The name can be roughly translated as “lively young horse”, referencing the imagery at the heart of the Porsche crest, which has featured a leaping steed since 1952. Series production of the first purely electric Porsche is set to begin next year.
Porsche announced the name for its first purely electric series as part of the “70 years of sports cars” ceremony.
Before this, the car that has been undergoing trials was known as the “Mission E” concept study.
“Our new electric sports car is strong and dependable; it’s a vehicle that can consistently cover long distances and that epitomises freedom”, said Porsche AG chairman Oliver Blume.
With Porsche, the vehicle names generally have a connection with the corresponding model and its characteristics: The name Boxster describes the combination of the boxer engine and roadster design; Cayenne denotes fieriness, the Cayman is incisive and agile, and the Panamera offers more than a standard Gran Turismo, which is what allowed it to win the Carrera Panamericana long-distance race. The name Macan is derived from the Indonesian word for tiger, with connotations of suppleness, power, fascination and dynamics.
Two permanently excited synchronous motors with a system output of over 600hp accelerate the electric sports car to 100kph in under 3.5 seconds and to 200kph in under 12 seconds. This performance is in addition to a continuous power level that is unprecedented among electric vehicles: Multiple jump starts are possible in succession without loss of performance, and the vehicle’s maximum range is over 500km in accordance with the NEDC.
Porsche plans to invest more than six billion euro in electromobility by 2022, doubling the expenditure that the company had originally planned. Of the additional three billion euro, some 500 million euro will be used for the development of Taycan variants and derivatives, around one billion euro for electrification and hybridisation of the existing product range, several hundred million for the expansion of production sites, plus around 700 million euro for new technologies, charging infrastructure and smart mobility.
At the Porsche headquarters in Zuffenhausen, a new paint shop, dedicated assembly area for the Taycan and a conveyor bridge for transporting the painted bodies and drive units to the final assembly area are currently being constructed. The existing engine plant is being expanded to manufacture electric drives and the body shop will also be developed. Investment is also planned for the Weissach Development Centre. Production of the Taycan is creating around 1,200 new jobs in Zuffenhausen alone.
The sports car maker is celebrating its 70th anniversary with numerous activities throughout 2018.
For June 16–17, Porsche will host employees, local residents and prospective customers at a celebration in and around the plant here. The event will include activities for visitors both young and old, plant tours, music, food trucks, live coverage of the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the broadcast of the World Cup game between Germany and Mexico. Entry is free of charge.
The Porsche 911 Speedster Concept
The 911 Speedster Concept celebrated its world premiere as part of the official ‘70 years Porsche sportscar’ anniversary celebrations in Zuffenhausen.
The concept study offers a glimpse of a potential series-production version, although this model may not be presented until 2019. A decision on whether to move ahead will be made in the coming months.
The 911 Speedster Concept is a road-ready study of an open-top sports car. The anniversary model links the first Porsche 356 ‘No. 1’ Roadster, which received its operating permit on June 8, 1948, and the Porsche cars of today.
The drive technology under the two-tone shell of the concept study is derived from the current GT models. It was developed at the Porsche Motorsport Centre, the birth place of the 911 GT2 RS and, most recently, the GT3 RS.
The characteristics of the 911 Speedster Concept include the shorter window frame with a more inclined windscreen and correspondingly shortened side windows. These features give the sports car study an even stockier profile with a low fly line, which is reminiscent of its predecessors such as the Porsche 356 1500 Speedster.
A rear cover made of carbon fibre connects behind the front seats, covering a roll-over protection structure and featuring a "double bubble", a traditional element of this sports car design since the 911 Speedster from 1988. Two contrasting black slats between the "humps" add an aerodynamic touch, and a transparent Plexiglas wind deflector features an engraved "70 years of Porsche" logo.
