LOS ANGELES – Earlier than driving the 2022 Porsche Taycan GTS on Massive Willow and discovering that the electrical sedan is pure Porsche on the observe, we needed to get there first. For that, we might get behind the wheel of the opposite Taycan GTS, the brand new Sport Turismo wagon. Resplendent in Carmine Crimson paint, accented in GTS gloss black trim and free from the Taycan Cross Turismo’s fender flares and meager makes an attempt at ruggedness, the GTS Sport Turismo is one attractive machine. You need to ogle it as a lot as you need to drive it, and we actually wished to drive it. So we did.
Usually, to get from downtown L.A. to verdant Rosamond, Calif., you’d take the 5 to the 14 and simply get it over with, however the GTS Sport Turismo referred to as for the great distance. We would name it the “scenic route,” however that may suggest going gradual sufficient or stopping sooner or later to truly admire the mountainous surroundings. Angeles Crest Freeway will get talked about so much for causes past its proximity to the Los Angeles automotive press – it is a phenomenal driver’s highway that appears to have been constructed and maintained for the categorical objective of being an outstanding driver’s highway. And everybody hauls ass on it like they’ve needed to pee since Palmdale, from Porsches to Priuses.
OK, possibly not everybody, such because the man within the equally purple Tesla Mannequin S Plaid that pulled alongside us as we made our means up the lengthy, steep right-hand sweeper on the base of Angeles Crest. At first, he appeared like he wished to point out off his Plaidness and tried to overhaul the Sport Turismo in the suitable lane. We let him, the world shouldn’t be our race observe, and it might be attention-grabbing to see the tempo the 2 supposed electrical opponents would handle. Sadly, and maybe content material in his false victory, Mr. Plaid should’ve chosen Parade Mode (that is one thing, proper?) and dawdled by the earliest bits of Angeles Crest. We have gotten caught behind septic vehicles going sooner. He may’ve simply purchased a Leaf. Drive paused, time for footage.
The GTS successfully splits the efficiency distinction between the Taycan 4S and Taycan Turbo, together with the precise motors used and consequent output. The entrance motor is shared with the 4S, whereas the rear is upgraded to the Turbo unit for a grand whole of 590 horsepower. That is proper in the course of its respective motor-donating siblings, and leads to a 0-60 time of three.5 seconds that is equally in between the three.8 seconds for the 4S and three.0 for the Turbo. As with each Taycan, there is a distinctive two-speed transmission on the rear (each different EV apart from the mechanically associated Audi E-Tron GT has one-speed models) supposed for improved effectivity at ultra-high Autobahn speeds. Particular to the GTS is a louder, deeper synthetic sound mechanically engaged in Sport Plus mode, however is selectable elsewhere.
Whenever you flooring the accelerator, as an illustration after taking footage of the car’s again seat, the GTS Sport Turismo easily vegetation you into the agency 18-way adaptive sport seats, upshifting at round 55 mph in a means that is oddly comforting in its familiarity. That GTS-specific synthetic powertrain noise really enhances the expertise, and appears extra genuine than different pretend EV noises because it sounds prefer it emanates from roughly the place the rear motor could be. Utilizing Launch Management would in all probability ship a extra violent, neck-snapping thwack, however we’ll depart such frivolous showcases for Mr. Plaid. This automotive is about what occurs after the launch.
Though the suspension componentry is shared with the 4S, the calibration and tuning are distinctive to the GTS. Porsche’s brake-based Torque Vectoring Plus comes commonplace, and our check automotive had the non-obligatory rear-wheel steering that rotates the again wheels by as a lot as 7 levels (the norm is 5 levels). The brakes are upgraded to a Turbo-matching 390 mm up entrance from the 360-mm discs within the 4S. Add all of it up, and what you get is essentially the most driver-oriented Porsche Taycan, the connoisseurs’ selection, the one most supposed for roads like Angeles Crest (and the observe) the place ample precision and driving enjoyment are added with out going for the speed-and-power overkill expertise of the Turbo. It’s a recipe adopted all through the Porsche vary with different GTS fashions.
How a lot of an enchancment or distinction it makes relative to different Taycans is open for debate, as one other wasn’t readily available at Angeles Crest, however as is, the GTS Sport Turismo shows awe-inspiring cornering skill. The all-wheel drive, the ultra-low middle of gravity, the suspension and laptop wizardry, the tire grip, and many others. all quantity to a automotive that is still resolutely impartial and glued to the pavement. There’s not a whisper of understeer or oversteer. You possibly can simply hold pushing, pushing, pushing, and it retains slinging by corners just like the legal guidelines of physics are merely recommendations. Just like the pace restrict on Angeles Crest, which is presumably one thing.
Porsche’s distinctive steering sorcery is discovered within the Taycan GTS simply as it’s within the model’s sports activities vehicles, free from any mode changes or overt speed-dependent modifications in effort or response. It contributes a decent, keen turn-in and stays splendidly communicative because the tires load up mid-turn. The rear-wheel steering clearly contributes to its agility, however solely in slower, extra technical corners is it blatant sufficient to be detected.
The Taycan is an enormous and really heavy automotive, nevertheless it does not really feel it behind the wheel. You are feeling low, encased and a part of the method. It simply feels like a driver’s automotive, like one thing you’d take out only for the hell of it versus a high-dollar EV day by day driver that may do shocking issues on the weekend. The GTS may very well be your toy.
And but, not like so many automotive toys, the GTS delivers really astonishing trip high quality. It did not even beat us up in essentially the most aggressive Sport Plus mode on rougher patches of Angeles Crest. In Regular mode on the stretches of freeway we did inevitably take, it was shockingly drive-all-day comfy.
Allow us to additionally not overlook that the Sport Turismo is a wagon, with a bigger and extra accessible trunk than the sedan. It additionally features about 2 inches of rear headroom, which makes an considerable distinction. And though the GTS Sport Turismo doesn’t get the assorted Cross Turismo fashions’ further 20-30 mm raise for better off-road floor clearance, it does take pleasure in superior aerodynamics and due to this fact vary because of this (extra on that in a second). You possibly can nonetheless outfit it with an influence, GPS-linked front-end raise for steep driveways.
Inside, almost each centimeter will get coated in black “Race-Tex” fake suede, and in such extra, all of it seems to be a bit low cost, like well-worn towel. Fortunately, Porsche’s monumental choices record is there to swap out the complete Race-Tex remedy for leather-based and even only a completely different coloration. The remainder of the Taycan’s consolation, comfort and customization menu is offered, too.
The GTS shares its 93.4-kWh Efficiency Battery Pack Plus and 800-volt structure with the Turbo and Turbo S. Official vary estimates nonetheless have not been introduced, however one thing within the vary between 212 and 225 miles is probably going. As Dan Edmunds found with the Taycan Turbo and Taycan 4 Cross Turismo, nevertheless, you possibly can count on to do significantly better than that. You too can count on a fast recharge so long as you could find an open 350-kilowatt charger as we did in a busy Walmart parking zone on the drive again from Willow Springs. Nicely, fast in that it solely took about six minutes to get from 33 remaining miles as much as 124, an quantity that enormously exceeded the electron splash wanted to get us the remainder of the way in which again downtown. It really took longer to get out and in of the rattling parking zone. Significantly, these quick chargers in malls want a rethink – there is a purpose Shells and Chevrons are positioned proper subsequent to the freeway and never in the course of ginormous procuring complexes.
On the finish of the literal day, the Taycan GTS Sport Turismo sat on the valet stand again in downtown L.A. having accomplished a cushty, stress-free cruise and a drive on one of many world’s best driving roads that was simply as enjoyable and simply as memorable because the final automotive we drove there: the mighty Porsche 911 GT3 Touring. They’re completely different to make certain, however the expertise was equally particular. This twin nature, paired with its all-electric propulsion, places the Taycan GTS Sport Turismo deep into the realm of “the one automotive you will ever want.” You already know, like a VW GTI, however $134,650. And if you add up the value of a Macan, a Cayman and, um, a VW ID.4, it is really cheaper. So there, completely a discount, too.
