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Porsche said today that the upcoming Taycan Turbo GT with Weissach package set the fastest electric production car lap at Weathertech Raceway Laguna Seca. The Taycan is scheduled to go on sale this spring* as part of the expansion of the premium line of its all-electric sports sedan to include the Taycan Turbo GT and the Turbo GT with an optional Weissach package. The Weissach setup is built for the track and eliminates the rear seats for a higher power-to-weight ratio. At peak power, both models can deliver more than 1100 PS (pferdestarke ~735.5 watts) or 1084.51 horsepower [1].**
“In combination with various lightweight construction and aerodynamics measures, these all-electric GT sports cars raise the bar in terms of driving dynamics,” Porsche claimed with reasonable degree of certainty in AutoInformed’s view.
A more powerful and efficient pulse inverter that uses silicon carbide as the semiconductor material is used on the rear axle. The first Taycan Turbo GT models should be delivered to customers starting later this spring. On 23 February 2024, with a time of 1:27.87 minutes, Porsche development driver Lars Kern put in a faster lap than any other driver has before with a road-approved electric car at Laguna Seca.
Porsche also claimed today that prior to the run in the California sun, a pre-production version of this same Taycan Turbo GT Weissach set a new class record on the Nürburgring. Kern was also at the wheel on that occasion and posted a lap time of 7:07.55 min. on the Nordschleife. This official lap time is a blazing 26 seconds faster than Kern recorded for his last record lap in a Taycan Turbo S Sport sedan equipped with the performance package back in August 2022. This time also stands as the current record for series-production electric cars and also makes the Turbo GT the fastest four-door of any powertrain type on the Nürburgring.
“The two records in Laguna Seca and on the Nordschleife show what great track potential there is in the Taycan,” said Model Line Vice President Kevin Giek. “To prove your mettle on the track, it’s not enough to simply have as much power as possible. The overall package of accelerating and braking, cornering grip, aerodynamics, stability and fine-tuning has to be right. In the Taycan Turbo GT and the Taycan Turbo GT with Weissach package in particular, our engineers have achieved this in absolutely stunning fashion.”
“The track at Laguna Seca pushes the Taycan Turbo GT to the limit. It’s the overall package that makes the difference,” said driver Kern. “The Turbo GT with Weissach package sets new standards in almost every metric. These include acceleration and braking, an Attack Mode that’s intuitive to use and a powertrain designed for maximum traction and performance.”
This so-called (marketing babble alert> attach mode, when invoked supplies up to 120 kW of additional power for 10 seconds at the press of a button. Attack Mode is based on the push-to-pass function of the other Taycan models. [2] The system is optimized for driving on the track and functions in a similar way to the 99X racing cars that Porsche uses in the Electric ABB FIA Formula E World Championship. The boost is indicated by a countdown timer in the instrument cluster and dynamically staged with animated rings on the speedometer. [3]
Compared with the push-to-pass function in the other Taycan models, Attack Mode has 50 kW more boost power and is operated and made available in different ways: as an alternative to pressing the mode switch that’s mounted just off to the side of the steering wheel boss, Attack Mode can also be activated and deactivated via the right-hand paddle.
“You can also trigger the boost with racing gloves, and without taking a hand off the wheel,” said Kern. “With this simple, safe and fast means of operation, the Taycan Turbo GT models are tailored to the needs of a racing driver.” With the left steering wheel paddle, the recuperation level can be set and adapted to the driving situation.
Porsche has recently tweaked the Taycan model line and generally increased the overall system power of the cars. The enhanced powertrain with a new rear-axle motor enables more performance compared to the predecessor models. The Taycan Turbo GT and Taycan Turbo GT with Weissach package are the new sporting flagship models. Equipped with a more powerful pulse inverter, both cars have 580 kW. With Launch Control that increases to up to 760 kW of overboost power or up to 815 kW for two seconds according to the peak power measurement method¹. The Taycan Turbo GT needs just 2.3 seconds for the sprint from zero to 100 km/h, or just 2.2 seconds with the Weissach package. This makes the model one- to two-tenths of a second faster than the Taycan Turbo S. The difference in acceleration from a standstill to 200 km/h is greater: 6.6 or 6.4 seconds for the Taycan Turbo GT without/with Weissach package, which is up to 1.3 seconds quicker than the Taycan Turbo S.
The pulse inverter is the key component for controlling the electric motor. In both Taycan Turbo GT models, pulse inverters with a maximum current of 900 amperes are used on the rear axle. These deliver power and torque than the 600-ampere pulse inverter in the Taycan Turbo S. For more efficiency, silicon carbide is also used as the semi-conductor material in the pulse inverter. This it’s claimed significantly reduces switching losses in the Power Inverter and enables higher switching frequencies. The transmission ratio and the strength of the gearbox have also been improved, allowing for higher torque figures. The maximum torque in both versions is up to 1340 Newton meters. The range of the Taycan Turbo GT models is up to 555 km according to WLTP measurements.
Porsche has reduced the weight of the Taycan Turbo GT by up to 75 kg compared to the Taycan Turbo S. Carbon fiber is used for the trims on the B-pillars, the upper shells on the door mirrors and the side skirt inlays, among other components. The full bucket seats made of CFRP, a lightweight luggage compartment and the omission of the electric soft-closing function of the tailgate also save weight.
The Taycan Turbo GT is equipped as standard with the dynamics package. This includes the Porsche Active Ride suspension with GT-specific tuning. In dynamic driving situations, this suspension works for a balanced distribution of wheel loads. The package includes special performance summer tires mounted on 21-inch lightweight forged wheels. The exclusive Turbo GT wheels have relief-milled spokes, which saves weight and ventilates the brakes.
The Taycan Turbo GT comes standard with lightweight ceramic brakes. Based on the Porsche Ceramic Composite Brake (PCCB), the brake system has been optimized from a weight perspective. Design changes to the brake disc chamber and the brake caliper housing trim more than two kilograms. Reducing the unsprung and rotating masses enhances performance, of course The brake calipers are painted exclusively in Victory Gold, irrespective of the skills but indicative of the wealth of the buyer.
*Prices for the Taycan Turbo GT and the Taycan Turbo GT with Weissach package start in Germany at €240,000 ($260,105.65 at time of writing), including 19% VAT.
**Inevitable Porsche Footnotes
- Test method click here.
- Available with Sport Chrono package and Performance Battery Plus.
- The function is available from a speed above 5 km/h and at a battery temperature of more than 10°. Celsius and an SoC of more than 30%.
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Taycan Turbo GT Sets Records at Laguna Seca, Nürburgring
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Porsche said today that the upcoming Taycan Turbo GT with Weissach package set the fastest electric production car lap at Weathertech Raceway Laguna Seca. The Taycan is scheduled to go on sale this spring* as part of the expansion of the premium line of its all-electric sports sedan to include the Taycan Turbo GT and the Turbo GT with an optional Weissach package. The Weissach setup is built for the track and eliminates the rear seats for a higher power-to-weight ratio. At peak power, both models can deliver more than 1100 PS (pferdestarke ~735.5 watts) or 1084.51 horsepower [1].**
“In combination with various lightweight construction and aerodynamics measures, these all-electric GT sports cars raise the bar in terms of driving dynamics,” Porsche claimed with reasonable degree of certainty in AutoInformed’s view.
A more powerful and efficient pulse inverter that uses silicon carbide as the semiconductor material is used on the rear axle. The first Taycan Turbo GT models should be delivered to customers starting later this spring. On 23 February 2024, with a time of 1:27.87 minutes, Porsche development driver Lars Kern put in a faster lap than any other driver has before with a road-approved electric car at Laguna Seca.
Porsche also claimed today that prior to the run in the California sun, a pre-production version of this same Taycan Turbo GT Weissach set a new class record on the Nürburgring. Kern was also at the wheel on that occasion and posted a lap time of 7:07.55 min. on the Nordschleife. This official lap time is a blazing 26 seconds faster than Kern recorded for his last record lap in a Taycan Turbo S Sport sedan equipped with the performance package back in August 2022. This time also stands as the current record for series-production electric cars and also makes the Turbo GT the fastest four-door of any powertrain type on the Nürburgring.
“The two records in Laguna Seca and on the Nordschleife show what great track potential there is in the Taycan,” said Model Line Vice President Kevin Giek. “To prove your mettle on the track, it’s not enough to simply have as much power as possible. The overall package of accelerating and braking, cornering grip, aerodynamics, stability and fine-tuning has to be right. In the Taycan Turbo GT and the Taycan Turbo GT with Weissach package in particular, our engineers have achieved this in absolutely stunning fashion.”
“The track at Laguna Seca pushes the Taycan Turbo GT to the limit. It’s the overall package that makes the difference,” said driver Kern. “The Turbo GT with Weissach package sets new standards in almost every metric. These include acceleration and braking, an Attack Mode that’s intuitive to use and a powertrain designed for maximum traction and performance.”
This so-called (marketing babble alert> attach mode, when invoked supplies up to 120 kW of additional power for 10 seconds at the press of a button. Attack Mode is based on the push-to-pass function of the other Taycan models. [2] The system is optimized for driving on the track and functions in a similar way to the 99X racing cars that Porsche uses in the Electric ABB FIA Formula E World Championship. The boost is indicated by a countdown timer in the instrument cluster and dynamically staged with animated rings on the speedometer. [3]
Compared with the push-to-pass function in the other Taycan models, Attack Mode has 50 kW more boost power and is operated and made available in different ways: as an alternative to pressing the mode switch that’s mounted just off to the side of the steering wheel boss, Attack Mode can also be activated and deactivated via the right-hand paddle.
“You can also trigger the boost with racing gloves, and without taking a hand off the wheel,” said Kern. “With this simple, safe and fast means of operation, the Taycan Turbo GT models are tailored to the needs of a racing driver.” With the left steering wheel paddle, the recuperation level can be set and adapted to the driving situation.
Porsche has recently tweaked the Taycan model line and generally increased the overall system power of the cars. The enhanced powertrain with a new rear-axle motor enables more performance compared to the predecessor models. The Taycan Turbo GT and Taycan Turbo GT with Weissach package are the new sporting flagship models. Equipped with a more powerful pulse inverter, both cars have 580 kW. With Launch Control that increases to up to 760 kW of overboost power or up to 815 kW for two seconds according to the peak power measurement method¹. The Taycan Turbo GT needs just 2.3 seconds for the sprint from zero to 100 km/h, or just 2.2 seconds with the Weissach package. This makes the model one- to two-tenths of a second faster than the Taycan Turbo S. The difference in acceleration from a standstill to 200 km/h is greater: 6.6 or 6.4 seconds for the Taycan Turbo GT without/with Weissach package, which is up to 1.3 seconds quicker than the Taycan Turbo S.
The pulse inverter is the key component for controlling the electric motor. In both Taycan Turbo GT models, pulse inverters with a maximum current of 900 amperes are used on the rear axle. These deliver power and torque than the 600-ampere pulse inverter in the Taycan Turbo S. For more efficiency, silicon carbide is also used as the semi-conductor material in the pulse inverter. This it’s claimed significantly reduces switching losses in the Power Inverter and enables higher switching frequencies. The transmission ratio and the strength of the gearbox have also been improved, allowing for higher torque figures. The maximum torque in both versions is up to 1340 Newton meters. The range of the Taycan Turbo GT models is up to 555 km according to WLTP measurements.
Porsche has reduced the weight of the Taycan Turbo GT by up to 75 kg compared to the Taycan Turbo S. Carbon fiber is used for the trims on the B-pillars, the upper shells on the door mirrors and the side skirt inlays, among other components. The full bucket seats made of CFRP, a lightweight luggage compartment and the omission of the electric soft-closing function of the tailgate also save weight.
The Taycan Turbo GT is equipped as standard with the dynamics package. This includes the Porsche Active Ride suspension with GT-specific tuning. In dynamic driving situations, this suspension works for a balanced distribution of wheel loads. The package includes special performance summer tires mounted on 21-inch lightweight forged wheels. The exclusive Turbo GT wheels have relief-milled spokes, which saves weight and ventilates the brakes.
The Taycan Turbo GT comes standard with lightweight ceramic brakes. Based on the Porsche Ceramic Composite Brake (PCCB), the brake system has been optimized from a weight perspective. Design changes to the brake disc chamber and the brake caliper housing trim more than two kilograms. Reducing the unsprung and rotating masses enhances performance, of course The brake calipers are painted exclusively in Victory Gold, irrespective of the skills but indicative of the wealth of the buyer.
*Prices for the Taycan Turbo GT and the Taycan Turbo GT with Weissach package start in Germany at €240,000 ($260,105.65 at time of writing), including 19% VAT.
**Inevitable Porsche Footnotes
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