FORMULA E'S NEW SAFETY CARS ARE NOW THE BEST ELECTRIFIED PORSCHES IN THE FORM OF THE TAYCAN TURBO GT
When it comes to electric cars, there are those for and against them, and there’s still an overwhelming amount who are in the against category. It seems like the fans of piston power don’t want to let go of the past, even though these electric vehicles are showing massive power and performance capabilities. On this side, we’ve driven a few electric cars and we have quite a fascination for the things, the only issue we have is that whole “it’s for the environment” thing, which doesn’t make any sense when you look at how batteries are produced along with how they need to be disposed of. Anyhoo, if we were to spend our upcoming lotto winnings on an electric car, we’d be choosing the Porsche Taycan Turbo GT, and if it was a proper 6-number lotto win, we’d have it with the full Weissach package. The only way to fault the car is in the name, before we drive it off the dealership floor we’d remove that Turbo badge because it’s as pointless as an ice cream toaster. In stock form, the Taycan Turbo GT can reach the benchmark 100 km/h speed in as little as 2.3 seconds and that’s massively quick. The added-in Weissach tune sees that drop a smidge to 2.2 seconds which is mind-blowing. This here scribe once had the chance to drive shotgun with Ken Block in one of his Ford Fiesta Gymkhana cars and the launch almost peeled my eyelids off - and that could to a best 0-100 km/h shunt in 2.8 seconds using special tyres and in perfect conditions. When you want to go faster and you hoof it properly, 200 km/h happens in 6.6 seconds. Daaaamn son. With the whole package working on full charge, the electric Porsche delivers up to 815 kW of power with a stonking 1,340 Nm of instant torque. The Weissach package also takes the top speed up to 305 km/h from 290 km/h and it also features a 75 kg weight saving with a host of carbon parts, full bucket seats made of CFRP, a lightweight luggage compartment and the omission of the electric soft-closing function of the tailgate, 21-inch lightweight forged wheels, lightweight ceramic brakes, a rear spoiler with a flap and a front spoiler with aeroblades.
Thomas Laudenbach, Vice President Porsche Motorsport commented: “Sustainability and electrification are of great importance to Porsche, which is reflected in our motorsport activities – including the deployment of the Taycan Turbo GT as a safety car. This is symbolic of the fact that we learn from motorsport for series applications. In Formula E, this is especially true of our electric sports cars, for example in energy management. This is another reason why the Taycan has improved in almost every discipline recently.” To keep awareness on how good the car is, an all-new Porsche Taycan Turbo GT will represent in the growing sport of Formula E. At the doubleheader event to be held in Berlin on 11 and 12 May, the most powerful production Porsche of all time will assume the role of safety car in the all-electric world championship. Two variants will be the car on duty and the substitute car – with different features and in different colours. The new Taycan has more power with a greater range and charges faster and more robustly. The Turbo GT has been at the top of the range since March: With record-breaking laps at the Nürburgring and Laguna Seca, it showcased its consistent circuit configuration. The Attack Mode, with temporary boosts of up to 120 kW of extra power, is based on the technology of the Porsche 99X Electric, the current world-championship-winning Formula E car. For the first time ever, two versions of the electric world championship’s safety car will lead the way: The Taycan Turbo GT in the exclusive exterior colour Purple Sky Metallic will be performing its duties with the Weissach package and therefore without any rear seats. The second car in Shade Green Metallic will be in action without the added performance boost. Like the concept of the Porsche 99X Electric, the Taycan was also developed at the Porsche research and development facility in Weissach, operating on a net carbon-neutral basis. The Porsche specialists at Manthey based at the Nürburgring will continue to look after the vehicles; these experts are also responsible for installing any necessary modifications. These modifications include elements such as warning lights and related electrics, high-tech communication equipment, and fire extinguishers. The experienced Portuguese driver Bruno Correia will remain at the wheel of the safety car.
Take a look at the YouTube video from the chaps at MotorTrend as they take a proper in-depth look at the new all-electric Porsche Taycan Turbo GT. This will give you a good idea as to why they chose a pair of these to di duty as Formula E safety cars: Record-Breaking Porsche Taycan Turbo GT with the Weissach Package! | MotorTrend | MotorTrend Channel
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