Just as the excitement surrounding the Porsche Taycan looked to be settling down, spy shots showing a new all-electric model from Stuttgart has rekindled some of the hype. Images have emerged of a heavily-camouflaged Taycan Cross Turismo undergoing pre-production testing in public, hinting that development is well underway.
The shots, snapped by an eagle-eyed Twitter user, show a single Taycan Cross Turismo parked at a charging station next to what appears to be a Sport Turismo development car. There’s also a standard-bodied Taycan in shot, too, though it’s surprisingly adorned in light camouflage.
It’s unlikely that we’ll see the Cross Turismo at the Geneva Motor Show in March, given that deliveries for the standard Taycan have yet to get underway. That said, the development car looks to be at an advanced stage, meaning we could see in production form before the year is out.
When will it come out?
The Taycan Cross Turismo will appear before the year is out, right in time for the 2021 product year.
How much will it cost?
With more boot space and ground clearance, the Cross Turismo will essentially be the most versatile model in the Taycan range. Therefore, expect it to carry a premium over the £83,367 price tag of the entry-level four-door 4S.
What will it look like?
Judging by the latest spy shots, the electric crossover won’t look all that different to the Mission E Cross Turismo concept that was first shown at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show. It essentially adopts the styling of the Mission E Sport Turismo (aka the Taycan Sport Turismo), albeit with a more rugged look and a taller ride height.
One of the key differences between the Cross Turismo and its sleeker Sport Turismo sibling is that the crossover gets protective cladding around the skirts and wheel arches, suggesting that it will be able to handle rough terrain without damaging the bodywork.
The test car also comes with a shooting-brake-esque roofline a set of roof rails. Mud guards integrated into the rims adds to the rugged look, but there’s chance the production model will come with a different sets of wheels.
And what do we know about the battery specs?
As it’s based on the J1 production platform, which underpins the Taycan, the Cross Turismo will almost certainly adopt the same battery and electric motor system as its four-door sibling.
In entry-level 4S trim, the current Taycan gets a 79.2kWh battery pack as standard, delivering a range of around 252 miles on a single charge. A larger 93.4kWh battery is available as an optional extra, upping the range to 287 miles. Power is sent to all-four wheels courtesy of two electric motors (one on each axle), which helps launch the car from 0-62mph in reasonable four seconds.
The Taycan Turbo and Turbo S both come with the 93.4kWh battery and deliver 279 miles and 256 miles respectively. While the 4S offers the best range when equipped with the larger battery, the Turbo models are significantly quicker courtesy of larger electric motors. A Turbo S can complete a 0-62mph dash in 2.6 seconds when launch control and Overboost are active.
Expect similar numbers on the Cross Turismo, though its larger proportions, and therefore extra weight, means it probably won’t be as sporty as the standard Taycan.
Image credit: Twitter
Keyword: Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo 2021: EV crossover spied testing in Germany