As a motoring journalist, one of the most frequent questions I encounter is, “What’s the fastest car you’ve ever driven?” Until recently, I thought I had the answer. However, driving the Porsche Taycan Turbo GT has completely redefined my understanding of speed and performance in a vehicle.
The Porsche Taycan Turbo GT is not just another four-door sports sedan. It accelerates out of corners with the ferocity typical of a high-performance sports car, leaving most vehicles, short of hypercars, in its dust. Astonishingly, this happens even when you’re only using half throttle.
It’s shockingly fast, yet perhaps unsurprising given that it is the most powerful road-going model ever produced by the German automaker. The Taycan Turbo GT packs a staggering 760kW of power and 1340Nm of torque, figures that are hard to match by any internal combustion engine, let alone a six-cylinder.
Performance That Defies Expectations
The official statistics for the Taycan Turbo GT are nothing short of mind-blowing. According to Porsche, the Turbo GT accelerates from 0-100km/h in just 2.2 seconds and can reach 200km/h in a mere 6.4 seconds. Although we didn’t have the opportunity to test these claims, experience with other Porsche models suggests these numbers are credible.
Porsche claims the Turbo GT takes just 2.2 seconds to launch 0-100km/h.
However, sheer power is only part of the story. Porsche never aims to create a one-dimensional vehicle. The standard Taycan Turbo GT incorporates significant weight-saving materials, such as carbon fiber reinforced plastic seats, ceramic brakes, and forged 21-inch wheels.
The Weissach Package: Elevating Performance
Our test drive featured the Taycan Turbo GT equipped with the Weissach package, which is typically reserved for Porsche’s most extreme performance models like the 911 GT3 RS. This package elevates the already impressive Taycan Turbo GT to new heights.
In the pursuit of weight reduction, the Weissach pack removes the rear seats, sound deadening, rear speakers, and even the floor mats. This transforms the sedan into a two-seater, with additional aerodynamic aids like a fixed rear wing that adds 220kg of downforce.
The Weissach pack adds a fixed rear wing, contributing 220kg of downforce.
More than just numbers, the Taycan Turbo GT delivers an exhilarating driving experience. Despite being an electric sedan, it feels as engaging and enjoyable as a Porsche 911. The steering is incredibly precise, and the chassis responds with eagerness, allowing for confident maneuvering through corners.
A Benchmark for Electric Performance
In terms of pure driving enjoyment, the Taycan Turbo GT stands out as the best electric car I’ve ever driven, as well as the fastest. To be candid, it’s almost too fast for the road. This partly explains why Porsche has taken it on a global tour, setting new benchmarks for electric vehicles at renowned tracks like the Nurburgring, Laguna Seca, and Interlagos.
Porsche set new electric car benchmarks at the Nurburgring, Laguna Seca, and Interlagos.
However, without taking it to a track, one might never experience the Taycan Turbo GT at its full potential. While it can still be enjoyed on the road, it represents an extreme example of Porsche’s capabilities with electric powertrains and the Weissach package.
Ultimately, the Taycan Turbo GT provides a definitive answer to the question of the fastest car I’ve driven. It sets a high bar for any vehicle that might attempt to surpass it in the future.
