In September 2019, Porsche finally pulled the wraps off its new full-electric car, the Taycan.

For the first time in the automaker’s history, it will mass-produce an electric car that it hopes will pave the way for its future and how the buying public perceives the brand.

Followers of Porsche’s electric path will recall its Le Mans racing cars and 918 Spyder, but those cars were not produced for the broader public, nor in mass production.

The Taycan, however, will be.

Before Covic-19 threw everything into turmoil, the Taycan would have seen its South African debut come to fruition, but the global automotive sphere is in a perplexing state. One that needs a delicate hand if we’re to come out the other side safely and unscathed.

But the Taycan will be launched locally. It’s just a matter of when.

History comes into play

The motor industry is in a transitional phase, whether we want it or not. That phase is seeing your traditional internal combustion engine make way for alternative sources of power - the most prominent being electric mobility.

A few years ago, Ferrari (LaFerrari), McLaren (P1), and Porsche (918 Spyder) all flirted with electric cars. It was an attempt to test the waters, if you will, and gaze how consumers will react to these cars. It was a monumental success as every unit of all three cars were sold.

Porsche, then, is the first of the three mentioned brands to take up the responsibility of producing an all-electric car. It could by no means have been an easy feat, but the drive and recognition for such a vehicle was addressed.

Today, Porsche has several petrol-hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) across its range, but the Taycan will be taking it up a few notches.

2020 Porsche Taycan. Image: Getty Images

Should we be excited?

It would be a sin not to be excited about this car’s arrival, mainly because it’s Porsche’s first foray into this sphere of the market. And initial impressions are that Porsche outdid themselves.

Four variants will be available, with the Turbo and Turbo S headlining the range. For the Turbo S, an 800v battery generates as much as 460kW and 1050Nm - the former pushed to 560kW on over-boost. Despite a kerb weight of 2295kg, the Taycan Turbo S can run from 0-100km/h in 2.8 seconds!

A two-speed transmission sends power to the all-wheel-drive system - standard across the range. The range on the Turbo S is claimed to be between 388 - 412kW, while the Turbo’s range is 381 - 450km.

If the hype is to be believed, then the Porsche Taycan could be 2020’s biggest highlight.