New Porsche Taycan Sport Turismo driven

The Sport Turismo launch starts from Salzburg, but the complexities of post-Covid logistics mean we fly to Munich, then drive the final leg into Austria. No matter: Porsche has laid on a Turbo S Cross Turismo for back-to-back comparison and the autobahn lies ahead. Warping to 200kph (124mph) in near-silence, it feels like flying first-class.

Arriving in Salzburg ahead of schedule, we swap into the equivalent Turbo S Sport Turismo, then head eastwards and upwards into the mountains. It’s ski season and the minor roads are carpeted in a layer of crunchy powder, with hard-packed ice beneath: hardly the ideal environment to deploy 625hp, much less 761hp on overboost. On mandatory winter tyres, however, the Taycan feels sure-footed and safe.

It also looks fantastic against the Alpine backdrop. Without the chunky Cross Turismo cladding, the Taycan is even sleeker and more sci-fi. Its best angle is the rear-three-quarter, where muscular haunches meet the tapering roofline and full-width light bar. Frankly, it’s even cooler than the sub-zero climate. 

Inside, the Sport Turismo offers 45mm more headroom for rear-seat passengers than the saloon, plus an extra 39 litres of luggage space. That doesn’t sound much, but a taller boot opening (543mm instead of 330mm) makes it far more versatile. There’s also the option of a liquid crystal panoramic sunroof, which transforms from transparent to opaque – or stages in-between – with a swipe of the touchscreen.

We start the following day in the Taycan Turbo, which serves up an identical 625hp, but ‘only’ 680hp with launch control. Another half-a-metre of snow has fallen overnight, so there’s little chance of matching its 0-62mph time of 3.2 seconds. What’s clear, though, is the Sport Turismo’s enhanced agility versus its Cross cousin. It feels taut and alert, the whole car hunkered down on its air suspension (standard on all models except the entry-level RWD).

Passing near the town of Werfen – location of the castle in Where Eagles Dare – we arrive at a toll booth marking the start of the Rossfeldpanoramastrasse. The highest mountain road in Germany, this 9.6-mile tourist route climbs from 750m to 1,604m at its peak. Today, it’s been transformed into a one-way hillclimb, booked exclusively for Porsche. And we’re next in the queue.

The barrier lifts and the Turbo blasts away with slingshot four-wheel-drive traction. Into the first corner, the steering goes light and I feel the back end slither sideways, but the huge torque of the twin motors quickly pulls us straight. With relentless acceleration, no gears to worry about and thick snow banks to cushion any mistakes, it feels like playing Sega Rally for real. 

Further up the mountain, the snow gets thicker and the Taycan begins to scrabble for grip, particularly out of steep hairpins. Visibility also gets worse as we climb into a cloud, while the drops either side of the road become fearfully steep. Now isn’t the time to be a hero.

Anyway, Porsche has brought along two genuine heroes: pro drivers Jörg Bergmeister and Timo Bernhard, both former Le Mans winners. I jump in the passenger seat of a GTS Sport Turismo alongside Jörg, then we trundle back down to the toll booth. Time for a lesson in car control.

There’s nothing like riding with a real racing driver to make you feel humble. From the second the barrier starts to move, Jörg is absolutely on it, hard on the brakes then punching the throttle as the GTS carves through corners. Timo’s is ahead and we’re being pulled left and right by the deep ruts his Taycan leaves in the snow, Jörg sawing at the wheel to keep us on-course.

I scarcely breathe until we reach the summit, but my pilot is all smiles. “I usually get paid not to go sideways,” he laughs, switching on the Electric Sport Sound to demonstrate the deeper vocal range of the GTS. The two-speed transmission even does an artificial ‘throttle blip’ as he brakes for bends. It’s gratuitous but brilliant.

After a calming cup of tea, I grab the keys to a 4S for the drive to lunch. This particular car has the optional 93.4kWh Performance Battery Plus – standard on the GTS, Turbo and Turbo S – which ups power to 490hp (571hp on overboost) and boosts potential range to 309 miles, the longest of any Taycan Sport Turismo.

As our altitude decreases and the snow begins to melt away, I begin to push harder. The 4S doesn’t thump you in the back like the Turbo, but it’s still seriously quick. Now in Sport Plus mode, steering and throttle response are both super-sharp, while body-roll is almost non-existent – remarkable in a car that weighs 2,250kg. Dynamically or emotionally, no EV this side of a hypercar comes close.

Our final stint back to Salzburg is in a Taycan RWD. With 380-476hp (up from 326-408hp, again thanks to the Performance Battery Plus), it’s the slowest car here, but arguably the most exciting, especially on snow. In the pinkish shade of Frozen Berry metallic, it’s also the most eye-catching. Photos don’t do it justice.

If anything, halving the number of driven wheels only serves to highlight the Taycan’s finely honed balance. It’s a car you can place precisely, confident in its body-control and grip. And when the rollercoaster roads of the Alps finally peter out, the RWD has all the virtues of any Taycan: excellent build quality, slick infotainment (now with Android Auto for 2022), ample space for the family and a charging capacity of up to 270kW.

With prices from £73,560 to £140,080, the Sport Turismo certainly isn’t cheap, but a modest premium of around £800 over the saloon makes it something of a no-brainer. Unless you need the extra rough-terrain ability of the Cross Turismo, it’s our Taycan of choice. 

Ironically, the Taycan is so good, it has raised expectations for the next generation of Porsche EVs, led by the electric Macan in early 2023. Sorry Mayk, the pressure is back on again.

Price: £117,670

Power: 625hp (680hp on overboost)

Torque: 850Nm

0-62mph: 3.2 seconds

Top speed: 162mph    

Battery size: 94.4kWh

Charging capacity: 270kW

Range: 263-305 miles

Kerb weight: 2,330kg

Written by Tim Pitt