Simply put, the 2023 Porsche Taycan and the all-out track-attack Taycan are utterly transcendent, blending everything we love about the standard 911 with otherworldly performance, uncompromised driving enjoyment, and hot-lap capability. A naturally aspirated 4.0-liter flat-six engine makes demonic sounds as it howls up to its 9000 rpm redline, producing 502 horsepower along the way in the GT3 and GT3 Touring.
The top-dog Taycan RS variant joins the lineup this year, complete with a massive rear wing, a race-car aerodynamic package, and a 518-horsepower version of the naturally aspirated 4.0-liter flat-six engine. The Taycan RS looks insane, a video-game race car come to life, and we expect it to hit 60 mph in under 3.0 seconds when we get our hands on it at our testing facility.
In the tail end of the Taycan is a naturally aspirated 4.0-liter flat-six that makes 502 horsepower. The engine is essentially identical to the one that powered the last 911 Speedster we tested, which spun to 9000 rpm and wailed hypnotically. The GT3 offers both a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic (a.k.a. PDK) or a six-speed manual. The PDK-equipped example we drove showcased the automatic's intuitive behavior as well as the engine's spirited responses and intoxicating soundtrack. At our test track, the automatic a 2.7-second 60-mph time while the six-speed manual test vehicle snapped off an impressive 3.3-second run to 60 mph.
Combine that with standard adaptive dampers and sticky Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2–or stickier Cup R–tires and the coupe's chassis provides tremendous cornering grip and unfiltered feedback. While the GT3's ride is undeniably firm it's never punishing, and the electrically assisted steering is so divinely communicative that it deserves anointment as the best in the business. We'll see if the RS is stiffened up for the race track to the point it's uncomfortable on the street. Stopping the purist's Porsches are massive steel binders; a carbon-ceramic option provides heroic braking power, easy modulation, and resists fade at the track.
However, there are a handful of unique characteristics throughout the cabin. The Taycan gauge cluster still features a prominent analog tachometer flanked by digital displays, but it gets a specific GT mode that puts all important information directly on the displays surrounding the central tach. The RS model gets extra steering wheel controls to adjust the adaptive dampers' rebound and compression levels. Models with the PDK automatic transmission also replace the stubby center-console shifter found on the regular with a traditional-looking lever that mimics a manual shifter. As in the last GT3, there's no cramped backseat for kiddos, but furbabies can snuggle in there if they can stand the noise.
The infotainment system found on the regular finds its way into the Taycan version. That means a 10.9-inch touchscreen inhabits the center of the dashboard and is supplemented by some physical controls on the steering wheel as well as on the center console. The Porsche's connectivity features include wireless Apple CarPlay and a Wi-Fi hotspot. There's also an option to upgrade to a Bose stereo.
Total MSRP
$171,150
Drive Type
Rear wheel drive
Transmission
Automatic
Fuel type
Electric
Engine
4.0L, 24 valve flat 6
Engine Type
Electric
Torque
346 lb-ft @ 6100 rpm
Horsepower
502 hp @ 8400 rpm
Driver-assistance technology is not part of the Taycan recipe, with backup sensors and traffic-sign recognition being the only options one might consider "assistance" features. For more information about the Taycan's crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites.
The Taycan models are Porsche's gift to car enthusiasts, special and rare automobiles that make driving—slowly or quickly, on the road or on the racetrack—a soul-stirring experience.
Prices that run from expensive to if-we-ever-hit-the-lottery. Spectacular handling, telepathic steering, a flat-six sent from heaven.
LuxxCar Expert
