaper model to start the Porsche Taycan electric car line-up is in the works, says a company executive.
German sports car maker Porsche is developing a more affordable rear-wheel drive version of its Taycan electric car to provide buyers with a "more accessible" entry point into the range.
According to a report from Car Magazine in the UK, Porsche's research and development chief, Dr Michael Steiner, said more affordable Taycan models would eventually join the existing 4S, Turbo and Turbo S offerings in the range.
"There will be entry-level models coming off the Taycan," Dr Steiner said.
"There will be a rear-wheel drive model with a smaller battery to make it more accessible price-wise, especially for markets that don’t need 4WD – places like China, where weather conditions mean you don’t need it."
The new arrival would be the sole RWD variant in an otherwise all-wheel drive lineup.
At the moment, the most affordable Taycan available is the 4S, which is expected to start from around $200,000 (excluding on-road costs) when it arrives in Australia in the fourth quarter of the year.
Above: The Porsche Taycan 4S.
The 4S features a smaller battery than the Turbo and Turbo S models, with a 79.2kWh lithium-ion pack fitted as standard and the option of a 93.4kWh Performance Battery Plus. The former offers a WLTP-verified range of 407km, while the latter provides up to 463km of range.
It's unclear whether a smaller battery on the entry-level RWD Taycan would reduce these range figures further.
Another report from Spanish publication Motor.es suggests the new entry-level model will sit below the 4S and be badged as simply 'Taycan', with power coming from a single electric motor on the rear axle developing 450hp or 331kW.
However, there's another Taycan variant rumoured to be arriving earlier than new entry-level models: the Cross Turismo, a high-riding wagon iteration that's expected to break cover later this year.
Reports suggest the Cross Turismo will then be joined by a mid-grade GTS variant to sit between the 4S and Turbo variants. The GTS and Taycan models are reportedly expected to debut in 2021.
While a Porsche Australia spokesperson wouldn't comment on speculation around possible entry-level variants, they confirmed the 4S, Turbo and Turbo S models were still on track to arrive in the local market in Q4, with pricing and specs to be detailed mid-year.
It's expected the mid-level Taycan Turbo will likely be priced from around $300,000 when it lands, while the flagship Turbo S could eclipse the $350,000 mark.
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