Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo: The Electric Luxury Wagon

You want to drive electrically and definitely not an SUV – preferably a (super) sports car? But you need a bit more space and above all versatility? Then it gets difficult in the market because such a thing doesn't exist – either you go for a real flat sports car or a coupé sedan, or you opt for an SUV after all. Or... the new Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo!

It offers more headroom for the passengers in the rear and a maximum load volume of over 1,200 liters behind the large tailgate. In figures: the Turbo and Turbo S offer between 405 and 1,171 liters, the Taycan S and "Base" between 446 and 1,212 liters. The chassis with standard all-wheel drive and air suspension is height-adjustable. Market launch is in summer 2021, and Porsche names the USA, Great Britain, Norway, the Netherlands, and Germany as the five largest markets for this Taycan version. Visually, the Cross Turismo is closely aligned with the "Mission E Cross Turismo" concept study presented at the Geneva Motor Show in 2018 – and it also makes a good figure as a "station wagon." Whether everyone appreciates or needs the "off-road" add-on parts remains to be seen.

The silhouette also shows the rearward sloping roofline – called "Flyline" by Porsche designers. The mentioned off-road design elements include wheel arch trims, unique lower parts at the front and rear, and side skirts. In combination with the Offroad Design Package, the Cross Turismo has special flaps at the corners of the front and rear bumpers as well as at the ends of the side skirts. These create a distinctive appearance and also protect against stone chipping.

The integrated chassis control system Porsche 4D-Chassis Control also analyzes and synchronizes all chassis systems in real-time here. Porsche uses a centrally networked control system for the Taycan Cross Turismo's chassis. All Taycan Cross Turismo models come with adaptive air suspension featuring three-chamber technology and electronic damper control (PASM - Porsche Active Suspension Management) as standard. The air suspension includes a standard Smart-Lift function. This allows the customer to easily set the vehicle level to automatically rise at specific recurring spots like speed bumps or garage driveways. A press of the chassis button is enough to store such positions.

Extra driving program: The "Gravel Mode"

For driving on light terrain, the Taycan Cross Turismo comes standard with the additional driving program "Gravel Mode." In this mode, the vehicle level is raised by 30 millimeters compared to the sedan. "Gravel Mode" also influences the chassis systems Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM), Porsche Traction Management (PTM), Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus (PTV+), Porsche Stability Management (PSM), and the rear axle transmission. The latter shifts optimized for traction. The accelerator pedal's response has also been specifically tuned for off-road performance. The Cross Turismo comes standard with the "large" two-tier Performance Battery Plus, featuring 33 cell modules, each consisting of twelve individual cells (a total of 396). Its total capacity is 93.4 kWh.

Digitization makes it possible: Flexible upgrades after purchase with Functions on Demand (FoD)

With "FoD," Taycan drivers can purchase various comfort and assistance functions as needed. The special feature: This also works after the purchase and the original configuration of the sports car. A workshop visit is not required thanks to online activation. This is currently possible with the Porsche Intelligent Range Manager (PIRM), power steering Plus, active lane keeping, and Porsche InnoDrive.

Intelligent charging management for home and on the go

At home, Taycan Cross Turismo drivers can charge their vehicle with up to 11 kW of alternating current (AC) as standard. An on-board charger with 22 kW is available as an option. On the road, Taycan Cross Turismo drivers are supposed to benefit from the sophisticated temperature control strategy for the battery. By precisely heating the cells when approaching a fast-charging station, the batteries can be charged particularly quickly with higher currents (direct current, DC): within about five minutes, energy for up to 100 kilometers of range (according to WLTP) should be recharged here as well. The Plug & Charge function allows convenient charging and payment without a card or app. As soon as the charging cable is plugged in, the Taycan Cross Turismo communicates encrypted with the Plug & Charge-compatible charging station. Consequently, the charging and payment process starts automatically.

New sporty accessories: New eBikes and high-speed roof box

With the new variant, Porsche also presents new accessories: including the eBike Sport and the eBike Cross. The bikes feature a carbon frame that echoes the organic shape of the vehicle's roofline. For the Taycan Cross Turismo, Porsche has also developed a rear carrier for up to three bicycles, which is designed to set new standards in terms of packing size and handling. It is universally usable for different types of bicycles. The tailgate can be opened even when loaded. In addition, Porsche Tequipment offers roof boxes, including a new performance model approved for speeds of up to 200 km/h, and the roof transport system (DTS). The latter includes crossbars for the Taycan Cross Turismo's roof rails.

Extensive standard equipment: Differences in detail

The storage package with compartments in the front and rear center console and two retention straps in the luggage compartment is standard in the Taycan Cross Turismo. For the 2021 model year, Porsche has enhanced the standard equipment in the sedans. Digital radio is now standard. Porsche has also expanded the standard connectivity features. For example, Apple Podcasts can now be selected as an individual media source. The standard equipment of the Taycan 4 Cross Turismo and Taycan 4S Cross Turismo is already extensive with LED main headlights, Advanced Climate Control (2 zones), multifunction sports steering wheel, partial leather interior, and eight-way electrically adjustable comfort seats. In the Taycan Turbo Cross Turismo, the comfort seats are electrically adjustable in 14 ways as standard. The Taycan Turbo S Cross Turismo features, among other things, 18-way electrically adjustable adaptive sport seats, a bi-color leather-free interior, rear-axle steering, Sport Chrono Package, and Porsche Electric Sport Sound.

What does it mean?

In 2020, Porsche delivered more than 20,000 Taycan sport sedans to customers worldwide. Currently, 70 percent of all Porsche models sold in Norway are Taycan models. Now it's time to build on that, and here, Porsche once again indulges in a leisure-oriented shooting brake or station wagon – even if they don't like to use that word in Zuffenhausen. Nevertheless, the Taycan, alongside the Panamera, is "unique" and offers a bit more versatility and storage space than the coupé sedan while maintaining almost the same road handling. Thank you for that!