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Alexandra Lawrence1 Jul 2019
NEWS

Porsche Taycan sketches revealed

First look: German brand’s first electric sports car revealed in detailed exterior sketches

First official sketches of the final production version of the Porsche Taycan have been released, providing the best look yet at the German sports car brand’s first all-electric model ahead of its world debut on September 4 -- and its Australian release by this time next year.

Originally previewing the Porsche Taycan as the Mission E concept at the 2015 Frankfurt motor show, the performance vehicle manufacturer has since released camouflaged close-ups, shots of disguised cars in testing and bodyshells on the production line.

Now, there’s another piece to the puzzle as Porsche insists on teasing the new model’s final look in other ways, this time releasing detailed exterior sketches of the series-production model two months before its global premiere a week before the Frankfurt show.

Along with the sketches, Porsche released an interview with the brand’s Head of Style, Michael Mauer, who says designing the Taycan was one of the Porsche design team’s most challenging tasks.

Mauer, who joined Porsche in 2004, said one of the reasons designing the Taycan sedan was challenging is that sports cars have a more dramatic width-to-height ratio than other vehicles.

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“I would go so far as to say that we have redefined the architecture of purely electric vehicles to an extent,” Mauer said.

While there was nothing to build on when it came to designing the Taycan, Mauer says the team didn’t start from scratch because they needed the model to be recognisable as a Porsche from first glance.

Mauer admits the brand considered launching into e-mobility with an SUV, instead choosing to stick with a sports car and what Porsche does best “in order to make a clear statement”.

However, as with the latest Porsche 911, Mauer said the Taycan does break some traditions, such as evolving the brand’s trademarks.

“We recently updated the model logo of the new 911 generation upon its launch. I would say the lettering is more jagged, and we will be adopting this for the Taycan,” he said.

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Mauer said that each Porsche has its own individual characteristics and that the Taycan will offer a new twist on a Porsche design cue in the form of sculpturally designed four-point daytime running lights.

He also highlighted the importance of aerodynamics and air-flow quality in electric vehicles -- something the team put great focus on during the Taycan’s design.

“We did away with traditional headlights here and used a light source located in the air intake instead. The air enters laterally from the front and exits again behind the wheel housings.

“The air flow at the wheels is therefore calmer, bringing about significant aerodynamic benefits.”

Mauer said the design team benefited from the experience gained with the larger Panamera sedan, but insisted that “it was clear that the Taycan must not look like a small Panamera.

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“And it doesn’t. The differences are so great that there is no risk of confusing the two,” he said.

As for how the Taycan will fit into the automotive world, Mauer says: “My vision is that the Taycan will become the icon of this new era, almost like a synonym for a purely electric sports car.

“Just like what the 911 has achieved in its segment over the past decades.”

As we’ve reported, the all-electric Porsche Taycan has covered more than six million kilometres of testing in places such as Scandinavia, South Africa and the Middle East, and will be joined by a crossover version dubbed the Cross Turismo.

The first year of production for the striking 450kW four-door sports car, which is claimed to hit 100km/h in less than 3.5 seconds, is already sold out following strong demand from around the world, including Australia.

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