Porsche adds sporty Taycan variants

LOS ANGELES — Porsche's first attempt at a battery-powered sports car has gotten off to a rollicking start since it launched on the eve of the coronavirus pandemic.

Globally, the Porsche Taycan outsold the brand's flagship 911 sports car in the first nine months.

Now, Porsche is launching two sportier variants — the Taycan GTS sedan and Taycan GTS Sport Turismo wagon — at the auto show here.

The GTS models feature the same permanent magnet single-speed front motor, larger permanent magnet rear motor and two-speed rear transmission. This setup delivers up to 590 hp, slotting the GTS models in between the Taycan 4S (462 hp) and Taycan Turbo (670 hp).

The Taycan GTS has a range of up 504 km (313 miles) based on WLTP figures.

Both GTS cars can accelerate from 0 to 100 kph (62 mph) in in 3.7 seconds. They have a  maximum speed of 250 kph (155 mph).

The Taycan GTS Sport Turismo focuses on everyday practicality with 45 mm more headroom than the sedan and a 1,200-liter load capacity.

Unlike the off-road Taycan Cross Turismo, the GTS Sport Turismo does not have off-road design elements. It's aimed at those who want a similar level of everyday practicality as offered by the Taycan Cross Turismo, but who do not want to miss out on the on-road performance of the Taycan sedan, Porsche said.

The standard braking system on the GTS models shares the same red six-piston front caliper and four-piston rear caliper as the Taycan 4S but is equipped with larger 390 mm front rotors.

The Sport Turismo offers the optional Panoramic Roof with Variable Light Control feature. The system allows the driver to adjust the amount of light let into the cabin by activating nine liquid crystal film segments in the roof. The setting can be adjusted via the touch screen.

When the vehicle is switched off, the roof automatically switches to matte, and once restarted, the system will remember the previous roof setting.

The Taycan GTS starts at 131,834 euros in Germany and the Taycan GTS Sport Turismo is priced from 132,786 euros. Both variants will roll out to dealers in the spring of 2022. Further engine options for the Sport Turismo will follow. In the U.S, the GTS starts at $132,750, while the Sport Turismo version starts at $134,650.