The Porsche Taycan 4S arrives: with up to 571 CV and a maximum range of 463 kilometres

Porsche has sought to further expand its newly arrived electric family with the Taycan 4S, the most modest variant of the saloon that aims to broaden the range of options. Although “modest” may not be the right word to describe this new version of the Taycan, since Porsche has made sure to keep offering performance up to the mark, to the delight of all the brand’s enthusiasts. With this premise, the engineers in Stuttgart have managed to create a Taycan that is less radical than the Turbo and Turbo S but just as effective at fulfilling its role as a sporty electric saloon.

Although the prospective Taycan buyer can now choose from three variants, Porsche still offers two options within the 4S. To do so, the German saloon can be fitted with two different batteries: Performance or Performance Plus. The first has a capacity of 79.2 kWh, while the second, inherited directly from the Turbo and Turbo S, has a capacity of 93.4 kWh.

Up to 571 CV and 463 kilometres of range for the Taycan 4S

With this entry-level variant, Porsche has wanted to ensure that the Taycan remains a high-performance saloon. To achieve this, it has set a maximum output of 530 CV for the 4S equipped with the smaller battery, a figure backed by a total range of 407 kilometres. It accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in four seconds with either battery, and in both cases the top speed is limited to 250 km/h.

So where does the difference between the two batteries lie? Mainly in power, range and charging time. If we opt for the Performance Plus variant, we get an output of 571 CV, a range of 463 kilometres and a peak charging rate of 270 kW, a figure that drops to 225 kW on the Taycan 4S Performance.

To manage all that power efficiently, the Taycan 4S features all-wheel drive, made possible by two motors, one on each axle. The permanent-magnet synchronous motor on the rear axle has an overall length of 130 mm, that is, 80 mm less than the one fitted to the Turbo and Turbo S. However, thanks to both motors and the two-speed gearbox, the drivetrain architecture is exactly the same across all Taycan models.

But it is not all about traction and acceleration; braking matters too. To bring the Porsche Taycan 4S to a successful stop, the German engineers have opted for cast-steel brake discs with internal ventilation and six-piston fixed calipers at the front (360 mm) and four-piston at the rear (358 mm).

Subtle aesthetic changes

Porsche did not interfere too much with the styling during the development of the Taycan 4S, but we can notice certain differences compared with its bigger siblings. To start with, this entry-level variant rides on 19-inch wheels with a specific design that helps improve the aerodynamics of the whole. These conceal red-painted brake calipers, a shade that helps bring out the sportiness latent in the Taycan.

The engineers at Porsche have placed particular emphasis on aerodynamics, which is why there is a new geometry in the front apron. In addition, various parts, such as the side sills and rear diffuser, have been painted black to make the difference with the Turbo and Turbo S even more evident.

Already available in Spain

It is clear that Porsche wants to establish its electric family in the global market as quickly as possible. Given that Spain is one of its main markets, it is no surprise that the Taycan 4S is already available, with arrival at dealerships estimated for January 2020.

For now the German manufacturer has only made statements about the price we will have to pay to get the Taycan 4S equipped with the smaller battery, which starts at 108,337 euros, a figure that will rise considerably if we opt for the Performance Plus battery.

Technical specifications of this car

HatchbackPorsche Taycan22 versions · from 106,252 €