All model variants of the all-electric Porsche Taycan can now be updated to the 2023 model year status with a software update, regardless of the vehicle age and engine version. This means that even older Taycans will receive new functions and the latest improvements in efficiency and charging curve.
With the GTS models introduced in November 2021, Porsche had adjusted the charging curve, among other things: Although the peak power of around 270 kW remains, this power can now be accessed over a wider range. The effect becomes clear in the P3 Charging Index: In the entire charging window from ten to 80 per cent, the Taycan GTS is above its sister model, the Audi e-tron GT.
The improved charging curve is one of the features of the software update that Porsche has announced for all 75,000 Taycans delivered to date. In other words, all existing vehicles can be brought up to the software level of the 2023 model year on request.
For older vehicles, the update can also significantly increase the everyday range – up to 50 kilometres, depending on the drive variant. The background to this is the drive control system introduced for new cars in the 2022 model year: in the “Normal” and “Range” driving modes, the front electric motor of the all-wheel drive vehicles is almost completely disengaged in the partial load range; the motor behaviour has also been optimised when sailing and at a standstill in order to reduce drag losses of the permanently excited synchronous motors (PSM). If the driver demands more power or switches to one of the sport modes, the disconnected motors are switched on again “within milliseconds”.
This also affects the PCM infotainment system: there is a “more robust” charging navigation with filter for charging stations (in older vehicles), and in addition, the Spotify app can be controlled directly via the PCM in future for all model years. Android Auto will also be introduced across the board. The update also includes the option to have individual functions and equipment activated after purchase (Function on demand, FoD). It also increases the ability for over-the-air (OTA) updates on all Taycans.
“This campaign will allow our customers to benefit from the continuous further development of the Taycan. We have extensively optimised the model series in almost every respect since 2019,” Giek says of the updates. “New functions have been added and others have been revised or tweaked to further enhance the customer experience.”
The scope of the update and the duration of the workshop visit depend on the specific software status of the respective Taycan. For vehicles with the software version of the model year 2022, the differences to the version 2023 are very small, and the update is installed correspondingly faster. Since the update for the drive control system, for example, still has to be installed on older vehicles, the work here takes a little longer. However, Porsche states that all work can typically be completed within one day – the update itself and the hours of work are free of charge for customers.
As a side note: The fact that Porsche itself writes “uPdate” instead of update in its communication is not a typo, but an Easter Egg: The 2023 model year is referred to internally as “P” or “Paula”.
Furthermore, the retrofitting of the 22 kW AC charger, which was announced more than a year ago, will now actually start. Porsche does not specify the costs for this in the press release. For a new car, the 22 kW charger costs around 1,600 euros, and labour costs are likely to be added for the retrofit. In Europe and North America, the retrofit also includes the activation of the Plug & Charge function.
With reporting by Sebastian Schaal, Germany.
Keyword: Porsche updates the software across all Taycan models