Flat front, muscularly curved wings, and a roofline that slopes down towards the rear—even at first glance, the design of the new Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo bears the DNA of the iconic 911. In addition, the flat headlights with vertical air intakes clearly mark it as a member of the Taycan family. And yet the second electric sports car from Zuffenhausen is a Porsche unlike any other.
As the brand’s first Cross Utility Vehicle (CUV), the five-door combines classic Porsche driving dynamics with an off-road-capable high-tech chassis. “The Cross Turismo is the perfect complement to our existing Taycan family,” explains Stefan Weckbach, head of the model range. “It is more versatile, more robust, and yet nearly as sporty as the sedan.”
A spirit of adventure in every detail of the Cross Turismo
A spirit of adventure is to be found in every detail of the Cross Turismo. Creating space for diving, golfing, surfing, or cycling equipment was high on the list of requirements. The load volume is thus as generous as you’d expect. Behind the large tailgate, the Cross Turismo holds aprroximately 42 cubic feet of luggage when the rear seatbacks are folded down. The vehicle also offers all-wheel drive, air suspension, and Performance Battery Plus as standard.
Two-wheel enthusiasts will find a special solution in the Cross Turismo: roughly where the exhaust pipes are located on vehicles with combustion engines, two rails for a bicycle rack can be mounted on the CUV, providing space for three e-bikes. “We want to attract people who are looking for a versatile and fully electric companion for everyday life, but also for travel and leisure adventures,” says Weckbach, head of the Taycan model range.
And that includes trips off the beaten track. For leaving everyday paths behind, the CUV’s adaptive air suspension is height-adjustable, and there is even a gravel mode for particularly poor surfaces. With the optional Offroad Design Package, the Cross Turismo gains thirty millimeters of ground clearance. As speed increases on level ground, the vehicle automatically lowers in favor of aerodynamic efficiency. “Combining the requirements in terms of sportiness with off-road capability,” says Weckbach, “was the biggest development challenge.”
The pace of development was rapid
Porsche presented the Mission E Cross Turismo design study for the first time at the Geneva Motor Show in spring 2018. “The concept vehicle stood out especially for its attractive design with striking off-road elements,” recalls Weckbach. The response was very good, and so the Supervisory Board of Porsche AG decided in October 2018 to go ahead with series production—at a time when the Taycan sports sedan was also still in development. This is a clear indicator of the focus with which the sports-car manufacturer is driving electrification forward. The Cross Turismo can be ordered as early as March 2021.
In terms of length and width, the Cross Turismo corresponds to the sports sedan and can also rival its performance data: from a standstill it catapults forwards, accelerating up to 1.2 times faster than the force of gravity. The all-wheel-drive sports car sprints from zero to one hundred kilometers per hour in 3.0 seconds. The center of gravity is low—right where the performance battery is integrated into the underbody. The two electric motors on the front and rear axles have permanently actuated synchronous machines and together mobilize a system output of up to 560 kW (761 PS). The ranges are based on the values of the sports sedan.
The CUV combines the precise handling of a sports car with the long-distance comfort of a sedan and offers nearly as much space as an SUV. “Thanks to the new body shape, we were able to create over thirty millimeters more headroom on the rear seats,” explains Weckbach. “And the large panoramic glass roof creates a very spacious feeling.”
A special distinguishing feature of the Taycan family is also found in the Cross Turismo: the seven letters of the brand logo are emblazoned directly below the light strip at the rear—designed three-dimensionally in glass and illuminated. They are guiding lights into the dawn of theage of electromobility.
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Text first published in the Porsche magazine Christophorus, No. 398.
