Porsche’s 2025 Taycan series is set to give competitors like Lucid and Tesla a run for their money. While the exterior design remains largely unchanged, the mechanical components have undergone extensive improvements. The Taycan Turbo S now stands as a true rival to the Tesla Model S Plaid and Lucid Air Sapphire. Let’s delve into the details.
In the United States, Porsche offers two body styles for the Taycan: sedan and Cross Turismo. Each style comes with four powertrain options, including both rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive models. The Taycan Cross Turismo even offers an off-road package. Both body styles feature visual enhancements compared to the previous model year, as well as increased standard equipment and technological features. The latest generation of the Porsche Driver Experience boasts an improved display and control concept.
The 2025 Taycan is already available for ordering, but the upgrades come at a significant cost. The base Taycan now starts at $99,400, plus a $1,995 delivery, processing, and handling fee, pushing it above the $100k mark. At the top of the range, the 2025 Taycan Turbo Cross Turismo carries a price tag of $176,300, while the 2025 Taycan Turbo S Cross Turismo reaches a staggering $211,700. In comparison, the Tesla Model S Plaid starts at $89,990, and the more powerful Lucid Air Sapphire is priced at $249. Clearly, the Taycan series is positioned in the higher end of the market.
For the increased price, the base Taycan now boasts an additional 60 kW (80 hp), bringing the total horsepower to 482 in the rear-wheel drive model. Porsche doesn’t provide specific details for the rest of the range, but they do highlight the Turbo S flagships, which receive an extra 140 kW (188 hp) when using Launch Control. This results in a whopping 938 electric horsepower, surpassing even the 875 hp of the 918 Spyder hypercar. Charging capabilities have also been improved, with 800-volt DC stations providing up to 320 kW (+50 kW), and 400-volt stations offering up to 150 kW.
Furthermore, the Performance Battery Plus now has a capacity of 105 kWh, up from 93 kWh, which translates to an increased real-world range. Porsche claims the refreshed Taycan can achieve a 10 to 80% state of charge in just 18 minutes under ideal conditions. Lastly, there’s the optional Porsche Active Ride suspension, which complements the standard air ride setup. The new powertrain includes a rear-axle motor with up to 80 kW (107 hp) more power, a modified pulse inverter with updated software, optimized thermal management, a next-generation heat pump, and enhanced energy recuperation and all-wheel drive strategies.
