The design brief for the Taycan was to break new ground in the best design tradition of Porsche. As it was designed as a fully electric vehicle from the outset, new freedoms opened up for the designers. At the same time, the first purely electrically powered Porsche had to be immediately recognisable as such.
The result is an emotionally charged, four-door sports saloon that carries the unmistakable Porsche design DNA. Its silhouette is defined by its sporty roofline sloping downward to the rear – called a ‘flyline’ by Porsche designers. The highly sculpted side sections are also characteristic. The sleek cabin (the greenhouse), the drawn-in C-pillar and the pronounced shoulders of the wings result in a sharply emphasised rear, typical of the brand. At the same time, with its clean, pure approach and innovative elements such as the glass-effect Porsche logo in the rear light bar, the sports saloon signals at first glance that a new era has begun.
The 2021 model year offers a selection of seven new exterior paintwork colours: Mahogany Metallic, Frozenberry Metallic, Cherry Metallic, Coffee Beige Metallic, Chalk, Neptune Blue and Ice Grey Metallic.
The front: a striking look with a unique light signature
The Taycan is 1,966 mm wide, but only between 1,378 and 1,380 mm high – depending on the version. From the front and rear, it therefore looks particularly low and wide. Due to the compact drive components, the bonnet slopes down at a flat angle between the two highly pronounced wings – a characteristic Porsche feature. The LED headlights form a visual unit with the air curtains and seem to float. The four-point daytime running lights that are typical of the brand are flatter and wider than on any other Porsche. Produced with three-dimensional glass elements, the result is a striking sports car look with a unique light signature. All light functions are integrated in a single module for the first time.
The cooling air intakes are smaller than in a vehicle with a similarly powerful combustion engine. Combined with the flatter front bonnet, this makes the Taycan look very sporty. The flaps integrated into the cooling air intakes not only control the air supply for the cooling and air-conditioning systems, but also cool the brakes efficiently in a targeted way. The roof line slopes down steeply while another typical sports car feature can be seen in the form of the recess in the middle of the roof. The Taycan is also available on request with a large fixed glass panoramic roof, which does not require any transverse bows.
The headlights: high-tech with design aspirations
The lighting technology plays a crucial role in the striking front end and contributes to the Taycan’s high recognition factor. The following headlight systems are available for all models:
- The LED headlights with PDLS Plus ensure optimum illumination of the road. The central LED unit switches automatically between high beam and dipped beam. A camera detects vehicles ahead or coming in the opposite direction and the headlight range is continuously adapted. Other functions include dynamic cornering light and junction light functions. While dynamic cornering lights swivel the headlights depending on the steering angle and vehicle speed, the junction light function ensures optimum lighting conditions at junctions and intersections.
- With the LED matrix headlights with PDLS Plus, the matrix deactivates individual segments of the permanent main beam cone in a targeted manner. A total of 84 individually controlled LEDs can be adjusted to the current situation by switching them off or dimming them. Vehicles in front or approaching vehicles are no longer dazzled, though the areas in between and next to them continue to be fully illuminated.
- The LED matrix headlights with PDLS Plus are also available as an option in a special version from Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur. These headlights feature a three-dimensional circuit board graphic in the headlight housing as well as daytime running light elements in Glacier Ice Blue. These give the headlights a blue tint from certain viewing angles.
The side view: sporty proportions and sculpted surfaces
Short overhangs at the front and rear emphasise the sporty proportions of the four-door model. The sleek cabin sits on a wide body, reinforcing the car’s lean and muscular look. The typical Porsche ‘flyline’ lends the vehicle a sporty look even when it is stationary. The sculpted contours, with strong recesses on the body and edges, create an exciting interplay of light and shadow. The air outlets behind the front wheels are distinctive design features.
The flat door handles are flush with the doors and pop out electrically when required. Their visual appearance accentuates the distinct and modern overall impression of the vehicle. The same applies to the wheels, which have been optimised in terms of both aerodynamics and weight.
The rear: Porsche logo in glass-effect look with circuit board graphic as a highlight
The sleek cabin (known as the greenhouse), the drawn-in C-pillar and the pronounced shoulders of the wings emphasise the wide rear, characteristic of the brand. A narrow bar illuminated from the inside stretches across the full width of the vehicle. It houses the Porsche logo made of three-dimensionally shaped glass letters. A unique feature alongside this glass-effect design is the way that the lettering is embedded in a three-dimensional black circuit board design. Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur optionally offers this graphic with dark metallisation and the deep glass letters in Glacier Ice Blue or Black.
The number plate is placed very low down. The aerodynamically efficient rear diffuser with a subtle louvred look visually anchors the vehicle to the road. A typical Porsche feature is the rear spoiler, which extends in three stages depending on speed (see section on body and aerodynamics). The horizontally arranged lines of the rear and the pronounced shoulders of the wings further emphasise the deep, wide sports car look of the Taycan.
