Everything… & More
The new Taycan Cross Turismo is a lifestyle super-car – a true all-rounder that is keeping Porsche ahead of the game, writes Paul Agnew. Photography: Roger Moore
Porsche has always had the edge. For power and performance, style and sophistication, design and dynamics, the global motoring giant knows exactly what it takes to stay ahead of the game.
Competitors stand on the sidelines, fuelled by a mix of admiration, envy and frustration, while an expanding customer base simply revels in the sheer joy of it all.
But surely there must come a time when even a sports car manufacturer of this magnitude hits a wall – theoretically speaking!
Could going ‘all-electric’ or ‘off-road’ put the brakes on the dominance? The short answer is no, not even slightly.
In fact, the new Taycan Cross Turismo is likely to steer Porsche into an even stronger position.
For this, my learned reader, is one truly awesome sports car.
I was formally introduced to the 4S – one of four derivatives – and it was love at first sight.
Standing super cool in the Porsche Centre Preston showroom (the car not the reviewer) in ice grey metallic, a masterpiece of modernity oozing kerb appeal, with the capability of fizzing from 0-62mph in 4.1 secs, reaching a top speed of just shy of 150mph and offering a battery range of around 250 miles.
Porsche is pursuing a path towards fully-sustainable, all-electric mobility – without compromise and I think they are all but there.
Like the Taycan sports saloon, the Taycan Cross Turismo benefits from an innovative electric drive with 800-volt architecture. A new high-tech chassis with all-wheel drive and adaptive air suspension also ensures uncompromising dynamics off-road.
With 47 millimetres more headroom for rear-seat passengers and up to 1,212 litres of load capacity, the Taycan Cross Turismo is a true all-rounder.
The Off-Road Design package (optional) increases ground clearance by up to 30mm, allowing it to be driven on mixed surfaces and uneven tracks. The Gravel Mode (standard) improves suitability for driving on rough roads.
Elements include wheel arch trims, unique lower aprons at the front/rear and special flaps at the corners of the front/rear bumpers and at the ends of the sills. These make for a striking exterior as well as providing protection from stone impacts.
Inside, the design statement continues with wing-shaped upper and lower sections of the dashboard stretching across the entire width of the car. The free-standing, curved instrument cluster forms the highest point on the dashboard. A central 10.9-inch infotainment display and a further, optional front passenger display are combined to form an integrated glass band in a black-panel. A compass mounted on the top of the dashboard is optional.
Style is imperative, but comfort comes a close second, especially off-road. Nothing is left to chance. The integrated Porsche 4D Chassis Control analyses and synchronises all systems in real time to allow the driver to easily perform adjustments. The ride height is automatically raised for road humps or garage driveways. Such positions can be stored by simply pressing the chassis button. Clever stuff.
Thanks to FoD (Functions on Demand), drivers can purchase various convenience and assist functions as required. Significantly, this option is possible after the vehicle has been bought, and availability does not depend on the car’s original configuration. It is not necessary to visit a workshop (thanks to online activation) for the likes of Porsche Intelligent Range Manager, Power Steering Plus, Active Lane Keeping and Porsche InnoDrive.
Easy and quick to charge at home and on the road, the Taycan Cross Turismo battery recharges to provide a range of up to 100 miles in just five minutes. The plug and charge function enables convenient charging and payments without the need for cards or an app.
The Taycan Cross Turismo is everything, and more, that a car born in 2021 should be, and you can put your name on one from £80k.
I could go on and on about the stunning safety features and the high-end green technologies, but there just isn’t the space.
Suffice to say, excellence in all areas.
But a word or two about the extensive ‘standard’ equipment – digitally broadcast radio with truly superb sound quality and Apple® podcasts that can be selected as an individual media source. You’ll also find LED headlights, advanced climate control (two zones), exclusive 21” wheels, multifunction sports steering wheel, partial leather interior and eight-way electrically adjustable comfort seats.
The Taycan Cross Turismo looks sensational, smells wonderful, feels sumptuous, drives like a dream – a lifestyle super-car true to its brand and heritage.
Fancy one? Join the queue.
Porsche Centre Preston
Watery Lane PR2 1QJ
01772 911911
porschepreston.co.uk
