The Porsche Taycan Turbo

 It's true, I got into the annoying habit of driving "almost" only old cars. I’m not going to complain, but that doesn’t mean that I don’t have a passion for the automobile in general. Let's be honest, when the car is a Porsche, it is often a good sign and, if we’re going to go for a "modern" car, might as well try an electric one, that’s two birds with one stone. I never doubted the electric, at least not in terms of performance. I was fortunate to witness the evolution of this technology in racing, at the forefront, with the Renault e.dams in formula e. I saw one of my brother’s most beautiful victories in a battery- powered car. I'm a fan. But for the road, I have so far recommended the air-cooled flat 6. But that was before, as the other said. In George Lucas’ kingdom, one must be careful. We enter this cabin with only one question in mind: Is that really a Porsche? It's funny, as if the simple fact that a car uses a different engine could suddenly jeopardize its belonging to this legendary brand. Put your mind at ease, by simply getting behind the wheel, there’s no doubt remaining that it is indeed a Porsche. The interior is beautifully designed and what satisfies me most is the sense of "cozy" that the designers at Porsche have retained. I am in favor of the large central armrests, the buttons and this time I find the screens were used in an interesting way. They’re everywhere, you have to get used to it, but after 15 minutes on the side of the road to make sure you chose the right Rolling Stones’ song, it’s a go! I'm talking about music because the Taycan has two things that will surprise you. The first is its noise. Yes, its noise. An artificial noise, certainly, but believe me, that of braggy Joe’s C63 at the red light is too. Walking next to it, you could think of hearing a vehicle actually coming from space. Therein lies the genius of Porsche. It's a new noise. Not an imitation, even if it reminds us of a familiar purr.

Besides, thank God, there is a noise. I’m not talking about the anxiety of being propelled (above the speed limit) without hearing the engine struggling for a single second! It feels like you are being thrown from one planet to another to conquer a new world. The second sound surprise comes from the Burmester sound system. The cabin seems to be designed to take overpowering bass. And you won’t hear a sound from the structure, no vibrating joints, nothing, it's perfect!

Gimme Shelter out loud on quai Wilson, and let’s head to the Salève! It is time to find a "real" road. I was impatient to take this lively young horse (translation from Taycan to Turkish) on a winding course with mixed topography.

There are three routes to climb the Salève, but only one is worthwhile. It is therefore at the exit of a french village and through a forest covered with fog that I let the young lively horse gallop. When it comes to performance, the only downside of the electric to date is the substantial weight of the batteries. Indeed, this Taycan Turbo weighs 2.3 tons 

and I can't wait to test its braking. Let me reassure you, even with a daring acceleration on the Mont-Blanc quay, you will not find yourself in Bucherer's window, its behavior in normal driving is impeccable. The torque is immediate, the chassis is remarkably well balanced and - so far – it slows down. You have to brake all the way, but you stop. The size of the calipers and its dynamic braking system have a lot to do with it, but you still have to get used to it. The lack of engine braking may come as a surprise, but for me it’s only about taming the beast. Aside from that, the Taycan, like it or not, reminds me of a certain 930 Turbo, as fiery and new in its day as our star of the day.

Have you heard about the famous "Widowmaker" turbo lag? It is the same here, except that the peak of the turbo kick at seven thousand laps is almost instantaneous on the 930. This is why, if I may repeat myself, that is undoubtedly a Porsche, with all its emotions and its aggressiveness. The Taycan offers 100% of its sisters' DNA in a completely new and unique package. Some are probably wondering what use they could have for this vehicle ... In itself, the electric already responds to the problems of urban pollution and fuel consumption. Although it is easy to say that this vehicle does not replace anything but completes a range, it is true that the Taycan will make certain flagship models of the brand and its competitors look pale in comparison. Because firstly, it's beautiful, it can be practical, but above all it is a huge pleasure to drive if you are open to progress.

The little extra: Its launch control ultra easy to engage, 1.9 G under the pedal. Now it's up to you to do your research on the technical properties.