Taycan Cross Turismo enters final testing phase
Dubai. The Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo is currently completing its last test drives. The extensive Porsche testing programme has taken place on race tracks such as the Nuerburgring Nordschleife and other testing grounds worldwide. In addition, prototypes covered many kilometres off the beaten track in the south of France and in the Pyrenees. The testing grounds at the Weissach Development Centre offered a further off-road challenge with the so-called Safari track. With a total of 998,361 testing kilometres, the Taycan Cross Turismo has circumnavigated the globe almost 25 times.
The new derivative features all the benefits of the Taycan sports saloon such as superior performance and long driving range. The chassis with all-wheel drive and air suspension is height-adjustable. There is also significantly more headroom for the passengers in the rear and a large load capacity under the tailgate. The package and space conditions have been optimised down to the very last detail.
“When developing the Cross Turismo, we were of course able to build on our experience with the Taycan sports saloon. The biggest challenge was combining the requirements of sportiness with off-road capabilities,” emphasises Vice President Model Line, Stefan Weckbach. “The Cross Turismo has to be capable of high performance on the race track and must also be able to handle scree, mud and gravel.”
The latter conditions were simulated on the “Endurance Testing Ground” at the Development Centre in Weissach. Weckbach adds: “The result is impressive. However, the Cross Turismo is not a hard-core off-road vehicle, but specialises in unpaved and dirt roads.”
At Porsche, electric cars have to undergo the same testing programme as sports cars with combustion engines. In addition to displaying superior performance, this always includes proving unrestricted everyday usability in all climatic conditions. Particularly demanding tasks such as charging, or controlling the temperatures of the powertrain and interior under extreme temperatures, are additional aspects that are tested in the battery-powered electric models. Other development goals typical for Porsche include race track performance, the ability to perform repeated acceleration runs at full throttle, and a range suitable for everyday use.
The new rear bicycle carrier designed by Porsche for this particular model also underwent the rigorous testing programme with rough road tracks and driving dynamics tests. It sets new benchmarks when it comes to handling, ergonomics, driving safety and stability. Several bikes can be transported on its generously spaced wide rails.
The new Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo expands the model family
The Taycan was globally revealed as a sports saloon in September 2019. The new Cross Turismo combines Porsche E-Performance with enhanced suitability for everyday use and appeals to customers with an active lifestyle. The Taycan Cross Turismo will launch onto the market in summer 2021.
Porsche has made a successful start into the all-electric age: more than 20,000 Taycan sports saloons were delivered to customers worldwide in 2020. The electric sports car has received more than 50 international awards. The new rear-wheel drive Taycan also holds the Guinness World Record™ for the longest drift with an electric car: it drove sideways non-stop for exactly 42,171 kilometres.