Porsche Taycan gets more doors, mild off-road chops with Cross Turismo

As Porsche’s first production all-electric vehicle, it’s tempting to see the Taycan as something that can cruise over the tarmac and not much else. If you think it looks a little (dare we say it) inadequate for the great outdoors, the German carmaker has come up with a solution.

This is the Taycan Cross Turismo, Porsche’s more adventurous take on its award-winning executive EV. Beginning life as the Mission E Cross Turismo, the production version comes in four trim levels right off the gate. Each one rides on a sophisticated chassis with air suspension as standard, as well as slightly increased dimensions for passengers and cargo.  

Exterior 

Externally, the Taycan Cross Turismo largely resembles the concept form. LED headlamps flank the sloping hood, accompanied by slim vertical ducts. Fender extensions on the wheel arches give away its cross-country inclinations, while the available Off-Road Design kit places flaps on the front, side, and rear body cladding to protect the lower bodywork from the occasional pebble. In case the stock 20mm allowance over the Taycan isn’t enough, the same package adds 30mm of ground clearance for off-road driving.

Ready to go on a road trip

Along the profile, the trademark Porsche flyline dips into the Taycan Cross Turismo’s bulbous rear, ending at the rear window just above the wraparound LED tail lamps. The standard Taycan’s trunk has been transformed into a functioning tailgate, capable of fully opening and closing even with the optional bike rack installed.

Interior 

There’s standard seating for four inside, five with the inclusion of a small center seat at the rear. Consistent with Porsche’s motorsport heritage, the engine start button lies to the left of the steering column.

The cabin is roomier than before while brimming with tech 

The Taycan Cross Turismo adds 10mm of headroom for front occupants and 92mm of overhead clearance for the rear passengers. Standing almost 13mm longer and 25mm higher than the sedan version, the Taycan Cross Turismo also features increased cargo space, up to 1,212 liters with the second-row seats folded. A panoramic sunroof comes standard, the better to appreciate views of the open sky or the surrounding countryside.    

Tech & safety

The Porsche Advanced Cockpit features a curved digital gauge cluster just beyond the available GT multi-function sports steering wheel. A 10.3-inch touchscreen lies in the middle of the dashboard, accompanied by an 8.4-inch secondary display on the center console, right below the air vents.

Porsche also offers another 10.3-inch touch panel on the passenger side as an optional feature. Other notable tech amenities include Apple CarPlay support, built-in navigation capabilities, and onboard Wi-Fi.

The Taycan Cross Turismo retains the standard and optional safety loadout found on the standard Taycan, including driver-assistance technologies such as automated emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keeping assist, and night vision capability.

Powertrain

All Taycan Cross Turismo units are equipped with a 93.4kWh battery pack, powering a pair of permanent magnet synchronous motors enabling all-wheel drive. Three such motors are available throughout the range, ranging between 436 and 750 hp, along with a maximum 1,050 Nm of torque.

Aside from mild off-roading, the Taycan Cross Turismo can reach up to 456 kilometers on a single charge

Acceleration from standstill to 100 km/h is just under three seconds, with a top speed of 250 km/h. Porsche claims that the Taycan Cross Turismo has a range of up to 456 km. on a single charge, while the 270-kW charging capacity can add 100 km. worth of electricity in just 5 minutes of being plugged in.

Adaptive air suspension allows drivers to adjust the Taycan Cross Turismo’s ride height for a variety of road conditions. A selectable ‘Gravel Mode’ dials up traction and stability control as well as torque management, enabling the vehicle to drive over surfaces such as mud and sand.   

Pricing

The 2021 Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo is being offered in the U.K. at the following prices:

• Taycan 4 Cross Turismo - £79,340 (around Php 5,350.274)
• Taycan 4S Cross Turismo – £87,820 (Php 5,922,077)
• Taycan Turbo Cross Turismo – £116,950 (Php 7,886,437)
• Taycan Turbo S Cross Turismo - £139,910 (Php 9,434,728)

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