Electric cars may not lack performance as the instant torque on tap affords mind-warping acceleration, but the major complaint is that they are ultimately sterile, providing no real sensations integral to developing the human bond between driver and car.

It then should be no surprise that Porsche, with its history of iconic sports and race cars, has not just attempted to rectify this gap, but has crossed that very difficult bridge on its very first outing in the electric vehicle (EV) market with the Taycan 4S.

EXTERIOR

Let’s just get this out of the way: This car is not for introverts, especially in the stunning Frozen Berry colour provided to
Auto for testing. The Taycan doesn’t just garner attention everywhere it goes, it demands it with its curvaceous future styling that had several people thinking it was a two-door coupé instead of the sedan it is.

Be prepared for heads to turn, camera phones to be drawn, and young children to burst into excitement every time the Taycan hits the road. Park for too long and owners might come back to find an impromptu photoshoot taking place on their vehicle. This is a very attractive vehicle as Porsche continues to work its signature design cues into all models. The low roofline and curvy wheel arches create a beltline that mimics the iconic 911. It looks like nothing else on the road.

INTERIOR

If the spaceship exterior isn’t enough, the interior continues the theme. It’s all screens, three of them available. The main instrumentation displays a digital representation of the familiar Porsche dials. The remaining two, main infotainment and passenger, combine with the iPad-like centre console for that full movie star cruiser control experience.

Buttons, are at bare minimum. Want to move the A/C vents? Screen. Yet, even with all this technology Porsche has somehow managed to make it fade quickly into the background. Once the flush door handles pop out to allow access, occupants drop down into low comfortable seating with an all-glass roof above them. From the driver’s perspective everything is focused, to others the abundant space and luxury is evident. The range of textures, colours, and materials blend the old and new for an off-the-charts perceived level of quality. Whatever material one’s eyes sees in the cabin, it’s that material, not some cut rate facsimile.

The noise floor is extremely low allowing for relaxed quiet cruising at any speed. The outside is kept out as much as possible, not that one would care given the absolutely amazing stereo system with its 3D surround technology that turns music into an occasion. Further peace of mind is had in the knowledge that there is a plethora of powered and automated functions.

ON THE ROAD

It would be for naught if the Taycan was just another electric car. It’s not. It’s a brilliant drive, and not just in a straight line. Powering the 4S is a pair of electric motors, front and rear, on an 800-volt architecture generating over 400bhp. The useable 84 kWh battery displays 430 kilometres at 100 per cent, and the car can easily deliver over 365 kilometres of real-world use. On a 50 kWh level 3 DC fast charger 100 kilometres of range can be restored in 30 minutes. For those with range anxiety there is a range mode that attempts to squeeze every photon of energy from the battery.

Efficiency, while good, isn’t a primary ownership point for a Porsche. Slip the Taycan into sport+ and the world itself rotates under its wheels anytime the accelerator is pressed. The launch control will forever warp the concept of speed for occupants as it teleports to 100kph in under five seconds. And where other EVs tail off, the Taycan finds a second gear, literally, as it’s one of the few EVs equipped with a two speed transmission. Not only can it rip launch after launch without a loss in performance, it can hold that level of acceleration to instant incarceration velocities. This small mechanical change gives the Taycan a rather unique feel that reaches out to the driver.

Even better, the Taycan 4S isn’t a one-trick pony. The same air suspension that provides comfortable cruising is more that up to the task for corner carving. The chassis is responsive at any speed while the miraculous damper tuning causes the car to glide unbothered over any road surface at speed for total control that injects confidence into its driver. At no point is the Taycan 4S harsh and able to be deviated from any trajectory by the craterous roads that bless inner Jamaica. This tactile feedback, not just from the materials being interacted with in the cabin, but the driving experience transcends the sterile digital nature expected from an EV, transporting what is essential to a Porsche into the driver.

The Taycan 4S has a distinct personality, a soul perhaps, that can stir the soul of the person behind the steering wheel.