CONFIRMED: New Taycan Will Have OVER 600HP And 300 Mile Range

If Porsche prices this correctly, it and the Audi clone could very easily box in the Model S and destroy it. But even if it is not priced like a Model S, as some sources suggest it could be, the superior Porsche engineering cannot be dismissed.

Well, all of the above is really true. Not that I'm a Tesla hater, I'm not... but it's only a matter of time before there are more direct competitors to the Model S from proven automakers and Porsche and Audi being among those makes such threats are serious ones indeed.

It looks like a solid competitor for sure. I'm sure they will sell every one they make, which unfortunately is pegged at only 20k a year.

Competition is a good thing. I hope they also release a Boxter-sized EV to compete with the Model 3.

@MD I have seen some of that Porsche superiority of engineering first hand. In my area, there is a fellow who owns a 2015 Cayenne S. It needed an engine out service to fix an oil seal leak. It totaled to $8,8000 CAD. Luck for him he had purchased a $3,300 extended bumper to bumper warranty and it was covered. No car or truck I have ever owned has needed that kind of service.

@CC Yup that's brilliant logic! Because one person had a issue with a Porsche, Tesla is the icon of quality. Perfectly logical reasoning.

@MD You have not forgotten about ISM seal leaks in 911's and other glitches the brand is known for. I am just trying to present a bit of a better-balanced argument. Porsche is indeed known for higher quality than Tesla, but it is no Toyota either. Let the chips fall where they may once the Tie-Can and the Audi version come out.

@CC Are you sure you're not channeling the pissy b-tard known as TheSteve?

How many Porsche buyers will pony up to own a car called the Tie-Can?

plus why did 009 not use the actual images of a taycan...
also if they actually called it a TIE-Can disney would probably go after them :)

@CC Tons did for the stupidly named Cayenne, the stupidly named Panamera, the stupidly named Boxster, and the stupidly named Macan. Stupid names in no way hinder Porsche.

Actually - they are buying a Porsche - name meaningless.
A true premium product which TEsla cannot match

The Model S has a a 6+ year head start on the Taycan and based on the Panamera price of $90k+ I can't imagine this little guy coming in any less than that. I believe these are being produced in the same factory as the 911 in Germany so when those Trump tariffs start setting in expect these puppies to cost 10-20% more once landed. You can pick up a 2015 CPO Model S with autopilot for about $45k today and having a 6+year head start (preowned market) and being produced in the US is going to continue to give the S a pricing advantage for the foreseeable future.

worried about price... maybe leaf or bolt is the right option.

And what does that head start buy?

Better engineering? No way in hell.
Better quality? Please, b!tch.
Better reliability? Are you kidding?
Better technology? Tesla has technology.

Anyone who assumes Porsche will be out-engineered by Tesla is a moron. People know I am no Porsche fan, so for me to bullish on Porsche and Audi--as I have been--says a lot.

Head start gets you the pricing benefit of having a preowned market, which is key when more and more people are comfortable going fully electric. Your first comment was that if Porsche prices this correctly that it could easily kill the Model S, but if they are selling over $100k, which given the way Porsche pricing works likely will, then it won't kill anything. Also, remember it is about the experience too. I have both a 2012 911 C2 and a 2013 Model S 85 and besides the fact that the buying experience with Tesla is like nothing I've ever experienced in the auto industry, I dread nothing more than when I have to take the 911 in for service now that I've experienced Tesla's version of service. Finally, remember that these companies are built completely differently. Porsche is built around the premise that they build the best and if you wanna play, you have to pay up for it and it's an honor to be behind the wheel. Tesla is more of a technology company that wants to put their product in the garage or driveway of everyone in the world. Two different approaches and the fact that Porsche has decided that it needs to make a car to compete with the Model S should be extremely telling to those who detract from Tesla.

The award for the Most Ridiculous Comment of the Day goes to MBKing for saying: "Head start gets you the pricing benefit of having a preowned market..."

Sure, there will be people wanting used Teslas, but they won't be people with brains.

Buying a used EV is as smart buying a used smartphone. Buying outdated EV technology makes ZERO sense.

Tesla's CPO offerings will be met with similarly priced new mainstream EVs from major manufacturers with better technology.

Buying a new EV makes zero sense due to the EV technology rapidly improving with each generation. Leasing? Sure.

Unlike other EVs, used Teslas have held their value well. Even mine, which is the most limited Model S ever built with only 130 miles of range, retained 50% of its sticker after 5+ years.

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/used-tesla-model-s-sell-faster-and-for-more-money-than-peers-study-says-2017-04-12

and you don;t even want to know what that would fetch on the used car market :)

Model S was debuted in 2009. In car years, it's dead. Once the Taycan is available no one would want to be seen in an S. It will be like iPhone X vs. Blackberry.

Ok, but what Tesla debuted in 2009 is not what they started selling in 2012, and not what they sell today. Given that, the Taycan (better than the eMission announced in 2015) is introducing an 800V system with all the risks and benefits associated. It is also just a four-seater, so the practical value of the car will be limited. Tesla tried selling bucket second row seats (called them "executive") and quickly killed them as few people wanted that. Only having four seats was considered a huge drawback for the first gen. Volt and limited sales.

At the end of the day the success or failure of the Taycan will depend entirely on how much Porsche stands behind it, what they do with the charging network, and what they subsequently do with the platform.

Porsche is about to beat Tesla senseless.

You don't get it. Owners LOVE their Teslas.

Well given that Tesla's technology is in NO WAY innovative or more advanced than any other EV on the road, you are correct.

Not sure what edge cases you are talking about but the Model S has the highest customer satisfaction rating of any car with Porsche coming in second.

As a Porsche owner, I find the rallying crying for the Taycan as a "Tesla killer" rather hilarious.

My LR Model 3 already drives better than most cars on the street today. Only after a few weeks with the Model 3, I already feel the age of my Porsche. Wait until the Performance Model 3 (aka P3D) flooding the streets in the next few weeks, it will be evident who is the real deal. The first customer P3D samples were already delivered, in depth reviews and track numbers will soon follow.

The Taycan is still in gestation, and on paper it still can't beat the Performance Model 3 in all critical specs: acceleration, top speed, technology and price. How can it "kill" Tesla now, or a year from now when the Model 3 continues to improve even in customer's hand ?

The Taycan specs look good for the top line model until the sticker shock kicks in. In traditional Porsche model hierarchy, the "base" Taycan at $80K plus option will be a ho-hum version similar to the V6 Panamera. The top spec model will easily reach the 911 Turbo price territory in a very compelling package. Who's going to worry ?

Porsche own goal of 20000 units global production seems to be rather modest as though it doesn't even believe in its own offering. Could it be their own fear of a successful Taycan that will kill off sales of the Panamera and 911 ?

Well said.

Given how expensive Tesla's are, Porsche is the competition because they transact for the same prices.

Wait- Porsche is only going to make 20,000 per year of these things? And they hope to start “late 2019”? In reality this usually means well into 2020 before actual units arrive at dealers. At this rather low production run If they want this to be profitable they are going to have to price this thing through the roof... previously they said the price will be roughly in line with the Panamera but they didn’t say WHICH Panamera.. the one that starts around $85-$90k? Doubtful. As Tesla has demonstrated, the E-car business model is to offer higher trims first to offset production costs which means good luck getting any Taycan out the dealer door for anything under $140k. I would imagine most will be $180k+. My model 3 cost $55k out the door, taxes registration all in. Completely in love. And Tesla is now making 20,000 units per month and climbing.

@Rockreid: Glad you are enjoying your Model 3. I have been driving my wife's Model 3 while she waits for the HOV sticker (she's still driving an old EV). It's been a blast to drive, especially on country road. My own Model 3 will be a Performance version, due out in a month or so. Can't wait to try it out - test drive coming soon. The only concern I have is I don't know if my kidneys can handle the acceleration.

I just ordered the dual motor Model 3 to replace my Model S 40 (2-4 month eta), can't wait!

All that Tesla will have once VW group releases its EVs in the next couple years is their battery tech and knowhow to sell to smaller automakers. Hopefully Elon doesn’t allow his ego to get into the way and he realizes the end game for Tesla is to sell ev tech to smaller makers such as FCA, Hyundai, Honda, BMW etc. Because Tesla has a head start in batteries they will have the lowest cost/kWh for a couple generations...this will allow automakers who buy drive units/batteries from Tesla to be price competitive while maintaining some margin for Tesla.

Tesla and Panasonic jointly own the battery tech. Panasonic can't sell the 2170 cells to other companies.

Panasonic could easily sue it way out of that one much to its advantage. Tesla is about to become a millstone.

How much Tesla owners love their cars is totally irrelevant. The only thing that matters for a company in the long run is profitability. Tomorrow afternon will be another dire earnings release for Tesla. Musk's very volatile behavior in recent weeks reflects how close Tesla is to BK.

But it is not just Porsche. Its Jaguar, Volvo and others who will enter into the market and ultimately squash Tesla. Further unlike Tesla these other companies have money behind them with superior production techniques and a better ability to deliver on time without delays. I give it to Tesla for really starting the trend towards practical, usable EV'S with decent range. However everyone is now catching up to them. Further they have interiors that look more like car interiors without the humongous square middle screen that all Tesla have. Even if the Porsche Tacan is priced within 10K of the Tesla model S buyers will flock to it. The Jaguar I pace interior is way more attractive then anything from Tesla and is supposedly the based handling SUV out on the market today. I would not be surprised in the future if Tesla decides to sell out to a larger car company to then focus in on Spacex.